My letter to the Mayor of Boston and John Kerry
Boston must not interfere with the right to protest the DNC
Thomas Menino mayor@ci.boston.ma.us
Mayor of Boston
Sen. John Kerry info@johnkerry.com
Democratic Presidential Candidate
Dear Sirs,
It is with concern that I understand that the Boston police have become an ideologically driven force.
Boston must not interfere with the right to protest the DNC
Thomas Menino mayor@ci.boston.ma.us
Mayor of Boston
Sen. John Kerry info@johnkerry.com
Democratic Presidential Candidate
Dear Sirs,
It is with concern that I understand that the Boston police have become an ideologically driven force.
I understand that city bus drivers have been instructed through training films to not allow anyone on buses carrying political signs – a direct infringement on the constitutional right of free speech of citizens.
I also understand that the term “terrorist” has been applied to potential protesters – this is a dangerous and frightening precedent set by the Boston police and political establishment, exposing an ideological framework which has gripped the police force that you are responsible for. No connection between protesters and terrorism has been demonstrated.
Prior large anti-war protests have been peaceful, there is no indication by protesters that the DNC protests will be violent. Given the history of New York city anti-war demonstrations, protests have been peaceful unless provoked by the police force’s efforts to hamper the protesters right to demonstrate.
I understand that some 75 cameras have been placed throughout Boston for monitoring of protests by Federal Agents. The surveillance of political activity without probable cause, which has been determined to be illegal and unconstitutional, is designed to intimidate and harass protesters. This must not be allowed to occur.
The right to express political views and to dissent from the government view is at the core of democratic principles practised by countries throughout the world, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and members of the European Union. The eyes of the world are indeed watching the behaviour of Boston and the U.S. political system to see whether the U.S. will meet it’s self-espoused democratic principles and allow peaceful dissent without interference.