Outlawing the Occupy Movement: H.R. 347 Makes Free Speech A Felony

(WASHINGTON DC) - Once signed, HR 347 will empower federal agents to arrest and bring felony criminal charges against citizens engaged in political protests anywhere in the USA.

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America reads as follows:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

At 7:03pm ET on Tuesday, 28 February 2012, our 112th Congress violated this covenant with the American people by voting 399 to 3 in favor of H.R. 347, a bill which breezed through the Senate with unanimous consent and now lacks only corporate fascist puppet President Barack Obama's signature to become law. The three patriots who voted Nay were Paul Broun (R-GA-10), Justin Amash (R-MI-3) and Ron Paul (R-TX-14). The traitors who voted Yea are listed here:

Euphemistically titled the "Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act" and referred to by our corporate-controlled mainstream media as a "non-controversial bill", a more truthful moniker for HR 347 would be the "First Amendment Rights Eradication Act". As Representative Amash lamented on his Facebook page:

"Current law makes it illegal to enter or remain in an area where certain government officials (more particularly, those with Secret Service protection) will be visiting temporarily if and only if the person knows it's illegal to enter the restricted area but does so anyway. [H.R. 347] expands current law to make it a crime to enter or remain in an area where an official is visiting even if the person does not know it's illegal to be in that area and has no reason to suspect it's illegal... [And to] show you the extent to which the public is misled and misinformed about the legislation we are voting on, read one prominent media outlet's coverage of the same bill:

The report mischaracterizes not only current law but also the changes proposed by the bill."

Obviously aimed at the Occupy Movement, these modifications to U.S. Code Title 18 Section 1752 will seriously diminish the right of American citizens to petition their Government for a redress of grievances by outlawing protests where key government officials or other VIP's may be nearby. Federal law enforcement agents will be empowered to bring these charges against Americans engaged in political protests anywhere in the country, and violators will face criminal penalties that include imprisonment for up to 10 years.

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joedupont March 15, 2012 10:21 pm (Pacific time)

The bulk or the Senate, House of Representatives and the President have decided that anyone who protests any place where the Secret Service is being utilized should get up to 7 years in prison. Your fate will be determined by who ever the Secret Service is covering. Look up HR 347. These are the same people who decided that the President can have you "Taken Out" , Killed, "Waisted" without a trail or jury if you are perceived as a threat to "nation security". Yet a serial killer or those who bombed the World Trade Center can only get life in prison in NY! The US Constitution is dead! And the average fluorinated water drinking ,Vaccine injected schlemiel is clueless. They just keep going with the program. Meanwhile, Companies like Monsanto and the World Banks keep dividing the pie. Something big is happening around the world and I fear that we are next.

Sickofit March 14, 2012 5:32 am (Pacific time)

So instead of complaining and posting this on facebook, what are we actually going to do about it??

Editor: What we are doing is operating a tremendously high-ranked news Web group on a shoestring, we are at least getting the important stories into the mainstream on Google. Tell people about us, there is a tiny group out of Oregon that is linked to the world from eight straight years of publishing news, tell people we are the answer, and if we ever found real support, we could stand this world on its head. People fail to understand this most important idea that I personally launched almost 8 years ago, after leaving the ABC station in Portland, Oregon. Tell people about Salem-News.com, thanks!

Rwolf March 13, 2012 11:22 pm (Pacific time)

