July 4th Free Speech Zones-Repression of Freedom in St. Pete FL
7/4/06
By Jay Shaft-Coalition For Free Thought In Media
THOUGHT BOMB RADIO SHOW-SHOCK AND AWE FOR THE MIND RADIO HOUR ©2003-2006 Jay
Shaft/Coalition For Free Thought In Media
Thought Bomb Radio Show audio archived at San Francisco Indy Bay Indy Media
Center http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/07/05/18285798.php
Intro
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2006/07/05/tbrj4-freespeechrepressed.wma
Report #1
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2006/07/05/j4-1.mp3
Report as I walked up on the scene and witnessed the police harassment and
attempted removal of peaceful activists and educators from a public park.
Report #2- Interviews with activists and vets
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2006/07/05/j4-2.mp3
Interviews with activists and veterans who were asked to move into a Free
Speech Zone.
Report #3 From the Free Speech Zone as V.F.P. members take down the yellow
ropes and stakes.
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2006/07/05/j4-3vfptearsdownthef.s.zone.mp3
Report from the actual "Free Speech Zone" with an interview with a member of
VFP. Follow-up report as U.S. veterans took down the yellow ropes and stakes of
the so called "Free Speech Zone".
Final Report: 200,000 DEAD CIVILIANS DO NOT HAVE FREEDOM
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2006/07/05/j4200_000deadciviliansdonothavefreedom.mp3
End of the day report on the irony of celebrating freedom and democracy while
civilians and soldiers are dying in Iraq. I specifically highlight the
hypocrisy of our freedom in light of the over 100,000 women and children killed
since 2003 under US occupation. Over 200,000 civilians are thought to have been
killed since Operation Iraqi Freedom started.
THOUGHT BOMB RADIO SHOW-SHOCK AND AWE FOR THE MIND RADIO HOUR ©2003-2006 Jay
Shaft/Coalition For Free Thought In Media ©2003-2006
(St. Petersburg, FL) Today I witnessed members of Veterans For Peace,
Suncoast Peace Education Group, and St. Pete For Peace being harassed by the
police. I witnessed Veterans and activists having their Free Speech rights
repressed and threatend by police who had no legal right to do so.
The following radio show contains interviews and reports from activists and
educators involved with the groups They were all gathered for an educational
and awareness vigil, and it was stated several times that they were not there
to protest, but only to educate and raise awareness. While no one was arrested
and there were no major incidents, the general air of harassment and police
presence was a palpable throughout the day.
The police told them they had to leave their picnic and gather in a roped
off Free Speech Zone that had been set up as far away from the crowds as
possible. The roped off zone was approximately 15 by 20 feet in area, and was
labelled only as Free Speech, indicated by a hand drawn cardboard sign affixed
to a stake.
I attempted to get interviews or statements from the police and was refused
with no explanation or information given about what ordnance or law was being
enforced or that had been violated. No one would officially tell me why there
was a Free Speech Zone being enforced on the day when we all celebrate our
freedom and democracy. I find it ironic that Free Speech is trampled and taken
away when it offends someones ideals or beliefs.
It appears that Free Speech is only protected and valued when it does not
offend anyone or cause people to question the current party line and official
press statements of the Bush administration.
Please listen to the radio show for a full report on todays
activities and incidents.
For reports on other incidents of police harassment and repression of Free
Speech in St. Petersburg, FL and Pinellas County click on the flowing links.
16 Year Old Anti-War Protester Arrested In Palm Harbor, Florida
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=SHA20051025&articleId=1147
Despite arrests, protests go on
http://sptimes.com/2005/08/08/Tampabay/Despite_arrests__prot.shtml
Rogue Behavior by Pinellas County Sheriff's Department at St. Pete for Peace
Banner Holding
http://stpeteforpeace.org/rogue.sheriff.html
To contact groups who have been harassed, or for more information on the
specific incidents:
Sun Coast Peace Education Group at www.scpeg.org
Tampa Bay VFP Chapter 119 through www.vfp.org
St. Pete For Peace at www.stpeteforpeace.org
Contact Jay Shaft and Coalition For Free Thought In Media at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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