The event, staged by several online-rights advocacy groups, drew members of the computer, media, and legal worlds, in its message to Congress to uphold the mandates of the First Amendment. Each speaker lambasted Congress for its continuing encroachments on the First Amendment. Michael Godwin of EFF shredded page after page of copies of the First Amendment, signifying Congressional lack of regard for the mandates of our Founding Fathers. Audrie Krause, Executive Director of CPSR protested that the censorship provided by the proposed amendment to Section 402 are the equivalent of padlocking the press, closing down the libraries, and shutting down the schools. Included in the Free Speech Blue-Book were pages upon pages of Internet pages and items which would be banned from the Internet.
Parents can determine what is decent for their own kids.
Keep family values in the family. Despite the power of the underlying theme, the overriding message of the day was that a mere protest, while encouraging and powerful, would be ineffective in swaying Congress from its present course regarding the amendment. Audrie Krause, Executive Director of CSPR, emphasized that the Bill may be pushed through Congress in its current form unless stopped. Each speaker emphasized the imperative for continuing, individual activity. The Free Speech on the Internet rally was a huge success despite having to reschedule on short notice due to the storms lashing the Northern California coast.