3 ms·

I wonder what would happen if someone did the same in the US. We do have the first amendment and all, but an airport? It seems that the constitution is null an

by readme 14y ago

I wonder what would happen if someone did the same in the US. We do have the first amendment and all, but an airport? It seems that the constitution is null and void in all situations relevant to airports now.

rayiner 14y ago
The scaling back of these protections isn't unique to the airport context. The breakdown of Constitutional protections against search and seizure happened back in the 1970's and 1980's, under the conservative Burger court (in conjunction with the drug war). Middle class people are just noticing now, in the airport context, what poor minorities have been dealing with for a couple of decades now. That said, I'm not aware of any similar breakdown in 1st amendment protections. The author's tweet in America would be evaluated under a test that would look at whether people would actually consider his statement to be a threat (keeping in mind that the internet makes it uniquely hard to convey context that might mitigate words that are threatening on their face). So far as I know, courts have been following this pretty faithfully.
- readme 14y ago
  I agree that minorities have totally been screwed on the 4th amendment. Same with middle class people too now. There are warrant-less checkpoints all over the country. Fortunately, there is one fairly good guarantee of protecting your fourth amendment rights. Your smart phone. If you suspect you're about to be unconstitutionally searched, bust out your smart phone, say I do not consent to this illegal search loud and clear, and film the cop. If he doesn't try to steal your phone, you're all set!
ljf 14y ago
Not quite the same, but recently two Brits were turned back and denied entry to the US, after 'jokey' twitter threats to dig up the body of Marilyn Monroe: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-tourists-arrested-digging-marilyn-monroes-grave-destroy-america-285955 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-tourists-arrested-d...
- JonnieCache 14y ago
  I think that one was more to do with their unfortunate use of the phrase "destroy america," which in UK parlance can mean "to disrupt with heavy drinking and debauchery." One might say, the morning after the night before, "We fucking destroyed that club last night! It was crazy." A very bad choice of words to be read by US immigration.

by readme 14y ago

rayiner 14y ago

The scaling back of these protections isn't unique to the airport context. The breakdown of Constitutional protections against search and seizure happened back in the 1970's and 1980's, under the conservative Burger court (in conjunction with the drug war). Middle class people are just noticing now, in the airport context, what poor minorities have been dealing with for a couple of decades now. That said, I'm not aware of any similar breakdown in 1st amendment protections. The author's tweet in America would be evaluated under a test that would look at whether people would actually consider his statement to be a threat (keeping in mind that the internet makes it uniquely hard to convey context that might mitigate words that are threatening on their face). So far as I know, courts have been following this pretty faithfully.

readme 14y ago
I agree that minorities have totally been screwed on the 4th amendment. Same with middle class people too now. There are warrant-less checkpoints all over the country. Fortunately, there is one fairly good guarantee of protecting your fourth amendment rights. Your smart phone. If you suspect you're about to be unconstitutionally searched, bust out your smart phone, say I do not consent to this illegal search loud and clear, and film the cop. If he doesn't try to steal your phone, you're all set!

ljf 14y ago

Not quite the same, but recently two Brits were turned back and denied entry to the US, after 'jokey' twitter threats to dig up the body of Marilyn Monroe: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-tourists-arrested-digging-marilyn-monroes-grave-destroy-america-285955 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-tourists-arrested-d...

JonnieCache 14y ago
I think that one was more to do with their unfortunate use of the phrase "destroy america," which in UK parlance can mean "to disrupt with heavy drinking and debauchery." One might say, the morning after the night before, "We fucking destroyed that club last night! It was crazy." A very bad choice of words to be read by US immigration.