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> Mon., July 5, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
The USA Patriot Act
Suppression of Public Protest
Civil Liberties in Australia
FSRN Headlines
Special Documentary
On this special Independence Day edition of Free Speech
Radio News – we bring you three segments – each
focusing on the limits imposed on the independence of individuals
following the attacks on September 11. We begin with an overview
of the relationship between personal freedom and national
security as altered by the USA Patriot Act. We will then
look at one of the effects of the Patriot Act – repression
of public dissent -- and the movement to counter limitations
placed on political protests. And finally, we study the impact
the US led war on terror has had on the independence of Australians
and the increased prevalence of racism toward Arab and Muslim
communities there. Please stay tuned.
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The USA Patriot Act
The signing of the Declaration of Independence on July
4, 1776 explicitly confronted governmental tyranny. While
declaring it the duty of the people to throw off such a
government, Congress wrote that the new government should
lay its foundation on “such principles and organizing
its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely
to effect their Safety and Happiness.” We take a
look at this historic constitutional balance between security
and liberty as an area in which we have seen major shifts
since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Namely, through
the implementation of the Patriot Act. Jenny Johnson has
our story. [top]
Suppression of Public Protest
Everyone knows that the Republican National Convention
is coming to New York City. But contrary to cheery ads featuring
former New York mayor Edward Koch, preparation for the
convention is not all peace and goodwill. Up to 10,000
police will be deployed in the vicinity of Madison Square
Garden during the Convention. And according to a recent
economic analysis, revenues from the Convention will be
$184 million at most, much lower the $260 million claimed
by the city's administration —and that’s not
even factoring in security costs. Last week, New York City
officials announced that some sections of 7th and 8th Avenues
will be closed while the convention is in session and serve
as a protest pit for demonstrators. This as the New York
City Council passed Resolution 389-A, which calls on Mayor
Bloomberg to protect First Amendment Rights by ensuring
that protesters have sufficient access to the streets.
And people who want to voice their opposition to Republican
policies and the nomination of George Bush are using multiple
strategies, in courtrooms and in the streets, to protect
protest. Nell Geiser has more. [top]
Civil Liberties in Australia
The US-led war on terror has had a profound effect on civil
liberties in Australia, and has resulted in the country’s
conservative government passing a raft of anti-terrorism
legislation since 2001, which have substantially eroded
rights. Worse, still, civil liberties groups claim that
a rising tide of racism against Australia’s Arab
and Muslim communities has been one of the side effects
of the government’s efforts to crack down on terrorism.
As Erica Vowles reports, the latest legislation to pass
through parliament - the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2004 - has
these communities concerned that the situation will only
get worse.
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