A new ad-hoc group of citizens has recently coalesced in the Twin Cities, and naturally they made our Favorite Fools list. We are calling them The Active Nonconformists Together Insisting on Free Association and Speech to Confront Injustice and State Tyranny (ANTI-FASCIST). These citizens advocate the people’s right to protest the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC) in St. Paul. The ANTI-FASCISTs grew up considering themselves blessed to live in a land where freedom of speech was celebrated and where the people have a right to petition their government for a redress of grievances. Their list of grievances with the current administration includes a preemptive war for oil and control of the Middle East, a racist government response to a deadly hurricane, and a domestic policy that ignores the people’s right to a living wage, affordable housing, decent health care, quality education and marriage benefits regardless of sexual orientation. Protected by the First Amendment, they were confident that their voices would be heard and their right to protest respected.
Some of the ANTI-FASCISTs requested permission to demonstrate near the RNC months ago. Last week, their permit application was returned, and they were told the City of St. Paul won’t consider their request until six months before the convention. Realizing the difficulty of planning a national demonstration on such short notice, the ANTI-FASCISTs are now searching for answers. Some recently attended a public forum on the RNC where community members were invited to discuss the influx of Republicans soon to grace the city. To their surprise, officials staffing the panel weren’t interested in their concerns. In response to questions such as, “Where will we be allowed to protest?” and “Where will those who have been arrested be taken?” the response was, “We can’t tell you, on account of Homeland Security.” Activists were baffled that their questions were dismissed so easily. Authorities insist the ANTI-FASCISTs just don’t see the big picture.
Said a representative of Homeland Security:
“What the ANTI-FASCISTs don’t understand is that free speech is fine as long as you don’t do it in public. We’re waging a War on Terror, and freedom of speech just isn’t what it used to be. Fences, tear gas, and paddy wagons are important tools for preventing terrorism. Show me a picture of protesters with access to convention delegates and the media, and I’ll show you free speech that’s completely out of control.”
Thanks to Katrina Plotz an the Pulse of the Twin Cities