Six to Be Tried in Pa. Bush Thong Protest

[quaoar]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4551799,00.html

By DAVID B. CARUSO
Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union is defending six men who were arrested during one of President Bush's visits to Pennsylvania because they stripped down to thong underwear and formed a human pyramid to protest the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq.

The six were hauled away by police and charged with disorderly conduct on July 9, shortly after piling atop each other at the side of a road carrying Bush's motorcade in Lancaster County.

The men said they were trying to shame the president by re-creating an image of naked prisoners forced to assume a similar position by U.S. soldiers.

They weren't breaking any laws and should have been left alone, said Paula Knudsen, an ACLU attorney.

[rumguy]

1. one of those protests I'm glad I missed

[PretzelWarrior]

2. what's worse? the arrest for this protest? or finding it in UK news?

I mean...that type of thing should be on our newspapers and broadcast news. Why can't news media be more adversarial and act like it's their job to push past sound bites for the TRUTH?

I'm really happy those guys put their thongs to good use.

[gauguin57]

3. Note this is an AP story -- it was reported nationally a few weeks ago

in the U.S.

We LOVE our Smoketown Six here in Lancaster County (where the Abu Ghraib pyramid re-enactment/arrest occurred).



I hear they periodically protest Bush outside the Lancaster County courthouse...

FREE THE SMOKETOWN SIX!!!

I've gotta send this to Olbermann!

[gauguin57]

4. Oh, and here's their Web site....

http://www.thesmoketownsix.us/

[sherilocks]

5. Is it illegal to wear a thong, to lie down on the grass?

What exactly did they do that was disorderly. Oh, * was driving by. I hate, hate, hate, what * is doing to this country?

[napi21]

6. That's my question too. I suppose the offense could be

creating a public disturbance, public nudity, or disorderly conduct, but I really want to know what the real reason was!

[gauguin57]

7. Lancaster County is fascist Republican Hell.

You do the math.

Be sure to watch the video on the Web site ... these guys have ... uh ... GUTS ... wait till you see all the naked heineys in the pyramid!

[napi21]

9. I did watch the video. I thought they had a great idea for the protest!

Sure didn't need any signs, even for shrub to understand what they meant!

I know a little about Lancaster. I grew up in PA. But, like it or not, they do still have to choose SOME LAW that has been violated...even in Lancaster.

[Eye and Monkey]

10. They could always "demonstrate to the court" at their hearing.

Would that then be considered a "show cause" hearing?

[liberal N proud]

8. Great idea for a protest, but I am afraid bush and his supporters

would not understand it.
They are simply that narrow minded to think it related to Abu Ghraib.
Hope they get off.