Can we perform a citizens' arrest on our "leaders"?

[StellaBlue]

Seriously. Someone tell me.

[Greeby]

1. Sure, if you fancy being shot nt

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Of course not. That would be an act of rebellion,

Liberty Leading the People (1830) by Eugène Delacroix
From the website of the University of Southern California

[tocqueville]

5. of course yes. It's called revolution. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Shhhh . .. . don't say that too loud

You'll get Homeland Security on us.

Use your secret decoder ring.

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. Yes, but isn't that OK in the old constitution?.

I guess that was just that crazy guy Jefferson spouting more of his seditious ideas.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Nope. It becomes "illegal detainment" or something like that

Maybe even a terrorist act against an elected official and therefore, by definition, high treason.

I doubt you would be allowed to live long enough to see even a show trial.

[onenote]

4. no

[originalpckelly]

7. You can, but it is recommended that you witness the crime...

you can be charged with misprison if you aren't correct. You do not have the ability to arrest someone on suspicion in other words.

In the case of someone protected by the Secret Service, it might be an interesting challenge to see if they agree with you and follow the law or they agree with the politician.

[bowens43]

8. Try it and you'll end up in gitmo

[rubberducky]

9. I can`t figure out why we can`t have something like..

the million man march. Only our`s would be the million++++++++ person march on the white house. Peaceful, of course. IMHO, this would be most effective if they steal the election again, and we march for impeachment or resignation.

[StellaBlue]

10. Yes

But I can't take time off work (literally, I am not allowed time off til July 2007!). We should have a mass march on DC and marches in every other town square in America, one person or one thousand.

[rubberducky]

12. Seems to me we could get enough people

I know a lot of people couldn`t get off, but if it was strategicaly planned around a holiday?? Most of our budgets are tight, but maybe we could car pool (we would certainly have enough to talk about!). It`s just a thought, but it brought a lot of attention to "the million men"!It certainly beats doing nothing!!

[seriousstan]

11. For the same reason you can't herd cats......they all go different ways.

When you have a "big tent" party, you have differing views and interests. Even here at the DU we have very diverse views and this is a rather small community.

[tocqueville]

14. one million isn't enough

you need to be at least 5-10 millions and occupy the square until the law is changed.

1-2 millions in Paris is what the French use to gather, 3 millions in the whole country for a very controversial law. France has 60 millions inhabitants. Compare with the US.

what you need is a peaceful revolution with occupations and strikes. If the sitting power starts to shoot at you,
then you know what you are dealing with.

They don't care about a million.

[StellaBlue]

15. Indeed

a general strike is necessary

but an impossibility

I am tempted to run away (if only)

[stevietheman]

16. I don't know if we "can", but there may come a time in the near future...

when we will _have_ to do it. One trigger probably will be if Bush attacks Iran. At that point, revolution may be the only thing that saves us from a world war.

[Crabby Appleton]

17. It depends on who you mean by "leaders"

The President - you may not and can not (Secret Service won't let you)

http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/sitting_president.htm

State laws vary on Citizen's Arrest, for instance N. Carolina prohibits it; in most states it could be used for felonies and certain misdemeanor committed in your presence. It is a bad idea in general unless you really know what you're doing and what the law in your state is. Some states have other laws about interfering with certain government officials in the performance of their duties. Law enforcement personnel will generally tell you that if you are aware of the commission of a crime you should report it to the proper authorities.

As for other issues raised here, you may also wish to review the various sections of US Code Title 18 Chapter 115 and imagine how prosecutors and courts may view some actions.