NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4931914.stm

Could someone explain to me how this woman broke the law?
A woman has appeared in court in Washington after heckling visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House.
Wang Wenyi, 47, was charged with harassing, intimidating and threatening a foreign official.

Is this really 'threatening'?
"Stop oppressing the Falun Gong" and "Your time is running out".

Does the First Amendment not protect her in this case, or did she break the law? If so, could someone tell me which law?

Fixed link :)

Your link ist kaputt.

Your link doesn't work. :(

Still it is ridiculous but since we are in the age of paranoia, giving any head of state translates into a plot to kill that person. Especially for someone like this, (was she even an American citizen) rights can mean nothing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4931914.stm

try that one

It's probably only being done to appease the Chinese.

Well, Bush's got to do this to appease the Chinese, which were obviously not amused.

Also, the Newshour with Jim Lehrer reckoned that many Chinese like their conspiracy theories, and the fact that the lady was allowed to yell for minutes and minutes until someone stopped her spoke volumes to them.

So this surely will get thrown out of court right? I mean, the First Amend. clearly trumps that prosecution charge.... right? :(

I suddenly feel worried for this woman.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4931914.stm

Could someone explain to me how this woman broke the law?


Is this really 'threatening'?
"Stop oppressing the Falun Gong" and "Your time is running out".

Does the First Amendment not protect her in this case, or did she break the law? If so, could someone tell me which law?

Fixed link :)
It was supposed to be a screened audience in attendance at that place. She violated that, so she should pay the consequences, but I don't like the Chinese government, so she has my sympathies.

That woman is a legend.

I can see how "Your time is running out" could be seen as a threat.

man....wtf...yeah thats all i have to say.

It was supposed to be a screened audience in attendance at that place. She violated that, so she should pay the consequences, but I don't like the Chinese government, so she has my sympathies.

So what should the charge been then? Trespass perhaps? Surely she's still got the right to freely speak her mind?

Shouldn’t we use this opportunity to show China, and its people, how great civil freedoms are by not arresting her? Bush fucking ruins everything.

Shouldn’t we use this opportunity to show China, and its people, how great civil freedoms are by not arresting her? Bush fucking ruins everything.
Great point.
Pretty fuckin' stupid really.

I can see how "Your time is running out" could be seen as a threat.

Pretty much. If somebody came up to me and started ranting about my time is running out, I'd figure either their loco or will have a more direct hand in my lack of time.

Unless of course I happen to be sitting in an exam hall and there's like 20 seconds left to finish the remaining 50% of the paper. Or a gameshow.

Pretty much. If somebody came up to me and started ranting about my time is running out

Oh but it is! You've got 60 years ... tops!

Shouldn’t we use this opportunity to show China, and its people, how great civil freedoms are by not arresting her? Bush fucking ruins everything.

Would have been a fabulous opportunity, but nope. It's just another coat of wax on the slide to dissention being made illegal. They've already got backdoor illegalities on it. Little things like "disrupting a federal visit" and "screened audiences" all add to it.

If it's one thing we've learned over the last 6 years it's that the First Amendment barely applies anymore. Any of it. Speech, Press, Religion? Forget it. If you're not a good Christian, Bush loving, troop supporting, Fox News watching yokel, then you're a traitor. Pure and simple. You hate America.

Hey, we've got the new sedition laws here in australia which means soon we won't be allowed to satire the government. Which means alomst every comedian on the planet will be out of a job :(

That is of course if they enforce it. But they can, we don't have a constitution to protect our rights, even a little bit.

She was released on condition she remained in New York City, did not approach the White House and came only to Washington for legal reasons.

She is supposed to remain in New York City...

...since when is the White House even close to NYC?

They should have switched the last part around to say:
"came only to Washington for legal reasons and did not approach the White House."

The Chinese are bringing Bush to his knees.

:D

Aye, they'er only prosecuting her to apease the Chinese as they hadn't offered then an official state visit and they fucked up by announcing the PRC national Anthem as the 'the Republic of China's National Anthem'. They won't have pleased the Chinese government much.

