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Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
February 19th, 2014
07:29 PM ET
Activists beaten in Sochi on camera
New video has emerged of Sochi police beating members of the outspoken political activists and punk band Pussy Riot in the middle of the Winter Olympics. CNN's Ivan Watson reports on the fallout for Russian police.
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I am not here to bash any government or songs. I just want to express my opinion about this band and their conduct. These girls should probably go to law school if they want to be treated like normal people. Even in the US, a bill was passed in 2012 to expand existing anti-protest laws that make it a felony to enter or remain in an area designated as restricted. The word "restricted" has a very broad definition but that includes places designated as a special event of national significance. "I think Olympic games would easily fall under such law." Because of that many American protesters have been pepper sprayed, tasered, charged with crimes, etc., as well, simply because they don't follow that law and they think they can do whatever they want under the protection of 1st Amendment. Second, let's take NYC for example because that's where I live. There is a NYC Rule that prohibits public gatherings of people with masks. The explanation is very simple. The most common reason people wear masks is to hide their identity because they are thinking about or about to commit a crime. There are many ways to protest legally and that was clearly not the case. Yes, their treatment in Sochi is questionable, but again, they didn't get whipped by official Russian police and this is something for local government to deal with. So if you want to go out and gain international attention by acting like an idiot, then you will be treated like one. It doesn't matter where it happens, Russia, China, Europe, US or any other country. Read some law books or ask an attorney for an advice before you are about to do something you think is questionable under local and federal laws.