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Protests a form of Terrorism?
Key Excerpts from Article on Website of Fox News
Posted: July 12th, 2009
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,526972,00.html
A written exam administered by the Pentagon labels "protests" as a form of low-level terrorism enraging civil liberties advocates and activist groups who say it shows blatant disregard of the First Amendment. The written exam, given as part of Department of Defense employees routine training, includes a multiple-choice question that asks: Which of the following is an example of low-level terrorism? Attacking the Pentagon IEDs Hate crimes against racial groups Protests. The correct answer, according to the exam, is "Protests." Its part of a pattern of equating dissent and protest with terrorism," said Ann Brick, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which obtained a copy of the question after a Defense Department employee who was taking the test printed the screen on his or her computer terminal. "It undermines the core constitutional values the Department of Defense is supposed to be defending, Brick said, referring to the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble. She said the ACLU has asked the Defense Department to remove the question and send out a correction to all employees who took the exam. There were other employees who were unhappy with it and disturbed by it, Brick said. Anti-war protesters, who say they have been targets of federal surveillance for years, were livid when they were told about the exam question. Thats illegal, said George Martin, national co-chairman of United for Peace and Justice. Protest in terms of legal dissent has to be recognized, especially by the authorities. Its not terrorism or a lack of patriotism. We care enough to be active in our government.
Note: For lots more on the continually-escalating government threats to civil liberties, click here.
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