The sad part is not only is the first Amendment probably not going to save this woman, but also that the U.S continues to suckle from the teat of a government completely rabid with human rights violations, and absolute horrid treatment of its lower, and working class.
So, we not only ignore what she was saying, we kowtow to the violators, and arrest her in supplication.

Fuck you Bush.

Fuck you Bush.

Amen.

This reminds me of an old story back when Germany was divided.

The West German government had just made a deal that the East Germans release a political prisoner into West Germany, but as soon as the man stepped out of the bus that carried him into the next town he started a five minute rant against the West German government. Some people stared at him curiously, but nothing else happened. When a man who was with him on the bus asked him why he was so hostile to the government that just got him free, he replied, smiling: "Oh, I just wanted to do this one time without getting arrested for it".

I can see how "Your time is running out" could be seen as a threat.


Maybe it's a mis-translation. She could have been warning him that his watch had stopped.

This incident is very similar to one in the United Kingdom a few months ago. A gentleman sitting through a speech at the Labour Party Conference (Straw's I seem to recall) shouted out the word "poppycock" once and was immediately set upon by three or four thu... security guards. And the thing was, he had been a member of the Labour Party for years!

This incident is very similar to one in the United Kingdom a few months ago. A gentleman sitting through a speech at the Labour Party Conference (Straw's I seem to recall) shouted out the word "poppycock" once and was immediately set upon by three or four thu... security guards. And the thing was, he had been a member of the Labour Party for years!He managed to get an apology though. I doubt they meant it though (the apology).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4931914.stm

Could someone explain to me how this woman broke the law?


Is this really 'threatening'?
"Stop oppressing the Falun Gong" and "Your time is running out".

Does the First Amendment not protect her in this case, or did she break the law? If so, could someone tell me which law?

Fixed link :)

What is the law regarding protesting on White House grounds?

Bah, it reminds me of the time that guy got bungled out by bouncers for yelling "nonsense" at the prime minister but at least he wasn't actually arrested for it.

If it's one thing we've learned over the last 6 years it's that the First Amendment barely applies anymore. Any of it. Speech, Press, Religion? Forget it. If you're not a good Christian, Bush loving, troop supporting, Fox News watching yokel, then you're a traitor. Pure and simple. You hate America.

*burns the flag*

I'm a traitor and I still love America.

Bah, it reminds me of the time that guy got bungled out by bouncers for yelling "nonsense" at the prime minister but at least he wasn't actually arrested for it.

It wasn't even the Prime Minister. Can't say for sure (my memory's going) but I believe it was the Foriegn Secretary. Yes, good old Mr. Straw. Does anyone know how many times he's shaken the hand of an evil dictator?

He managed to get an apology though. I doubt they meant it though (the apology).

What's the betting that there wouldn't have been an apology if someone hadn't been filming that little altercation?

I'm with the woman here. Then again, when has America ever really been about "rights"?

I'm with the woman here. Then again, when has America ever really been about "rights"?

1776-1960s


...sans the slavery.

I've read that Epoch Times newspaper. It's an anti-communist paper that aims to reveal the evils of the CP of China.

People like these are unappreciated by most people, I think they deserve applause for what they do.

Still it is ridiculous but since we are in the age of paranoia, giving any head of state translates into a plot to kill that person. Especially for someone like this, (was she even an American citizen) rights can mean nothing.
Then why isn't anyone arresting Pat Robertson for calling for the assassination of Chavez?

Then why isn't anyone arresting Pat Robertson for calling for the assassination of Chavez?


...Because he's Jesus' go to guy.

Then why isn't anyone arresting Pat Robertson for calling for the assassination of Chavez?

If he went to a press conference that Chavez was giving and made those comments then I'm sure he would be arrested. Then again he may find his rights to free speech may go farther then that womans did.

Though in this case from what I've read she didn't even make any direct threats against the Chinese president. Bush is just sucking up to China so charging the woman is all politics.