Tear down this fence! (before it gets built)
The idea of a massive "pope fence" around Philadelphia for the papal visit is a terrible one.
When Pope Francis comes to Philadelphia in September, he's scheduled to appear at an event in front of Independence Hall, where our Founding Fathers celebrated "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in 1776. There, the pontiff will speak on religious freedom and also on immigration, presumably in favor of freer movement among the world's peoples. Unfortunately, to see that you may have to get through or over the Great Wall of Philadelphia, the kind of security fence that might make Donald Trump salivate if we could only move it 1,500 miles or so south:
Federal officials and organizers said Monday that they are discussing the possible construction of a fence as high as 8 feet around parts of Center City as security for Pope Francis' visit in September, but that talks are still preliminary.
A source involved in the event planning said portions of Center City would be surrounded by fencing, but that the footprint of the security perimeter is being worked out and is largely contingent on the pope's Philadelphia itinerary, which could change in the next three months.
The U.S. Secret Service, which would have the fencing constructed, said the barriers are not definite.
Blogger's note: I'm writing NAACP stuff and taking my belated July 4 holiday...regular blogging returns next week!