BIZARRE BEHAVIOR IN AMERICA’S TIKRIT

[anarchy1999]

Snip:
THE BUST

Back in May, a large peace rally was held in Austin. The Dallas Peace Center chartered a bus to go to the rally. I, along with a full busload of people, crowded on board with signs denouncing Bush and his war. After a great demonstration, we headed back to Dallas, but word had gotten out that Bush was at home on his ranch near Crawford, Texas. Bush was hosting Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

The Dallas Peace Center had recently bought a house in Crawford, just over the tracks from the center of town. We decided to go to the Crawford Peace House for dinner and a visit.

I must say that I wouldn’t sleep in that house for fear that I might not wake up. While we were there, several locals drove by shouting obscenities or making gestures.

snip:
THE TRIAL- PART 1
The trial began, presided over by Judge David Pareya, on Saturday, February 7, and there were another bus from Dallas, another caravan from Austin, and a lot of individuals joining them at the Crawford Peace House to march (with a permit) to the makeshift courthouse arranged at the recreation center. The use of the center was due to the fact that the city officials said it was large enough for the expected crowd. It was conveniently down a country road, far away from any traffic, businesses or even residences. Only the army of cops and local birds and squirrels observed the march to the center.

snip:
THE TRIAL- PART 2
The trial resumed on Monday, February 16 with Chief Tidmore back on the stand. This time, he obviously had been undergoing coaching. He backed off his earlier statements by saying that one has to “consider the totality of the situation.” He repeated that phrase over and over. In fact, defense attorney, Jim Harrington, couldn’t get a yes or no answer from him anymore. There was simply “the totality” answer again and again. As before, Tidmore averted his eyes, constantly looking up to the ceiling with furrowed brow.

snip:
THE BIGGER PICTURE

No matter what the outcome of the appeal of the Crawford Five, there is an overriding factor, an obvious one. These city ordinances are absolutely in conflict with the First Amendment rights awarded us by our country’s forefathers. Arguably the two most important rights supposedly guaranteed by the Bill of Rights for which men and women have fought and died for over two hundred years, the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are essential to liberty and a threat to the right wing agenda.

snip to the end:

Last summer, I was part of a “meeting of the minds” involving fewer than fifty people sitting on the ground in the shade of the trees in a park, when the police came to us to let us know that they would tolerate our illegal gathering this once, but next time, we’d better have a permit. We had decided to hold the meeting at the spur of the moment. There were larger groups holding birthday parties at the park..with NO PERMIT! Perhaps birthday parties will be next.

How did we allow this to happen? Why are we not rallying to have these ordinances declared unconstitutional? If we consent to this digression to law before the American Revolution, we shall surely soon be shackled by those who see themselves as rulers rather than public servants. Folks, there is a reason this was the first amendment in the Bill of Rights.

Perhaps peace groups, labor unions, civil rights organizations and the like should discontinue filing for permits. Maybe we could all wear T-shirts, sweatshirts or jackets with the following notice printed on front and back in case attacked by a local “peace officer” wanting to remove our rights: “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.”

Perhaps we need to take this to the highest court in the land (if they aren’t busy choosing our president). Without freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, my fellow Americans, we are doomed!

Permission granted from author for length of post.

http://www.texaspopfestival.com/notes_from_the_underground/bizarre_behavior_in_americas_tikrit.htm

www.texaspopfestival.com

[mike1963]

1. Do you have a link to the full article?

...

[anarchy1999]

2. Kicking Up!

n/t

[anarchy1999]

3. Back up one more time.

n/t

[gratuitous]

4. If they're busting up park meetings

If the local constabulary are busting up park gatherings (in clear violation of the Constitution), but leaving adjacent birthday parties alone, the solution is pretty simple. Send someone to the local chain grocery store and pick up a standard issue seven dollar birthday cake. When the pigs come oinking by, you whip out the cake, and turn the meeting into a birthday party. Now they have to bust both parties or neither.

Golly, did the sixties teach today's progressives nothing?

[anarchy1999]

5. Crawford is a tiny town. No Chain Grocery Stores, no place to buy a cake.

You really have to see Crawford to believe it. It is so much not Dubya's kinda place!