Free Speech If You Dare? How Far will Congress Go--TO CRUSH POLITICAL DISSENT? Congress just passed H.R. 347: The Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011. Federal Government potentially can use vague terms in H.R. 347 to charge, prosecute and imprison anyone—who intentionally or unintentionally (enter or remain without permission) in any part of a restricted building or grounds designated restricted by the Secret Service or Homeland Security; or disrupt or intend to disrupt a function of Federal Government. Visitors, who don’t know it is illegal to be at a location including assembled persons; or protestors may be charged as criminal trespassers—without prior notice a person under Secret Service protection was present or coming to their location. Innocent protestors standing too close to a debate venue could be prosecuted. What is too close? H.R. 347 mentions a building or grounds restricted in conjunction with a restricted area or event designated as a (special event of national significance). The term (In Conjunction) is so vague there is no limit what areas government might include and without notice as (restricted or a designated area). Homeland Security designated e.g. as a (special event of national significance) Super Bowl XXXVI and the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions. How close is too close for lawful demonstrators or supporters to the Democratic or Republican National Convention before being arrested under H.R. 347, especially when government can instantly deem a location restricted? NEXT: Will U.S. Deem 1st Amendment Activities—SUPPORT Terrorism, Hostilities, Belligerents? Where U.S. Government appears headed with the Patriot Act, The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 and recently introduced “Enemy Expatriation Act” that would allow U.S. Government to Strip Americans of Citizenship without evidence or a conviction—is getting Congress to grant U.S. Government (The Executive Branch) the Power to arbitrarily arrest, charge, Indefinitely Detain Americans that participate in 1st Amendment activities (on the premise) certain 1st Amendment Activities appeared intended or were used to support or provoke hostilities, combatants, belligerents; terrorism and or threaten National Security. It is foreseeable millions of Americans would increasingly not attend political meetings, peaceful protests or make comments on the Internet out of fear they might be arrested, lose their job; be put on Homeland Security’s NO Hire List, especially if they work for a government agency or contractor—that happened in Nazi Germany.

Jarod Cook March 13, 2012 8:58 pm (Pacific time)

The following is a copy of the bill. H. R. 347 One Hundred Twelfth Congress of the United States of America AT T H E S E C O N D S E S S I O N Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third day of January, two thousand and twelve An Act To correct and simplify the drafting of section 1752 (relating to restricted buildings or grounds) of title 18, United States Code. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011’’. SEC. 2. RESTRICTED BUILDING OR GROUNDS. Section 1752 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ‘‘§ 1752. Restricted building or grounds ‘‘(a) Whoever— ‘‘(1) knowingly enters or remains in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority to do so; ‘‘(2) knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions, engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in, or within such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds when, or so that, such conduct, in fact, impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions; ‘‘(3) knowingly, and with the intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions, obstructs or impedes ingress or egress to or from any restricted building or grounds; or ‘‘(4) knowingly engages in any act of physical violence against any person or property in any restricted building or grounds; or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b). ‘‘(b) The punishment for a violation of subsection (a) is— ‘‘(1) a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both, if— ‘‘(A) the person, during and in relation to the offense, uses or carries a deadly or dangerous weapon or firearm; or ‘‘(B) the offense results in significant bodily injury as defined by section 2118(e)(3); and ‘‘(2) a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, in any other case. ‘‘(c) In this section— H. R. 347—2 ‘‘(1) the term ‘restricted buildings or grounds’ means any posted, cordoned off, or otherwise restricted area— ‘‘(A) of the White House or its grounds, or the Vice President’s official residence or its grounds; ‘‘(B) of a building or grounds where the President or other person protected by the Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting; or ‘‘(C) of a building or grounds so restricted in conjunction with an event designated as a special event of national significance; and ‘‘(2) the term ‘other person protected by the Secret Service’ means any person whom the United States Secret Service is authorized to protect under section 3056 of this title or by Presidential memorandum, when such person has not declined such protection.’’. Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.

Debra March 13, 2012 6:14 am (Pacific time)

When are the American people gonna start standing up for themselves? We impeached Nixon for far less than this. Stand up America quit being passive. One person had the power to changed Prayer can you imagine the Power if we united to change our politicians.

