Evil Stalks The Land

"George W's Independence Day trip to Charleston was billed as an official presidential visit, not a campaign rally. Nicole and Jeff - two patriotic, hardworking, taxpaying Americans - were in the crowd, quietly exercising their free-speech rights. They wore T-shirts declaring: 'Love America, Hate Bush.'

They had proper tickets to the event, they proudly sang the National Anthem with everyone else, they were in no way disorderly - but they were not politically correct, so they were summarily arrested, taken to jail, finger printed... and charged with 'trespassing.' Others who were there wearing pro-Bush T-shirts and Bush campaign paraphernalia at this public event on public property were not arrested. It seems that the Bushites define 'trespassers' by their political beliefs.

Nicole, who worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Charleston, was promptly told that her services were no longer required. Technically, she wasn't fired, but she was 'released' from her job and not reassigned - meaning she no longer gets paid.

But Nicole and Jeff are still not bowing to King George. Despite the financial hardship, they're fighting Bush's absurd, un-American assault on their constitutional right to dissent. They're not the only ones being denied their right to speak out - dissenters all across America are being treated like this. To fight this autocratic lockdown, call the ACLU: 212-549-2500. "

- story from Working For Change.