The officer refers to a lady. Apparently, this was a lady in a blue dress from earlier. From 30 plus feet away, Kristinn had yelled something like: "Be careful wearing that blue dress around Bill Clinton. He might have a flashback!"
It should be emphasized here that we've never had any DC Chapter members, or out-of-town FReepers demonstrating with us, arrested. We go out of our way to cooperate with police.
Seeing the officer walk up to Kristinn, I walked over to hear what the officer was saying. I missed the beginning of the conversation.
OFFICER(O) [seeing me walk up to where he was talking to Kristinn]: You in this conversation?
BILLF (B): Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm with him [pointing to Kristinn]. I just wanted to hear what the directions are.
O: You're going to have to stop shouting at the crowd 'cause if you get the crowd involved that will cause a disturbance. No shouting at them if you want to remain here. I can move you.
KRISTINN (K): It's a freedom of speech issue . . .
O [interupting]: No, no, no it's a . . .
K [continuing]: Has anyone from the crowd been aroused to come over? I've been doing this for an hour. . .
O [interupting]: I know but the lady who got out just this minute . . .
K [continuing]: I've done this at the White House for a few years . . .
O [interupting]: Why don't you shut up, sir, sir?
K [continuing]: I've done this everywhere around the city.
O: I don't care what you did. I'm telling you now that the lady got out and you were shouting at them, they were starting to come over here. OK?
K: That's alright. We're peaceful people.
O: No, by you shouting at them, caused them to be, form a disturbance. I'm telling you, if you want to stay here, you have to stop shouting at people. Or, I'll move you down the street or around the corner. It doesn't matter to me.
K: OK, I understand. I understand. You rule the streets.
O: No, I don't rule the streets. I'm telling you, the people gathered here, they get excited when they hear you shouting at them. I was standing right there.
K: Yeah, well.
O: Well, I tell you what.
K: I understand.
O: No debate. If you start . . .
K: I understand.
O: . . . you're out of here.
K: I understand.
The officer then left and Kristinn informed the rest of our group that we were prohibited from shouting at the Dems. I had looked for this guy's badge number and a name, but he was wearing a Federal Protective Service jacket that covered any id.
The officer was a diehard Dem, some member of Congress or similar VIP had complained to him, or both.
Before Kristinn had arrived two Dems had, on separate occasions, walked over to talk with us. Brief discussions followed, but it was more like Hannity-Colmes and never close to spinning out of control.
My biggest concern over any physical altercation was when a homeless guy ranted at Sauropod for at least ten minutes.
Some protestor on the Dems side of the street had a sign saying something like "Taxation with Representation means the Constitution requires Gay Marriage."
I had a nice chat with the Naderites holding the big "DEBATE NADER" banner about 15 feet from us. The police had ordered them to stop standing on the Jersey barriers protecting the GAO building from truck bombs, etc.
Later about 4 or 5 Dean supporters left the Dem side of the street and came to our side, apparently getting ready to leave. They were twenty year olds, but quite polite. Their leader indicated that they would be supporting Kerry, but were there to indicate their continued support for Dean.
I reminded the Dean supporters that a front-group of Kerry people ("Americans for Healthcare and Progressive Values" or something similar) was behind the Dem primary ad that showed Bin Laden and suggested that Americans would not trust national security to Howard Dean. We had a brief, pleasant conversation about the "scream" and the media and Dem establishment being out to get Dean.
When the LaRouche supporters walked by putting leaflets on cars, we looked at the leaflet. I said to them: "Oh, is LaRouche in there, too?" They had no reaction, just the look of people who were trapped in a cult.
My patience is infinite ;-).
Good going.