MPBulletin March 11, 2012 12:40 pm (Pacific time)

While the beginning of the bill does sound like it could apply to such things as protests the latter portions make more distinctions as to what properties and activities this applies to; `"(1) the term `restricted buildings or grounds' means any posted, cordoned off, or otherwise restricted area-- `(A) of the White House or its grounds, or the Vice President's official residence or its grounds; `(B) of a building or grounds where the President or other person protected by the Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting; or `(C) of a building or grounds so restricted in conjunction with an event designated as a special event of national significance; and `(2) the term `other person protected by the Secret Service' means any person whom the United States Secret Service is authorized to protect under section 3056 of this title or by Presidential memorandum, when such person has not declined such protection.'. (Speaker of the House of Representatives, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.) " And it also seems to clarify that this applies to disruption a bit more serious than protests in this section; "`(b) The punishment for a violation of subsection (a) is-- `(1) a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both, if-- `(A) the person, during and in relation to the offense, uses or carries a deadly or dangerous weapon or firearm; or `(B) the offense results in significant bodily injury as defined by section 2118(e)(3);" Here's the bill's text: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c112:7:./temp/~c112uQ8cLo::

Bill March 9, 2012 9:14 am (Pacific time)

Correct me if Im wrong on this one, but HR 347 is an amendment to TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE PART I - CRIMES CHAPTER 84 - PRESIDENTIAL AND PRESIDENTIAL STAFF ASSASSINATION, KIDNAPPING, AND ASSAULT

UndreDog March 7, 2012 7:31 pm (Pacific time)

I am a Tea Party member. I hope you are opened minded enough to lit me speak. I agree this action of stoping our free speach is wrong. I support your right to say what you think. I hope you will allow me to do the same. Please lit us work togather and stop this illeagel act. Please do not lit them stop you from speaking your mind, where and whin you desire. Please join us in stopping this. We are on the same side. We all know that HR 347 and 1794 are wrong and aginst the First amindment. I am not your enemy. I have fought for your wright to exersice your freedoms given to all of us under the Constitution of the United States. Lit us not fight each other, lit us join as brothers and sisters and fight aginst this tyranny. You have been deceived. No one stopped to ask during the hope and change montra, what kind of change. Is it true hope, or falts hope, just to decieve us. I beleave in GOD. I try not to lie or deceive any one, but some time I fall short, but not on purpose. Liying is a sin. I am the real thing, not some poser. If we do not join togather, and defeat this illagel act aginst our rights, we will not be a free people. I am willing to dye for my nation, for my freedom to speak freely. To worship my GOD as HE and I see fit. The choice is yours. Lit us not be enemies, but brothers and sisters in freedom.

March 7, 2012 10:22 am (Pacific time)

Humanity got brainwashed by who wants to be a millionaire.

terry wagar March 6, 2012 9:51 am (Pacific time)

Charge a cop with a actual feloney, that's when you find out there is no law or due process in this country.

Police in this country kill people, unarmed people, all the time, and yet they do not stand trial in a criminal court.

Call 911 and charge a cop with a feloney and that's when the police start smirking at you, and at that point they have their bro's at the hospital whip up some paperwork labeling you as mentally ill. and everybody knows the police have a history of beating to death people they "label" mentally ill.

You will find out after the fact that your 911 call was covered up and authority's have mad a medical "paper trial" that will label you mentally ill and it will be a permanent part of your record.

Without your knowledge or consent.

This is how our "Government"protects it's minions from the very laws they impose on us, just one out of many ways our government covers their butts.

Paul R March 5, 2012 10:02 am (Pacific time)

Stop whining. There IS a difference between protesting and taking over public or private property for an extended periiod of time and thus creating an expense (health, safety, security) for taxpayers to pay for. Get a permit, hiold your marches and speeches, and then go home. Absolutely no rights lost. You have no "right" to take property over for months at a time.

naomi March 3, 2012 12:57 am (Pacific time)

Anne, please tell me you're joking. Ron Paul is a Congressman, which is what our House of Representatives is comprised of. The link to view the entire House's vote is included in the article. You can clearly see that Ron Paul is most certainly in the House, and he mosr certainly did vote against this bill. Keith Ellison, by the way, is also a member of the House, and voted YES. The Hill's story is not just misleading; it's a flat out lie.

Ian MacLeod March 2, 2012 5:06 pm (Pacific time)

"What has happened to humanity?" Those in charge now are only PARTIAL humans - they are sociopaths. No compassion, no empathy, no conscience. Only greed, ambition, and a willingness to do anything at all they can get away with, including murdering any number of REAL humans.

