West Point allowed to suppress free speech

This story proves one thing: It doesn't take even a rudimentary civics education to serve on a federal jury.

Back in 2004 - at the height of Bush's fascism - a group of 8 antiwar activists attended the Army-Navy basketball game at West Point. When they got to the game and sat in the stands, they removed their jackets, which revealed t-shirts that spelled out, "U.S. OUT OF IRAQ."

Shortly thereafter, they were ejected from the facility by military police. Later, the garrison commander banned them from even appearing at West Point for 5 years.

All because of a difference of opinion. If their shirts favored the war, they would not have been thrown out. You know it, and I know it.

The 8 antiwar protesters sued West Point plumb to court for violating their free speech rights.

During the trial, West Point's facilities manager was caught contradicting an earlier deposition he made about the incident.

This should have dashed West Point's case altogether. But nope. These days, the less you know about the Constitution, the more likely it is you'll be allowed to serve on a jury. If you ever get called in for jury duty, you may notice that the attorney for one side will try to exclude prospective jurors who seem knowledgeable about even basic constitutional law.

Even the judge thought it was strange that the facilities manager's memory suddenly improved during the trial.

The judge even reminded the jury that there was no regulation prohibiting protests at the facility at that point in 2004. (A regulation was enacted only later.)

Naturally, the jury ruled against the protesters, and said West Point did not violate their free speech - even though it did.

The taxpayers are paying for West Point to suppress free speech because they disagree with it?

(Source: http://www.lohud.com/article/2009907150333;
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jLLkowXiOVW2HEWjiLjp1DjC6TIQD99JPVA01)