REGIME SETTLES FALSE ARREST SUIT OVER ANTI-BUSH T-SHIRTS

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A couple arrested at a rally after refusing to cover T-shirts that bore
anti-President Bush slogans settled their lawsuit against the federal
government for $80,000, the American Civil Liberties Union announced.
Nicole and Jeffery Rank of Corpus Christi, Texas, were handcuffed and
removed from the July 4, 2004, rally at the state Capitol, where Bush
gave a speech. A judge dismissed trespassing charges against them, and
an order closing the case was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in
Charleston.

"This settlement is a real victory not only for our clients but for the
First Amendment," said Andrew Schneider, executive director of the ACLU
of West Virginia. "As a result of the Ranks' courageous stand, public
officials will think twice before they eject peaceful protesters from
public events for exercising their right to dissent.". . .

The ACLU said in a statement that a presidential advance manual makes it
clear that the government tries to exclude dissenters from the
president's appearances. "As a last resort," the manual says, "security
should remove the demonstrators from the event."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070817/ap_on_re_us/bush_protesters_lawsuit_2


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