1. See SCOTUS comment I made and everything along those lines.

2. I find it troubling if City Council doesn’t know already and, even if they do, I’m not quite sure what them speaking out is really going to do in light of my first point.

3. Yeah, we technically have the right to protest but, much like other rights that have been going down the drain, me showing up isn’t going to do jack.

Additionally, I’m with Noodleman, what the hell protesting at the convention is supposed to accomplish is unclear. Yes, you confirmed you have the right to speech and…yeah, that’s pretty much it. Free speech in and of itself is not an end.

I will always defend free speech, even for issues I disagree and, while I’m pretty sure I agree with what the protesters are protesting. I can’t say that I see the significance of their protests at this event.

4. Clearly, there are times when peaceful protest works. Obviously, the main one would be the civil rights movement. The thing is, it was not just a parade at a week long convention or a bunch of people gathered to voice their opinion for a week. It was a prolonged event that also involved significant, albeitpeaceful, disruptions for society by a large group of people who had a *direct* interest in the issue at hand. Given America today, I can’t see that occurring. We *should* care about the war but it doesn’t affect many of our lives. We *should* care about the economy but either its not a big deal to us or we’re too busy trying to get our own shit together to worry about other people’s.

Regardless, I’m still fatigued. I’ll muster up the energy to get outraged as soon as someone can tell me a point to protesting OMGWTFGOPBBQ. They know we don’t want the war any more, that we’re pissed about the economy and that they’ve exercised poor decision-making. What is a couple more people yelling at them about it from outside their party supposed to do?

Pick your battles, people.

I don’t think changing people’s minds is why most people demonstrate. If you don’t tell the people in power that you are pissed at them, how will they know? Especially now our leaders are so completely removed from reality, so walled off from everything, that (if they wish) they can easily go through their terms without ever interacting with anyone in the real world who disagrees with them. If demonstrations and protests do not make it into the periphery of their vision, they might never really know how completely fucked up and worthless they really are.

2. Sheriff Fletcher’s office needs to be investigated for violations of state and local laws. The Ramsey County Sheriff has absolutely no authority to decide if a structure is deemed a fire hazard. This is so much show-boating by a fellow already in serious political doo-doo;

3. Caught a bit of the Ron Paul parade through downtown Mpls this afternoon. YES! Street theater beats demonstrations every time.

1.) Let people know about it. This is a violation of the constitution. Send out an email to people who may not have heard about it. Call people.

2.) contact your state legislator and your city council representative. The more people like city council member gary schiff who speak out against this, the better.

3.) Show up to the protests. absolutely. Take your pick on which ones you agree with. they need to see that these kinds of tactics are not going to stop free speech from happening.

Yesterday in Russia a website producer was killed. that’s the end of the trajectory. That’s where we are headed if we keep allowing our rights to be taken away from us.