National NDAA protest day in Dallas, Texas at Pegasus Plaza

Today, February 3rd, 2012, across the United States, people have been out protesting section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act; quietly signed into law by Barak Obama on New Years eve. In Dallas people from a number of freedom loving groups, including the Libertarian Party, Tea Party, Texas Liberty Campaign, Dallas Activism for Ron Paul, and others, protested downtown during lunch hour; despite the overcast weather and scatter showers.

Over 800 fliers were handed out around the intersection in front of Pegasus Plaza, by just over a dozen people. Signs were also held up to catch the attention of hundreds of motorists, all in an effort to raise awareness of the freedom threatening portions of the 2012 NDAA. They spent two hours talking with people walking to and from work for lunch, and others going about their business. Many were uninterested, but some were surprised by the information being disseminated.

The fliers claimed that section 1021 of this year’s annual NDAA, provides the Military with authority to “suspend due process and habeas corpus, as well as other rights guaranteed by the 5th and 6th Amendments… for terror suspects apprehended on U.S. soil.” This new athority could easily be abused to “detain (forever) anyone the government considers a threat to national security … in military custody forever without trial!”

The scariest thing about this relates to the 2009 Homeland Security Memo in which the term terrorist was interpreted to include any person who supports state authority over federal authority (despite the 10th amendment), or those who are dedicated to a single issue such as abortion, immigration, gun rights, and the like. It even listed Christians who believe in “end time prophecies“.

The fliers were promoting H.R. 3785, presented by Ron Paul, a bill to repeal section 1021 of the NDAA. They were also providing pre-written letters to Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson, for people to sign and mail in. These letters pointed out the authorization congress has given to the President, and listed things congress must do to remove this authority.