Restricted
Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011. In the bill, Congress officially
makes it illegal to trespass on the grounds of the White House, which, on the
surface, seems not just harmless and necessary, but somewhat shocking that such
a rule isn't already on the books. The wording in the bill, however, extends to
allow the government to go after much more than tourists that transverse the
wrought iron White House fence.'
Under the act,
the government is also given the power to bring charges against Americans
engaged in political protest anywhere in the country."
Next, The law,
coming on the heels of the NDAA, had to be broad enough cover most
contingencies:
"The new
legislation allows prosecutors to charge anyone who enters a building without
permission or with the intent to disrupt a government function with a federal
offense if Secret Service is on the scene, but the law stretches to include not
just the president's palatial Pennsylvania Avenue home. Under the law, any
building or grounds where the president is visiting -- even temporarily -- is
covered, as is any building or grounds "restricted in conjunction with an event
designated as a special event of national significance."
It's not just
the president who would be spared from protesters, either. Anyone under Secret Service Protection came under the terms of this bizarre edict.
While some are
demanding that the President veto it, it may be that he was part of the network
that signed off on it and the change of venue.
While the G8 is
moving, plans for a large NATO meeting in Chicago are continuing, and protest
activists told the Chicago Tribune, they are not going to be deterred:
"Early
word from protest organizers was that if the move was intended to slow them
down, that wouldn't happen.
The main thing is, the protests will go forward," said anti-war protest leader Andy Thayer. "We believe that NATO is, frankly, the de facto military arm of G-8 and anybody who's upset with G-8 should be upset with NATO."
"Because G-8 is being moved to a remote, highly secure location, Thayer said Chicago would still be a magnet for large demonstrations.
"I believe
that people will very much focus on Chicago. So much organization has already
gone into this," he said, adding that groups will tinker with their
demonstration plans rather than abandon them. "We're going to have a quick
consultation to see whether we need to move our demonstration from the 19th to
the 20th."
Unless martial law is imposed--or the first amendment is suspended, as it was in that Transformers movie shot in Chicago, activists will be showing up and in what promises to fuel a growing spirit of confrontation.
Alderman Joe Moore says he anticipates more street heat.
"Moore said many of the protesters opposed to G-8 policies might still show up, because "they are so geared up to do it. "NATO is still going to attract demonstrators," Moore said.
"We are still going to need a lot of security for these world leaders, including the president. All it's doing is lessening a little bit of the international luster."
Alderman Scott
Waguespack, speculated that the president ultimately was more comfortable with
the security and tranquility at the presidential retreat. "Nobody can get near
Camp David," he said.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
