Preparations for the RNC and DNC

In the middle of all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the Republian National Convention, a hefty dose of heavily-armed police repression of citizens exercising 1st Amendment rights is planned.  Convention insiders, namely candidates, delegates, lobbyists and billionaires who pick up the tab, will remain unmolested and oblivious to authorities in riot gear, unlike the commoners assembled and speaking outside the hall, who will find themselves thrust into the middle of a temporary police state.   

Tampa’s mayor heeded the call of GOP officials by passing a temporary ordinance green-lighting protest suppression and relegating those animals who dare to engage in the festivities to containment corrals.  Arrests en masse, preventative detentions, and gendarme infiltrations will be the order of the day (or should I say the entire week of the convention's duration?).  The city's legal eagle promises zero tolerance for 1st Amendment "troublemakers." 

Water pistols are taboo, but concealed weapons are encouraged (LOL).  Regardless of their numbers, public expressions of dissent will be confined to out-ofsight, off-road “viewing areas” and “parade routes.”  On the other hand, organizers have made clear their intent to move about and speak out freely, as Americans are inclined to believe is their right.  Low-income alliances plan to camp out on private property in “Romneyville,” and provide safe harbor for those who believe GOP policies will explode poverty nationwide.   

The 1^st Amendment was never intended to protect partisan powers-that-be FROM speech they find offensive or, worse still, threatening to their aspirations to higher office. 

By contrast, DNC security Charlottesville ordinances prohibit camping out in public areas and the use of cables, bars, projectiles, spray guns, breakable containers, aerosol containers, fireworks, smoke bombs, pepper spray, mace, masks, scarves, body-armor, helmets, and police scanners.  That’s it.