Late last week, the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, announced a settlement that the federal governement had reached in a suit brought against it by Jeff and Nicole Rank.
Three years ago, the Ranks attended a public rally for President Bush. They’re not supporters of the President, and wore homemade t-shirts to prove it. They were quickly escorted away in handcuffs and charged with trespassing.
The Ranks followed with a civil suit, which was dropped after the agreement was reached last week. During the case, the Administration admitted to a policy of hiding dissent from cameras and microphones, by use of anti-demonstration “rally squads.”
So, is $80,000 worth your right to express your opinion?
More on:
ABC News video from 2004 election showing that both parties are guilty of stifling dissent here.
AP story on the settlement between the Ranks and the federal government here.
The Presidential Advance Manual, which gives instructions to “rally squads” as how to best hide demonstrators from view, here (courtesy of the ACLU).
(the audio clip in today’s story is from an interview given by Jeff Rank at the 2006 ACLU Membership Conference. Hear him tell the story of what happened here.
