Could a Selma-like protest happen today? Probably not

From the LA Times:

Protesters are relegated to 'designated speech zones,' sometimes blocks or miles from the venue. The federal courts have sustained such regulations as justifiable security measures. The purpose and effect of these regulations, however, is to render the protesters invisible.

To be sure, governments permit large organized marches when they want to. But the more pertinent question is this: Must a government allow large-scale protests when it would prefer not to?

More here.

This is total bullshit. It also stands as stark and depressing evidence that this country is much less free, much less democratic, than it used to be. Public demonstrations are the very essence of democracy. But government officials find them to be a nuisance, in virtually all cases, or, at least, all cases such that demonstrators disagree with government officials. And these days government officials, from the municipal level all the way up to the feds, get what they want. And that's total bullshit.

I am in a continual state of mourning for my country.

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