====== FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ======
America First Party
1630 A 30th Street #111
Boulder, Colorado 80301
http://www.AmericaFirstParty.org
Friday, February 28, 2003
Party Applauds Supreme Court Decision, Urges Vigilance
Boulder, CO - The America First Party salutes the Supreme Court's decision
Wednesday protecting the rights of political protesters and rebuffing the
Bush Administration's assault on the First Amendment.
National Chairman Dan Charles said, "The Court's decision in Scheidler v.
N.O.W. is a bold and welcome strike against efforts to silence pro-life and
other political dissent. The Court's finding that vigorous political
dissent, even civil disobedience, can not be squashed by reckless
racketeering charges, gives a real boost to the hearts and the spirit of all
freedom-loving Americans."
The Bush administration had intervened on behalf of N.O.W. and various
abortion providers against Joseph Scheidler and other pro-life activists in
an attempt to silence their political protests on behalf of unborn children.
The Supreme Court's 8-1 decision rejected the Department of Justice's
argument that vigorous political protests, including demonstrations and
sit-ins, constitute extortion and federal felony violations of the Hobbs
Act.
National Secretary John Pittman Hey added, "The Supreme Court stood up for
the First Amendment. Under the cover of fighting a so-called 'war on
terrorism', the Bush Administration has methodically undermined the Bill of
Rights. The Supreme Court's rejection of Bush's latest attempt to sabotage
Free Speech is a testament to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers, who
created checks and balances in our system of Government to stop abuses such
as this."
Mr. Charles continued, "The absurd and unjustifiable arguments made by the
Bush Justice Department were repudiated by liberal and conservative Justices
across the board, by both supporters and opponents of the right to life.
Unfortunately, Bush isn't giving up--he's already nominated one of the
architects of this failed attack on the First Amendment, Miguel Estrada, to
the federal bench. No doubt he will try to push through more legislation to
stifle political dissent, all of course in the name of a 'war against
terrorism.'"
Press Secretary Romelle Winters said, "Wednesday's Supreme Court decision
protecting the First Amendment and respecting the rights of pro-life
Americans underlines the importance of careful scrutiny of Bush's judicial
nominees. Bush lost in the Supreme Court, but his nomination to the Federal
Bench of Miguel Estrada should set off alarm bells, not just for those who
support civil rights for the innocent unborn, but for all Americans
concerned about the erosion of our Constitutional Liberties."
Contacts:
Dan Charles, National Chairman, 1-866-SOS-USA1, ext. 4
Romelle Winters, Press Secretary, 1-866-SOS-USA1, ext. 2
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