The US Supreme Court declined to hear Brett Bursey's appeal of his Free Speech case, ending a four-year legal battle that began when he refused to go to a "free speech zone" while protesting President Bush's visit to Columbia in 2002. Bursey is the Director of the South Carolina Progressive Network, an 11-year-old coalition of organizations and individuals. 

Bursey paid his $500 fine on Friday, Feb. 24, and invited 499 other people who are as angry as he is about what George Bush is doing to our country to bring a dollar and join him to pay what he calls "the rising cost of free speech."  Members of Charleston peace joined him in Columbia to stand up for our free speech.