Occupy Provo and a Utah Valley University anti-capitalism student group are planning to protest what they say is an assault on civil liberties.
Occupy Provo and the Revolutionary Students Union will meet at noon Saturday at the Historic Utah County Courthouse, 51 S. University Ave., and proceed to the J. Will Robinson Federal Building, 90 W. 100 North. The groups are protesting the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act and the Enemy Expatriation Act.
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Occupy Provo: www.occupyprovo.org
UVU Revolutionary Students Union: www.uvursu.com
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Provo Police Sgt. Matthew Siufanua said he was not aware of the protest but didn’t anticipate any problems, citing Occupy Provo’s past activities.
"As long as they get the permits, and do it legally," Siufanua said, "we haven’t had any problems with them."
Occupy Provo has previously staged protests at Zions Bank Financial Center, the Wells Fargo Bank building and the county courthouse, which houses offices for Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
Provo’s federal building houses the U.S. Forest Service offices.
The Defense Authorization Act, which sets the military budget, contained an amendment that critics say allows the government to indefinitely detain suspected terrorists — including U.S. citizens — without a trial.
The proposed Expatriation Act, sponsored by Rep. Charles Dent, R-Pa., and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., would strip of their U.S. citizenship any Americans who engage in or support terrorism against the United States. The dual bills remain in committee.
Occupy Provo sees the acts as threats to civil liberty.
Occupy Provo is Utah County’s branch of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The Revolutionary Students Union describes itself as a "non-tendency anti-Capitalist" group.
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