Obama Signs “Anti-Occupy” Law

By Daniel Hertz

Members of National Nurses United demonstrate in front of the White House on November 3, 2011. A bill signed by President Obama this week will increase restrictions on protest in certain parts of the District of Columbia.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In certain corners of the Internet, concern has been gathering about another so-called “Anti-Occupy” bill.

Last week, H.R. 347, otherwise known as the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act, passed the House 399-3, and on Thursday it was signed into law by President Obama. In response, bloggers from the libertarian Daily Paul to the leftist Daily Kos accused the federal government of gutting the First Amendment.

Did something important happen while the rest of us were rolling our eyes at Rush Limbaugh?

According to the ACLU, there is indeed something disturbing about H.R. 347—but it had already been part of federal law long before last week. 

The new bill modifies a 1971 law that restricted entering or blocking public areas cordoned off by the Secret Service while a protected individual is passing through, or during major public events like the Super Bowl or party nominating conventions. Violators can face up to a year in jail; if they’re carrying a dangerous weapon, it’s ten.

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