If environmental protestors burned something without permits,

[Capitalocracy]

they would be charged with terrorism under the law as it stands today.

Not that that's right. I hope the fact that they're going to let this Quran-burning go forward at least stands as a precedent for the right to free speech and helps restore the rule of law. Somehow I doubt it. Bad news today on that front in terms of throwing out torture cases due to "state secrets". Torture shouldn't be a state secret... it should be out in the open and prosecuted.

[hughee99]

1. It seems to me if environmental protestors are burning something

as part of their protest, they're probably not doing a very good job staying "on message".

[Capitalocracy]

2. Yeah, it's a hypothetical

But they have been convicted of terrorism for committing acts of vandalism during a protest.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. True, but this is not vandalism, its provocative sacrilege

[Capitalocracy]

4. Burning without a permit is comparable

Any infraction done as part of a protest can now be construed as terrorism, if they want to do so.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Vandalism is essential criminal, buring without a permit is civil

Maybe they could make it terrorism, but I doubt it.

[Brickbat]

6. "Burning something" is vague. If it's someone else's property, it's vandalism. If it's their own,

it's nothing more than a WTF moment.

[pipoman]

7. If the permit is denied based on political

or ideological reasons, I believe it would be a fairly serious constitutional infringement