Do 'Free Speech Zones' Muffle Speech?

[kentuck]

This would renew my hope for this country
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http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pri&dt=031113&cat=us&st=usprotest_zones_031112&src=abc

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- Brett Bursey knew he might get in trouble when he went out to protest at an appearance by President Bush, but he didn't expect the government to make a federal case out of what he saw as exercising his right to free speech.

Bursey, 55, is set to go on trial today on federal charges of entering a restricted area, after he objected to going to a "free speech zone" during a visit by President Bush to the Columbia Memorial Airport in South Carolina in October 2002.

"Free speech zones" or "protest zones" are areas set aside by law enforcement during presidential visits or other major events for people who want to demonstrate. Police say the practice is needed for reasons of security and public safety.

Bursey's lawyers have subpoenaed Karl Rove, Bush's political adviser, and Attorney General John Ashcroft to testify, claiming that they can provide evidence that the White House and the Justice Department have told the Secret Service to keep anti-administration protesters away from the president.