Occupy Oakland protesters issued city hall 'stay-away' orders

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/21/occupy-oakland-protesters-stay-away

Judge issues restraining orders to activists who participated in protests last fall, setting a troubling precendent, say critics

The American Civil Liberties Union's Michael Risher, who filed a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of four Occupy Oakland protesters, said the stay-away orders place a restraint on protesters who have not been convicted of any crime.

"If they violate the law, they can be arrested and prosecuted," he said. "But the government cannot in such extraordinary circumstances simply ban them from going out there and expressing themselves in the first place."

In many cases, they have been issued without presentation of evidence. Two weeks ago, a judge upheld the orders as constitutional because, she stated, Occupy is a "global movement", so protesters are free demonstrate elsewhere.