[ranxer]

i've seen it first hand.. its very disturbing and really pisses a lot of people off.. the police cut off exits and herd people into a group then say that we won't disperse! i almost got arrested for peeing in a bush after 2 hours of detainment, damn make sure you've hit the bathroom before joining a crowd. heh ..expect clashes to get worse.
the corporate prison system is surely gearing up to cash in on the patriot act.
according to the patriot act the people protesting can be detained as enemy combatants if there is any suspicion that some one could get hurt from a protest.. like maybe someone getting hit by a car by being in the street, this can be considered 'dangerous' and thus justifying the removal of the protestors constitutional rights and detain them indefinitely.

this is a little better than iraq though, for protesters run the risk of getting shot with more than tear gas and rubber bullets.. the pro-regime folks however get fuggin PAID to cheer for the soldiers.. it's freaking astounding what i've heard about that statue toppling scene after we 'liberated' baghdad.. i know many won't believe it but many witnesses have come forward to say that protesters were kept away by military while the cheering group was actually given money.. astounding.. i find it hard to imagine what the hell the organizers were thinking.