The city of Berkeley, CA has attempted to ban Marine recruiters from working in the city. Because they are using their free speech rights to stop the marines from trampling on other people's free speech rights - to say that they want to join the marines. I know, I don't understand Berkeley's argument either. Not that I'm in favor of the war, nor do I think it's okay that the military is seen as the only opportunity for advancement by many inner city kids, since the military is almost the only institution in the US that will provide training to people who were otherwise forgotten by the system. But that doesn't mean that the military in evil as a concept. It just means we have problems in America in addition to the war, and Berkeleians seem to have forgotten that in their rush to make their statement. That and banning speech doesn't exactly protect free speech. It in fact hurts the cause of free speech.
Articles here, here, here, and here.
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One interesting aspect of this case is that there's a ballot proposal being bandied about that would require military recruiters to obtain a permit before opening an office and would restrict their location to no closer than 600 feet to schools, churches, etc. It's modeled on the (constitutional) regulation of adult businesses.
Both sets of regulations are terrible for free speech, but I enjoy the equivalence of the danger of a military recruiter with the dangers of adult businesses. The issue was also discussed on Volokh.
As someone who grew up in a military family, has a .mil e-mail address for work, and even has close family members in the Marines, these tees me off.
The worst part isn't even mentioned in the blog entry or is debatd within the Volokh discussion: the Berkeley city council voted to provide benefits to Code Pink in direct opposition of the recruiting center. Additionally, it passed legislation calling on city citizens to act in protest. So, not only was the city council passing legislation passively resisting the Marines, they provided the means to actively protest.
Insane.
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