OGDEN -- The right of all Americans to a trial by their peers was at the heart of a protest at noon Monday by about 20 members of the Occupy Ogden movement.
Marching and chanting at the Ogden Federal Building, the protesters expressed their concern over the U.S. Senate's National Defense Authorization Act, Senate Bill 1867, passed Dec. 1 by a vote of 93-7.
At issue was the bill's provisions that "mandate military detention" of anyone anywhere named by the president as a terrorism suspect or supporter of al-Qaida, the Taliban or "associated forces."
There is also U.S. House Bill 1540, passed in May and called the Defense Authorization Spending Bill, with similar provisions of concern to those who protested Monday.
"We think the military provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act are pretty scary and dangerous," said Ogden resident Carol Sullivan.
"Collectively, there are several clauses requiring detention of anyone accused of terrorism."
She said a top concern is a provision for trying suspected terrorists in military court rather than civilian court.
"We are not in an active, endless war right now. We should be ending military detention camps, not expanding them."
Sullivan said she and other Occupy Ogden supporters are hoping to get area residents to contact their members of Congress and voice their concerns.
During the protest, members of the group visited the Ogden office of Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and challenged Hatch to justify his vote of approval for the bill.
While the Occupy movement nationally has focused on economic justice, Sullivan said these bills, which could become law, threaten anyone's ability to voice their opinions on any subject.
"This was very sneaky how this was brought to a vote while everyone was distracted with the budget issue," she said.
"It's a bit far from where we are right now. I don't think anybody is worried about being arrested, but it's a step in the wrong direction. We think the FBI and its resources are enough to address terrorism."
Peggy Bon, of South Weber, said she participated Monday because she doesn't believe many people know what trouble the country could be in if clauses in these bills become laws.
"I was writing something on Facebook to a friend in Helper," she said. "My friend is married to a Buddhist. Her husband's grandfather was at Topaz (an internment camp in Utah for Japanese-American citizens during World War II). I've read a lot about Topaz, and that could happen to us."
During Monday's protest, participants expressed several ideas by chanting in unison:
"We will stand for justice, for the rule of law, for the right when arrested to be charged with a crime, the right to a trial, the right to freedom of speech and conscience.
"Hear us! Listen! We will NOT be silenced. We will take our government back. By the people, of the people, for the people. We stand in solidarity with the people's movements around the world."
There were economic messages, too.
"We won't let the banks, the corporations, the sold-out politicians continue to steal our houses, our jobs, our future, our hope," protesters chanted.
"We will speak out. This is what democracy looks like."
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