San Francisco transit blocks cellphones to hinder protest

[TheProfessor]

San Francisco transit blocks cellphones to hinder protest (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/13/san-francisco-transit-blocks-cellphones-hinder-pro/)

Transit officials blocked cellphone reception in San Francisco train stations for three hours to disrupt planned demonstrations over a police shooting.

Officials with the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, better known as BART, said Friday that they turned off electricity to cellular towers in four stations from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. The move was made after BART learned that protesters planned to use mobile devices to coordinate a demonstration on train platforms.

The tactic drew comparisons to those used by the former president of Egypt to squelch protests demanding an end to his authoritarian rule. Authorities there cut Internet and cellphone services in the country for days earlier this year.

[boutons_deux]

He hoo controls the communications controls the power.

Any US govt forcing a private telecoms company to shut down telecoms facilities for political reasons is clearly a case of govt abridging free speech. The ACLU, etc should be all over this one.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

They need to plan ahead better. Major metropolitan planners have an time for at least the near future.

things are right on the brink of getting really ugly and California with its immense fall from grace is just ripe for another row of social unrest.

z-L3D8vKBCM

[DarrinS]

And in liberal Mecca

[FuzzyLumpkins]

And in liberal Mecca

With your views on economics you would think that you made about 5 times as much as you actually do. Cannot quite get outside that box can you?

Still crunching those budget numbers for a greater understanding there for us?

[DarrinS]

With your views on economics you would think that you made about 5 times as much as you actually do. Cannot quite get outside that box can you?

Still crunching those budget numbers for a greater understanding there for us?

Non sequitur

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Non sequitur

Why? While it is not apparent to you the link between your need to dumb down things to try and understand them and your masochistic view on economic policies, there is one there nonetheless.

[ElNono]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183590&page=6

[TheProfessor]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183590&page=6
Sorry, didn't realize.

[ElNono]

np... it might not be a bad idea to have it in it's own thread

[Wild Cobra]

He hoo controls the communications controls the power.

Any US govt forcing a private telecoms company to shut down telecoms facilities for political reasons is clearly a case of govt abridging free speech. The ACLU, etc should be all over this one.
I don't think so considering they were relay points within the station. Not outside towers.

[boutons_deux]

Even in the stations, you're on public, tax-payer owned property. They are still private communications. Very definitely the govt restricting free speech.

[Wild Cobra]

Even in the stations, you're on public, tax-payer onwed property. They are still public, private communications. Very definitely the govt restricting free speech.
Maybe, maybe not. Freedom does not mean anarchy. People are placed in charge of public places for a reason. Right or wrong, they made a decision that is probably perfectly legal. I guess we will find out if the ACLU thinks they have a case. They will surely jump on this if they think it has merit, then we will see if they win.

Do you have the right to bear arms in a courthouse? It's a public place.

[MannyIsGod]

You just compared a cell phone to a gun?

Do you have a right to speak to others in a courthouse is far more applicable.

[Wild Cobra]

You just compared a cell phone to a gun?

Do you have a right to speak to others in a courthouse is far more applicable.
And why does one constitutional right have more or less bearing than another?

[MannyIsGod]

:lmao

[baseline bum]

It's a valid point, Manny. WC's conspiracy theories are a deadly weapon that could make any rational human in that courthouse want to run out and play in traffic.