F9/11 Leafletting Almost Ends In Arrest-Similar experiences?

[travisleit01]

So tonight a group of Dems went to leaflet at a local theater in a conservative part of the town. This theatre is huge (24 screens) and there is a huge parking lot connected via a bridge to the theatre. We were standing on the parking lot side of the bridge, asking politely if people were seeing Fahrenheit 9/11. About 30 min. into it, a security guard comes up and tells us we have to leave - private property. When we asked where public property was, he pointed to a sidewalk across the parking lot where no one even goes (it's not by any theatre exits or anything.)

So as we're being asked to leave, people are coming up asking for flyers. I told one guy as I handed him one, "We're being kicked out." The rent-a-cop got angry and said, "HEY! If you don't leave we're calling the sheriff - this is criminal trespassing." So we went inside the theater and they were watching our group (about 25 of us) the whole time.

Has anyone had an experience like this? And what (if any) laws are on our side?

(Nevertheless, people were so fired up after the movie, we just started handing them out to everyone in the lobby on the way out... people were swarming around us for the flyers.)

[AussieInCA]

1. lol freeper rent-a-cop, maybe he is aspiring to a job with Haliburton

[travisleit01]

2. They had several...

It was amazing to see them taking us libs so seriously. One guy was outside the entrance to the movie theater standing there like he was Secret Service. His arms were crossed in front of him and he didn't even move!

[countmyvote4real]

3. If that's the case, it seems like he's already lost his head.

Bless his heart.

[Colin Ex]

4. No, but here's what we did.

I work for the regional county campaign HQ, so here was our plan. Wednesday we called an Interfaith services group about organizing something: specifically, voter registration forms for the post F911 crowd. We called the theatre to request the opportunity to do something, whereupon we were informed the State ACLU was already operating something there. So I called the state ACLU and found out what was going on, offered to bring in voter reg forms for them, and peace and order ensued.

-C

[Nay]

5. No problems for two leafleters in Richmond last night. . .

but there were no cops there, either. Or protesters. Everybody was taking the leaflets.

[LTR]

6. Some rent-a-cops get uptight about soliciting on their property

That includes leafletting.

Even on obscure parts of the property, they will get uptight.

It's likely not a political thing, they do that with everyone. I got hassled once for handing out advertising for my old business once on a strip mall property. So I guess I'd cut them some slack.

And yes, they can call the police. But they must warn you.

Most rent-a-cops are on a power trip anyways.