Following the successful (at least temporarily) Wikiprotest against the SOPA/PIPA legislations in the United States Congress, others are trying to form protests against the equally disturbing National Defense Authorization Act.
Opponents of the NDAA have pointed to Section 1301 of the bill as giving the government power to send the military to arrest American citizens who are deemed to have materially supported Al-Qaeda. The question is who deems that a person has done so since the judge and jury is the military. George Mason worried about just such types of legislation. At the ratifying convention in June of 1788, he said, “I humbly conceive there is extreme danger of establishing cruel martial regulations. If at any time our rulers should have unjust and iniquitous designs against our liberties, and should wish to establish a standing army, the first attempt would be to render the service and use of militia odious to the people themselves; subjecting them to unnecessary severity of discipline in time of peace, confining them under martial law, and disgusting them so much, as to make them cry out, give us a standing army. I would wish to have some check to exclude this danger; as, that the militia should never be subject to martial law, but in time of war.”
The public event was started on Facebook By Suzanne Noel and is planned for February 3rd. Her event description reads, “Americans across the country will gather outside congressional offices Feb. 3rd from noon to 7 p.m. to protest NDAA 2012 (H.R. 1540). You will find your protest location by looking to see how your congressmen voted.” She adds links to the offices and votes of your senators and representatives.
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