>Or, since they're also advancing a political message of 'fear', maybe it will be terrorism?
I think you're really reaching there. Things are bad, but lets not kid ourselves from pretending that things are that bad. If we mindfuck ourselves into believing that the government wants to label everyone that disagrees as a terrorist, are we really any better than those that believe Obama is a Kenyan born muslim whose sole purpose in life is to invoke Sharia law on the US?
A long time ago, some crackpots thought protests were worth protecting. Can't remember who they were, must not have had much impact...
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/historicallegislation.html