US Supreme Court Refuses SC Free Speech Case

Yesterday the Supreme Court upheld Brett Bursey's conviction for holding up a "No War For Oil" sign when Bush visited Columbia in 2002, a decision which will only encourage further restrictions on the right to protest. Charleston Peace is a member of the SC Progressive Network.

Today the US Supreme Court declined to hear Brett Bursey's appeal of his Free Speech case, ending a four-year legal battle that began when he refused to go to a "free speech zone" while protesting President Bush's visit to Columbia in 2002. Bursey is the Director of the South Carolina Progressive Network, an 11-year-old coalition of organizations and individuals.

Bursey was holding a sign that said "No more war for oil, don't invade Iraq" when he was told to go to a distant "free speech zone" or be arrested on local charges of trespassing. "I told the police that I was in a free speech zone called the United States of America," Bursey said.

The trespassing charges were dismissed four months after the arrest, and the Secret Service immediately brought federal charges.

Bursey is the first and only person to ever be prosecuted under the federal statute that governs Threats to the President. After being refused a jury trial, he was convicted and given a $500 fine.

Bursey still owes thousands of dollars for taking the case to the Supreme Court, and also now must pay the $500 fine. "As this ruling limits everyone's free speech, I am looking for 499 other Americans who are as angry as I am over the loss of constitutional rights under George Bush to join me at the federal court house and pay a dollar each." Bursey said he will announce a date to join him in paying the fine.

For more information visit:

Supremes Uphold Conviction in landmark free speech case (Facing South Blog)

South Carolina Progressive Network Free Speech Zone