Jim Kirwan: The Death Of Free Speech

"Free Political Speech" was murdered in Chicago at the Democratic Convention of 1968, by uniformed thugs of the mayor of Chicago. The ensuing riots during which television reporters were beaten on-camera, over the protests that were being held against the Vietnam War, in the streets outside the Convention Center. No officers were punished, and from that day to this, Americans have not had the right to protest at political conventions in the United States. Because the public did not protest this treatment then, or at any time since 1968, we have now lost not just the right to speak freely but the constitution, and the entire Bill of Rights as well! "For five days in August, the nation's Democrats assembled in Chicago to nominate a presidential candidate at a convention that would quickly spiral out of control and reflect the domestic chaos of the Vietnam era. Between 10,000 and 15,000 demonstrators were arrayed against 12,000 police and 6,000 National Guard troops, with an international press contingent of more than 1,000 on hand to record events inside the International Amphitheatre and outside at locations from Lincoln Park to Grant Park. Chants of "the whole world is watching" were broadcast as hippies, Yippies and the National Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam (Mobe) clashed with police at dozens of locations. Chicago's star turn on the world stage was cut in half Monday after President Barack Obama made a surprise shift of the May G-8 international summit from his hometown to Camp David. The full complement of downtown security concerns remains however. Chicago will keep the NATO meeting, meaning diplomats and protesters will still descend on Chicago by the thousands for a gathering of world leaders May 20-21. The abrupt change of venue came after Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city's host committee spent months pumping up events as an international showcase for the city. Among other things this week the world is nearing the extinction of life in the oceans.