AltWeeklies Wire
Organize Locally, Annoy Globallynew
At protests across the U.S., members of the Worldwide Street Preachers Fellowship target gays, Christians, women and liberals with signs worthy of Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps. And, when arrested, they successfully sue cities for violating their First Amendment rights.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Marty Levine |
08-10-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Government Seeks List of Visitors to Voting Web Sitenew
Computer-voting watchdog Bev Harris is squaring off with federal authorities over the government's request for information about visitors to her internationally renowned Web site, www.blackboxvoting.org. While Harris is determined to resist the government's investigation, a national expert on press freedom says the Renton, Wash., muckraker will almost certainly face extensive fines or jail time if she refuses to cooperate.
Seattle Weekly |
George Howland Jr. |
08-07-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Government's Assurances of Humane Treatment Can't Be Trustednew
Just last month, the Supreme Court heard three cases concerning the rights of "enemy combatants" being held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in U.S. Naval brigs off the American coast. One issue at stake is whether the government -- specifically President Bush -- should be trusted to handle prisoners in an appropriate manner.
Boston Phoenix |
Harvey A. Silverglate and Carl Takei |
08-07-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Student's Protest of Torture Brings Two Felony Chargesnew
A Boston College student was arrested for standing in front of a military recruitment office impersonating an abused Iraqi prisoner.
Boston Phoenix |
Camille Dodero |
08-07-2004 |
Civil Liberties
U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh Worries Civil Libertariansnew
Mary Beth Buchanan, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, champions some of the Bush administration's most controversial proposals, including the USA Patriot Act.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Chris Potter |
08-07-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Dissent-Chilling Tactics Could Affect Summer's Anti-War Protestsnew
Ever since the 1999 Seattle WTO protests, law-enforcement officials have been perfecting a strategy to defang demonstrators, and they're likely to apply it at this year's Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
Boston Phoenix |
Steve Stycos |
08-07-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Civil Rights Rollback: The Spread of Racial Profiling since 9-11new
By presenting race-based profiling as necessary to homeland security, the Bush administration has traded the principles of universal equality and individual dignity for the presumption of safety.
The Village Voice |
Chisun Lee |
08-05-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Plugging the Memory Holenew
A Tucson-based cyber journalist fights government secrecy, one Freedom of Information request at a time
Weekly Alibi |
Tim McGivern |
07-12-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Tags: civil liberties
The Supreme Court Shines Some Light into the Bush's Gulagnew
The enemy within: in a trio of cases, the Supreme Court shines some light into the Bush administration’s gulag. But for "enemy combatants" both here and in Guantánamo, it’s not yet time to celebrate.
Boston Phoenix |
Harvey Silverglate |
07-08-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Faith of the Fathers: “Under God” Argument Is More Than Academicnew
What's it like when your child's classmates tell her she's going to hell?
Metroland |
John Rodat |
07-06-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Freedom Fighters 2004: True Patriots Actnew
Three-hundred and thirty American communities have passed resolutions sending a message to Congress: United they stand against unconstitutional provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. Six of these communities are in Montana, and Whitefish is currently debating whether it wants to be number seven. Who’s behind opposition to the PATRIOT Act in the Treasure State, and what’s got them quoting so much Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin?
Missoula Independent |
Mike Keefe-Feldman |
07-01-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Tags: civil liberties
The 2004 Muzzle Awards: 10 People and Institutions That Undermined Free Speechnew
The Phoenix's annual Independence Day round-up of free-speech enemies. (Contains New England examples.) Plus a 700-word runners-up sidebar.
Boston Phoenix |
Dan Kennedy |
07-01-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Art School Shuts Down Student Papernew
At San Francisco's Academy of Art, the biggest art school in the country, the administration has expelled two students for edgy writing, let go two professors who complained, and shut down the school paper that tried to cover the controversy.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Rachel Brahinsky |
06-16-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Road Rules: The Cloudy Constitutionality of Police Drug Roadblocksnew
At face value, it would appear that the "K-9 Drug Checkpoint One Mile Ahead" sign operated near Interstate 55/70's Black Lane exit in Collinsville, Ill., is baldly unconstitutional. But looks can be deceiving, and in the still-emerging field of law-enforcement-checkpoint constitutionality, deception can often be better than playing it straight.
Riverfront Times |
Mike Seely |
06-16-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Tags: civil liberties
Waiting to Inhalenew
San Francisco cops keep busting medical marijuana growers. One prosecutor is trying to develop less arbitrary guidelines. So where are the city's political leaders on an issue they claim to support?
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Ann Harrison |
06-11-2004 |
Civil Liberties
