I read an article in my university's newspaper, and I thought the basis of it was intriguing enough to share with all of you.

Basically, it details a suit that the American Civil Liberty Union has filed against the Secret Service and the Philadelphia Police Department for deliberating forcing opponents of President Bush out of the eye of the public and the media by setting up "protest zones" whenever Bush or VP Cheney make presidential visits throughout the United States.

Such "protest zones" have been conveniently located in places out of Bush's sight, such as behind rows of buses and in clearing upwards of a mile or two away from wherever Bush would make an appearance. Protesters would be ordered to stay within the boundaries, and when they didn't they were arrested regardless of intentions and detained until Bush had left. The Secret Service claims such zones are set up as a safety precaution, but it makes you wonder when Bush supporters are allowed to riddle the streets with signs of approval while dissenters aren't.

Yeah, I know it's not verbatim, but it basically boils down to a blatant violation of the First Amendment. The reasons given for said actions are obviously false, and it tends to make people think they know they're crossing the Constitution.

Has anyone else heard about this?

"Nothing is more American than the ability to protest something you don't like, and nothing is more un-American than a government that attempts to hit the mute button when it hears something it doesn't like."