The problem here isn’t free speech cages in and of themselves. The right to speech is derived from property rights. Since these lands are owned by the public government, according to rights theory, they should have the ability to dictate what is done on their plot of land. However, as a result of the whole “the public owns it” farce we come to a situation where there is a tragedy of the commons. Their founding documents claim that the public has the right to peacefully assemble and freedom of speech. Therefore one would derived the right to use common land as a platform for those. Let’s accept that as I think historically that can be shown true. What these protesters need to do then is disobey. Stop listening to the thugs who are attempting to disrespect their rights. During the 2004 Republican National Convention the NYPD had setup similar free speech zones. The Manhattan Libertarian party told the city to go pound sand and went off to Central Park and protested there. They received international attention for doing so and no one to my knowledge was harassed. I, however, who at the time was not an MLP member nor protesting, was nearly caught up in one of the NYPD’s protester nets where dozens were taken to Pier 57. Had I not found a low part in the orange netting and hopped over I may have ended up at the pier for just walking down the street. No damage should come of the cages or cameras nor should anyone get violent obviously. They should just not listen, en masse.

Part 2

5PM, 3 NYPD officers to the left of the turnstiles at the South Ferry 1 train station. None of them I recall seeing before. Two notice me and let me go by without harassment.

Not very consistent. I’m a threat on Thuesdays but not Wednesdays?

I think I’m going to send the NYPD some questions regarding the inconsistancy, walking to another station, etc.

Today, at about 5PM I was asked to have my effects searched by a man in a dark blue uniform who was armed and perceived dangerous.

But like last time I screwed up. My plans have been to say no, ask or say innocently something regarding the yellow line station across the street and go from there. In the least I want to take down the thug’s identification information, snap a few photos and hand out fliers I have printed out from FlexYourRights.org. Maybe walk up to the next 1 station and take it downtown over and over till he threatens to arrest me or actually does.

Sounds easy until you are actually standing there with 3 blue light gangsters staring at you with their hands on their belts… awfully close to pepper spray, a telescoping beating club and a handgun. While at the same time you have dozens upon dozens of people streaming into the station behind you.

This was the first time I’ve seen them setup behind the turnstiles. Normally the are just around the corner, just to the left side or across from them near the help booth and side entrance. So if it wasn’t for the fact that I have an unlimited rides card I would have been out $2.50. Perhaps I need to add that to my script. Asking for my money back.

So in any case all I accomplished was saying no, obviously annoying the thug and having him, after a few seconds of silent contemplation, telling me I had to leave. I said “fine” or maybe nothing at all and proceeded toward the yellow line station across the street. I doubled back in order to take some photos but I couldn’t get a shot through the windows because of the glare and I was not sure I wanted to push it by walking back in and snapping some pics. So I went to the yellow line. Hopped onto the W and went home. The suspected terrorist got away.

It takes most people a reasonable amount of mental perpareness to do what I’m trying to do. Hopefully next time I will be calmer and able to focus on what I need to do.