Thursday, April 03, 2003

The War on Dissent: Southern Discomfort edition

War protesters say threats have become serious
Scott O’Bryan, a University of Alabama history professor and co-chair of the Tuscaloosa Peace Project, said the group has received six or seven e-mails and phone calls over the last few days from people unhappy with them.

One e-mail ended with, “And oh, yeah, get the hell out of my country you traitor." The message was sent by someone identifying himself as “Your Worst Nightmare."

One person told O’Bryan over the telephone that there were people in Tuscaloosa planning to “do certain things" to the protestors.

“It’s definitely meant to intimidate," O’Bryan said.

Also noteworthy was this remark:
Capt. David Hartin, Tuscaloosa Police Department spokesman, said officers will patrol more often during the group’s protests. He said the police can do little beyond that. He said charges could be filed against people whose comments to protesters rise to the level of intimidation or threats.

“If you’re following the national news, there are quite a few people who are expressing their disgust against people who are protesting," Hartin said. “People have their freedom of speech."

Translation: The cops may step in after a victimized protester has been assaulted, but don't count on anything beforehand.

Sounds like the good ol' days have returned to the South.

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