Since when is being an activist & protesting being a "troublemaker"-recent event scared me..?

Question

here's what happened.I attended a protest tonight. We were protesting vote fraud at a news station debate between Blackwell (famous for 2004 elections in his Katherine Harris role) and Strickland. After the activists on both sides all left. Another activist and myself returned with our signs to catch the people leaving the debate in the hope Blackwell would see us and our signs. One of us stood at one exit and the other at the other exit. a man approached my activist friend..she then crossed the street and eventually several policeman were involved in a discussion. I did not know what was going on. She motioned me over to that side of the street.. I heard a policeman tell her he was sick of this and to give back the paper and leave the premises as it was private property and to go on the other side & "do what we had to do" She told me (and I did see this paper briefly), that a man had crossed the side where we were standing legally (as others on both sides were there earlier in police presence) & showed her three pictures of herself that were from the highway patrol and department of public safety with all her personal information and told her she was a "known troublemaker"..she later crossed street to talk to him and other policeman got involved. Although she is a bigger activist than myself and I am not aware of everything she does, it is similar to what I do. She is in her late 40's early 50's and is peaceful and kind and affectionate to other people in our political group..somewhat more vocal at times but totally peaceful.
I am shocked and wondering if we are not ALL on lists for our (anti Bush) political activism. Since when did peaceably assembling with a protest sign and exercising our civil rights become something that branded us as "troublemakers" rather than a concerned American. Why are we on lists as criminals. I feel they were trying to upset her, intimidate her, and get us to leave before he left the building but Blackwell did see our signs. My mom( who lived through Mussolini and the war) has in the past warned me not to be vocal in any way politically for this reason,.is she right and what do you think of this..should I be concerned in light of talk of camps and red and blue lists for coming martial law?

Answer 1

She is right this country has been turned over to Radical Republicans that are taking over and any who dare say a word gets put in jail, black balled or other wise defamed. Look at what they did to the Dixie Chicks? Fore one simple remark.
They have demonized Karrey for saying that and it is a stastic that most young men in the military are from middle class familys. Who cannot afford to send there kids to college.
We are been taken over by Radicals as much as Iraq has.
We don't have freedom of speech unless we are for Bush.

Answer 2

Since I was not personally a witness to the event, I will only be able to answer in generalities.

It has been my observation over the many years that activism, and in particular political activism, is by nature intimidating to others. So I am not surprised that it is responded to in kind at times. Whether that is the correct response or not can be debated, but it is simply human nature.

As for the question of whether we are ALL on lists or not, my answer is yes. Making lists of people and their characteristics is a multi-million dollar international business, and to expect that the government is not participating is foolishness. To think that the government has malicious intent though is not logical.

I would however suggest you take advantage of you second amendment rights.

Answer 3

What talk of camps and martial law?

I keep pretty informed about what both the left and right are up to, and I don't actually trust either of them, being a Libertarian, but there's no such talk, except among loonies that fear it like a child fearing the monster under the bed.

For the previous poster that claims to have a copy of the Patriot Act and that he finds it scary, I doubt it.

The first section (101) of it appropriates money for it, nothing scarier than regular taxes about that.

Section 102 starts "SENSE OF CONGRESS CONDEMNING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ARAB AND MUSLIM AMERICANS.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, and Americans from South Asia play a vital role in our Nation and are entitled to nothing less than the full rights of every American.
(2) The acts of violence that have been taken against Arab and Muslim Americans since the September 11, 2001, attacks against the United States should be and are condemned by all Americans who value freedom."

Scary stuff, is it?

Most of the actual operative provisions of the Act are all modifications to existing law, making it utterly incomprehensible to anyone in the absence of the entire US Code.

Here's the link. Read it yourself.

http://www.patriotact.com/

Answer 4

I think protesters and activists are people who are lost for the cause. Look at the sick people protesting the funerals of fallen soldiers. Being against the war is one thing, protesting a dead man/woman who gave their life so you can protest is another. I believe in speaking your mind, but not at the expense of others. It's not an anti- Bush list..........protesting started long before he took office, look at Vietnam. Some of the people you are protesting with might very well be troublemakers and as I told my kids growing up, be careful who you hang out with, you might be considered one of them. (death by association). Do your homework before joining a particular group. (even if it is for 30 min.)

Answer 5

you probably should have left when the others left.
did you exceed the time limits on the permit? You did have a permit, right?
What talk of camps and red and blue lists? You must just be freaking looney, go see a doctor.

Answer 6

Just as "One person's freedom fighter is another person's terrorist", one person's activist is another person's troublemaker. If you don't stand up for what you believe in, who else will? You just need to do it within the confines of the law.
(Your last sentence does reek of paranoia, though....)

Answer 7

You have my respect and my support I`ve been locked up a couple of times for various acts of defiance, it does`nt stop me from shouting out against injustice. Remember this quote." It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees" La Passionaria. Lol *;*

Answer 8

alls i know is, i gots a bunker, a moonshine distillery, a sawed off and 2 years supply american cheese. they'll never take me alive.

Answer 9

Welcome to the new American Fascist state. This is what the Patriot Act has gotten you...you of course realize that protesters/dissenters/Constitutionalists are considered Terrorists, right? Check it out- do what the politicians were NOT ALLOWED to do and read the Patriot Act. I own it. It's scary.

Answer 10

Always try to figure out 'who is saying it', 'why', 'what are their motives' and in that line. You will have answered your question.