* CAMP DEMOCRACY September 5 - 21, Washington D.C. *

* CAMP DEMOCRACY September 5 - 21, Washington D.C. *: "Home » blogs » davidswanson's blog
Banned in Washington-Where’s the Free Speech?
Submitted by davidswanson on Fri, 2006-09-08 22:18.
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.)

For those of you who do not know Ann Wright, she is a very gentle and kind woman, committed to peace in this world. I am outraged that this verdict has been handed down. Freedom of speech is dead in this country!