Protesting and Terrorism
Reported by Melanie - July 20, 2004 -
Today (July 20, 2004) on Your World w/Neil Cavuto, Cavuto opened the show by saying that a New York judge "just said no" to searching protesters' bags at the Republican convention. Cavuto asked: "Did he just give a green light to terrorists?"
Toward the end of the show, in the last full segment, the guest was lawyer Jim O'Dea. O'Dea was on to discuss a ruling handed down yesterday by New York judge Robert Sweet. You can read more here in this New York Times article.
The New York Police Department wanted to be able to search, at will and without giving a reason, any citizen of New York City during the pendency of the Republican National Convention. The judge said they couldn't; they still had to articulate why someone was suspicious enough to search.
Mr. O'Dea was delighted with the ruling, saying, after all "it's been the law for 30 years." You can't search someone without probable cause. Additionally, all convention goers can and will still be searched at the door; this ruling only applies to searches outside on the streets of New York City.
COMMENT: Note Cavuto's fear mongering intro? Note the tie between this ruling, protesters and terrorists? No doubt Fox will expand their perceived link between protesting and terrorism as we approach the conventions. It's another way to demonize a whole class of people, all of whom are as much citizens of this country as Cavuto is.
