A written exam administered by the Pentagon labels “protests” as a form of “low-level terrorism” which has enraged civil liberties advocates and activist groups who say it shows blatant disregard of the First Amendment. The written exam, given as part of Department of Defense employees’ routine training, includes a multiple-choice question that asks: “Which of the following is an example of low-level terrorism?” - Attacking the Pentagon - IEDs - Hate crimes against racial groups - Protests The correct answer, according to the exam, is “Protests.” “Its part of a pattern of equating dissent and protest with terrorism,” said Ann Brick, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which obtained a copy of the question after a Defense Department employee who was taking the test printed the screen on their computer terminal. “It undermines the core constitutional values the Department of Defense is supposed to be defending,” Brick said, referring to the First Amendment right to peacefully assemble. “That’s illegal,” said George Martin, national co-chairman of United for Peace and Justice. “Protest in terms of legal dissent has to be recognized, especially by the authorities. “It’s not terrorism or a lack of patriotism. We care enough to be active in our government. Year after year, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is passed. In spite of promises to veto the bill due to unconstitutionality, President Obama has continued to sign the bill into law. According to section 1021 of the NDAA, the government can detain anyone they want, for any reason they want, without a trial, without a lawyer and without anyone ever knowing if that person is deemed a threat to national security. So my question is, when are they going to start rounding up peaceful protestors who are low-level terrorists due to their so called threat to national security?
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 01:59:25 +0000
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