Fwd: [ NOLA_C3_Discussion] Banned in Washington - Where’s the Free Speech?

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11 Sep 2006 10:59:09 -0700

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Banned in Washington - Where's the Free Speech? by Ann Wright

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 12:59:04 -0500

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Published on Sunday, September 10, 2006

by CommonDreams.org

 

Banned in Washington - Where's the Free Speech?

by Ann Wright

 

So much for free speech in the nation's capital and

capitol. On July, 11, 2006 I was arrested for offering

a citizen's voice in the Senate Judiciary Committee

hearing against the nomination of one of the Bush

administration's architects of torture, William

Haynes, former Department of Defense General Counsel

(chief civilian lawyer) for a life-time appointment to

the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

 

Yesterday, September 7, I appeared in the Criminal

Division of the Superior Court of the District of

Columbia on charges of " Disorderly and Disruptive

Conduct on the United States Capitol Grounds on July

11, 2006. " During that appearance, I was ordered by

the court to " Stay Away " from the US Capitol, all

Senate and House Office Buildings and committee

hearing rooms and the streets surrounding the Capitol

area.

 

The court papers state that I must abide by this order

until my case is disposed of and that " any violation

of this condition (order) could result in your

prosecution for Contempt of Court, the revocation of

your release and/or your detention pending final

disposition of this case. " I was released on my

personal recognizance but instructed in writing that

" a warrant for your arrest will be issued immediately

upon any violation of a condition of this release. And

shall subject you to revocation of the release; an

order of detention and prosecution for contempt of

court (a fine of not more than $1000 or imprisonment

not more than 6 months or both.)

 

Another paragraph said that " if you are convicted of

an offense committed while released, you shall be

subject to the following penalties: imprisonment of

not less than one year and not more than 5 years if

convicted of committing a felony while released; and

imprisonment of not less than 90 days and not more

than one year if convicted of committing a misdemeanor

while released; such to be consecutive to any other

sentence of imprisonment. "

 

All of these prohibitions are because I stated in the

US Congress that I am opposed to torture and that the

Congress should not confirm a person associated with

the Bush administration's torture policy. These court

orders definitely curtail my ability to voice to the

US Congress my concerns and the concerns of much of

the American people about important issues they are

considering, like the following the Congress will

consider next week:

 

Bush's demand that Congress authorize greater

warrantless wiretap authority;

 

Bush's demand that Congress agree to military

tribunals where defendants can be tried and convicted

without seeing the evidence; that classified evidence

can be used with neither defendants nor their lawyers

told about such information; that prosecutors could

rely on hearsay or evidence obtained indirectly and

evidence obtained by coercion if the panel's chief

deemed it reliable and directly related to the

accusations;

 

Bush's demand that Congress agree to keep CIA secret

detention sites in other countries operational;

 

Bush's demand that Congress confirm John Bolton as US

ambassador to the United Nations;

 

Don't you believe these are issues that we the people

must instruct our Congress on how we feel? Of course,

you can call, write or email your Senators and

Congresspersons.

 

But I like to go into the committee rooms and look our

elected officials in the eyes and tell them what I

think. It doesn't take long to tell them because the

Capitol police officer in the hearing room usually

arrives at your side quickly when you speak out. When

you speak out in a committee room, our elected

officials, those who serve us, are left with a

succinct statement of concerns about the issue.

Hearings would probably be a lot better if the

Congresspersons had the same police at their elbows

demanding shorter statements!

 

I do understand that committees not take the time

generally to hear from the public in their committee

rooms; lobbying for an issue is done in the halls and

offices. But, I think there is a role for a lightning

comment—but it comes with the risk of being arrested

for " disrupting " the hearing or at a minimum being

escorted out of the hearing and later released.

 

Now that I am banned from the Capitol area, I hope

others will come to the Congress and express their

views. We the people must tell the Congress to be

brave and courageous in these perilous times—now of

all times, we need strong character and moral courage

from our Congress. We the people must give them

courage.

 

But tomorrow, Veterans for Peace is marching around

the capitol area as a stop the war, treat our veterans

right march. I am banned from the area. But what about

peaceful, nonviolent marches? Are all rights withdrawn

because one speaks out against torture?

 

Well, this has been a " banner " week for being banned.

Besides from being banned from the Capitol area,

yesterday the Commanding Officer of Fort Myer, VA

denied my request for reconsideration of a one-year

ban from Fort Myer, VA and Fort McNair, DC, a ban he

ordered in May, 2006 after I placed a few 3 " X5 "

postcards on Fort McNair concerning the limited

showing in Washington, DC of " Sir, No Sir, " the

documentary about GI resistance to the Vietnam war.

 

I had asked for a reduction to " time served " (two

months that I had not been on the base-I didn't know I

had been banned as his letter went to my home in

Hawaii and I only got the letter once I arrived there

in June.). The Commander denied my request and

commented that my conduct " clearly violated common

standards of good order and discipline on a military

installation. " As a US Army retired 29 year Colonel, I

now am prohibited from entering the two military bases

nearest to Washington, DC until May 25, 2007! I would

say that's quite remarkable treatment for a three

decade veteran!

 

I am now banned from the Capitol area and from two

military bases in the DC area as well as also banned

for life (along with Codepink Women for Peace Medea

Benjamin) from the National Press Club. In April, 2006

we dared to question to a Press Club speaker and were

banned for life for our questions. The speaker was

Senator Hillary Clinton and we asked why in her 50

minute energy policy speech she never mentioned the

war on Iraq and Iraqi oil.

 

It surely seems that freedom of speech and the right

to question our elected officials in our nation's

capital is a dangerously endangered right.

 

But that's what its all about. If we don't stand up

for our freedoms, they will be taken away.

 

So in the spirit of they can't take our country away

from us, I will see you in Congress, the National

Press Club and on the military bases---or in jail or

detention camps!

 

You can't ban speech and thought.

 

It is our country and they are our freedoms. Let's

take them back!

 

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Ann Wright is a 29 year retired US Army Colonel and a

16 year US diplomat who resigned in March, 2003 in

opposition to the war on Iraq.