The CITY OF BOSTON Is Responsible For Free Speech Zone People NOT KERRY

[KittyWampus]

You want to bitch about the Free Speech Zone... then contact the CITY OF BOSTON and it's MAYOR.

I live in New York, and the venues for the Protestors is decided by BLOOMBERG.

Even the crappy NYTimes has been on Bloomberg's case for where demonstrators will be allowed to meet... on a highway MILES from the GOP Convention. A long, narrow highway which will no doubt be closed in like Boston. Bloomberg refuses to allow the use of Central Park citing LAWN MAINTAINANCE for not allowing it

It is UP TO BOSTON AND ITS MAYOR to change things.

Should Kerry speak up?

Possibly, but it is STILL up to the MAYOR to find another spot for protestors.

[Toots]

1. Actually it is the Secret Service that is demanding this

[KittyWampus]

2. They May Demand Netting & Razorwire... But They Don't Determine VENUE

it is the MAYOR who finds and allots LOCATION.

Perhaps in conjunction with police... but it is STILL the Mayor who decides.

Unless Boston is somehow radically different in governance than NYC.

[donsu]

3. is Kerry's mouth taped shut? can't he speak out?

he better speak out or we will believe he is for prison yards for protesters.

[merh]

4. You hit the nail on the head! What the Kerry campaign could do is join

in the suit challenging the "free speech zone". That would be a positive and legal step that could be taken and it would freep out the protestors!

[Lindacooks]

5. Thank you, and a kick!

[mindem]

6. Bush has been using free speech zones since day one!!

Where is all the outrage over that? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. It's a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. If extra caution wasn't taken in the way of security during the convention and something happened it would become a repuke talking point. "See how week on defense the liberals are". If the repukes do the same thing for their convention will there be an equal amount of outrage?

[creeksneakers2]

7. Other than the fence and razor wire

The free speech zone is the best the city can do. There's no room around the convention site for that many people. Protest organizers had to make a choice between being crammed in right across the street or moving farther away but having more room. Out of 100 protests, only ten chose the free speech zone.

Those who chose to protest at a distance will still get media coverage. Those who choose the cage will probably get extra publicity because of the cage.

I still wrote a letter to Kerry asking him to do something about the cage itself. I agree that it would be fantastic if Kerry could get it removed or better yet, walked across the street to meet the protesters. He has to do something fast though. If it looks like Kerry is doing something under pressure he will look even worse.

[KittyWampus]

8. Bloomberg Gave Option of QUEENS, IIRC.

in other words, in an entirely DIFFERENT borough.

Although subways make Queens accessible from Manhattan.

[starroute]

10. Yeah, if you call an hour's subway ride "accessible"

That's about how far away Flushing Meadow Park is from the convention site by subway.

[KittyWampus]

11. Too Bad He Didn't Say Coney Island

at least there'd be some fun attractions....
and Brooklyn is better 'n Queens

[Killarney]

9. Thank you! Sorry Kerry-haters. Try again.

I'm so sick of the Kerry haters here.

[jonnyblitz]

13. I am sick of kerry apologists

if it were bush behaving like this you all would be screeching your heads off...

[jonnyblitz]

14. I am sick of kerry apologists

if it were bush behaving like this you all would be screeching your heads off...

[jonnyblitz]

15. I am sick of kerry apologists

if it were bush behaving like this you all would be screeching your heads off...

[Still_Loves_John]

17. If Bush were behaving like what?

The whole point of this thread is that Kerry has nothing to do with the free speech zone.

[mdmc]

12. Kerry should speak out

Come on Johns! Fight the fight that needs fighting.

[CaTeacher]

16. Everyone who does not

speak out against it--IS responsible for it.

[Selwynn]

18. I like the guy who guessed that Kerry WILL speak out on it...

..during the convention, and look amazingly great doing so in a kind of "Mr. Gorbechev, tear down that wall!" kind of moment.

[ClassWarrior]

19. Kerry should still denounce it.