Boycott Miami?

<<Outside of Miami, Americans have the
right to freedom of speech, the right to peaceably assemble, the right
to be free of unreasonable search and seizure, the right to reasonable
bail, the right to a speedy trial, and the right to be free of cruel and
unusual punishment. There are thus numerous cities in the United States
where professional academic societies may gather and spend millions of
dollars without supporting violent attacks on a democratic citizenry.>>


Unfortunately, this is something of an exaggeration.  Last year, an anti-war 
demonstration with more unequivocally peaceful intent than the FTAA protests 
was disrupted by NYC police.  Recall that Chief Timoney, responsible for much 
of the mayhem in Miami, was also in charge of the police at the Philadelphia 
Republican convention in 2000.  At the DC IMF/World Bank meeting a couple of 
years ago, hundreds of protesters, and at least one Washington Post reporter, 
were swept off the sidewalks by police preemptively.  I could go on.  We need a 
concerted effort to recover/expand civil liberties within the entire US.  There 
are already some tensions between communities in Miami and the protesters as a 
result of our failure to build adequate links early on.  Thus a boycott should 
be approached with some caution.

Steven Sherman