New Patriot Act Provision Creates Tighter Barrier to Officials at Public Events

A new provision tucked into the Patriot Act bill now before Congress would allow authorities to haul demonstrators at any "special event of national significance" away to jail on felony charges if they are caught breaching a security perimeter. Sen. Arlen Specter , R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sponsored the measure, which would extend the authority of the Secret Service to allow agents to arrest people who willingly or knowingly enter a restricted area at an event, even if the president or other official normally protected by the Secret Service isn't in attendance at the time. [Just how big do they want this cocoon around Washington? How can a democracy function if citizens are herded like sheep? What happens to civil liberties, disobedience, and the freedom of political expression? These events are largely covered by media conglomerates that operate 'gratis' -- FREE -- on the airwaves owned by the American public and an important resource in a multi-party system of government in getting all sides of the message out; not just the Neocons & GOPs. This is NOT good news].