Miniprotester Todd March 2, 2012 10:47 am (Pacific time)

There is another way around this. Rather than focus on the site of the "political VIP presence" let's do MINIPROTESTS ON THE ROADS THAT LEAD TO THE EVENT. If they do manage to take away our freedom to protest on site, let's go where they can't crimp our style. And with the miniprotesting format of four people per corner, we maximize our numbers and can line the inbound arteries for miles. And with small groups, no permits or permission can be required. Here's how miniprotesting works: Miniprotests are made up of three small groups of four spread out over three consecutive street corners. Each group within this protest string has someone in its center holding a 30" x 40" main sign at waist level. The three folks around the central miniprotester hold traditional signs overhead. That way the focus of passing motorists will be on the three main signs at eye level which provide a running message like the old Burma-Shave rural roadside ads. This format allows a few seconds (or minutes if traffic is really bad) for folks to digest each part of the message before they see the next. See more details on miniprotesting at: http://miniprotests.com Used in this manner, a main sign inscription set could be: Corner #1: [Name of targeted representative], You Can't Hide Your 1% Ties Corner #2: Millions Know You Support the Ryan Budget and Fought Consumer Protection Agency Corner #3: [rep], Your Political History Will Make You an FTR: Final Term Republican Imagine 20 protest strings radiating out from an event in all directions, not only catching the eyes of the intended political target, but all his supporters/donors/corporate puppet masters too. Maybe they'll realize that supporting this candidate is just throwing money away, because it won't yield the influence it is intended to buy. That's what 240 people can do in the miniprotesting format. All the different protest strings can have different messaging, or simply change the items on the second sign. They don't have enough Secret Service personnel to line every street for miles. This will be the answer if it is our only option. This is how miniprotesting can be used in Direct Target mode. For General Target mode, influencing the general population, why not Occupy Commute Routes in this same manner? You could use main sign inscription sets like these: Corner #1: Senator _________ Thinks GOP = FFH: Freedom From History Corner #2: ________ Voted for Ryan Budget But Claims to Care for Elderly Corner #3: ________ Hopes You'll Forget He Prioritized Millionaires Over Grandma and #1: Republican Policies Sent Jobs Overseas, Put 50% of Wealth in Hands of Top 1% #2: Republican Aversion to Oversight Created Banking Bust, BP Oil Disaster #3: Today’s GOP: Putting America on the FAST TRACK to MEDIOCRITY and #1: GOP’s Austerity Agenda Exploits Your Pain for Their Political Gain #2: GOP Stifling Economy in Hopes You’ll Blame Obama and Democrats #3: Don’t Let Yourself Get PLAYED by the GOP: the Greedy One Percent Live out the miniprotesting motto: On the Streets, WE ARE HOPE The fuse is lit on corporate domination, and our hats go off to the Occupy movement for pushing change forward.

MindOpenWhy March 2, 2012 8:18 am (Pacific time)

Just curious why does this article say the third Nay voter was Ron Paul but on the article you link to at thehill.com says Keith Ellison was the third Nay voter?

Anne March 2, 2012 12:37 am (Pacific time)

Since when is Ron Paul in the House? I think Keith Ellison (D-MN) might be disappointed you left him out.

karyn` March 1, 2012 4:35 pm (Pacific time)

third try with a simple statement...It will not be posted. Peace to all.

Editor: Karyn, our comments are all approved by living people and we are often bogged down with publishing, nothing personal, I fond one other comment from you and it is approved, thanks.

karyn March 1, 2012 4:33 pm (Pacific time)

What has happened to humanity?

Tino Fuentes March 1, 2012 2:37 pm (Pacific time)

They have taken are freedom of speach, they have bought are freedom of the press, what is next, concentration camps? Oh yeah, that's FEMA! If we don't wake up and fight now. We are surely heading for a goverment made catastrophe

Jose Vega March 1, 2012 2:23 pm (Pacific time)

Occupy for life! 1 Love!

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