The Journal

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Opinion/Editorial

Christian Losciale, a sophomore journalism major, is the news editor for The Journal.

They lost their rights. It was a disgrace.
Demonstrators were refused their right to free speech at the vice presidential debate on Oct. 2 at Washington
University. They wanted the VP candidates to hear their voices, see their signs and think seriously about how passionate
they were.
There was not a chance that
the candidates saw any demonstrator, primarily
because demonstrators were kept about half a mile from the debate site.
Protesters should be able to act freely, within reason. Sure, authorities
try to prevent ultra violence or destruction.
That's sensible, but passive, silent protests merit no authoritative defense - unless you were at this demonstration.
Protest groups were mandated to stand within
a fenced area that was within another fence. The general area was called a "public viewing area." That name is absurd. It's one of those titles
that makes me wonder what goes on there.
It reminds me of what the U.S. once called "shellshock," referring to the
deteriorating mental state of returning soldiers
from World War I. Now we call it "post traumatic stress disorder." And yeah, I know what that is, but I could more easily say shellshock. Just like I can say protest easier
than public viewing area. The only thing to view was an occasional speaker who represented
one of the organizations that was present.
The stage was small and the atmosphere was bizarre, like "Twilight Zone" bizarre. It felt like demonstrators were confused mice in a sadistic child's game of cut off the mouse's tail.
Authorities - the Secret Service, police officers,
Wash U Public Safety - found a way to water down free speech by renaming a protest pen and calling it a public viewing area. They found a way to strip free speech from marchers.
The St. Louis Instead of War Coalition tried to walk in silence towards the debate at the Athletic Complex. Police officers zip tied steel barricades and lined up behind their handy-dandy roadblock. The marchers stood, chanting anti-war phrases and drumming on plastic cylinders. An active member of SLIWC, Bill Ramsey, addressed the police officers
via megaphone. He told them they have the power to move the barricades and give the marchers their right to free speech back.

Continued...

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