Posted on 12/30/2005 8:07:26 PM PST by kristinn
An officer with Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) ordered the D.C. Chapter of Free Republic to silence our voices tonight at our weekly support the troops demonstration outside Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
The officer cited complaints from the neighborhood about the noise our voices make as we chastise the so-called antiwar protesters across the street at the main gate to Walter Reed.
The officer went across the street and issued the same order to the Code Pinkos. We're not sure if the order applies to their singalong guitar player (who serenaded the wounded troops tonight with Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door".)
Two weeks ago, several MPD officers staked out our Walter Reed demonstration. One officer issued a similar order but he did not enforce it as we verbally challenged it on First Amendment grounds and called in a complaint to MPD's 4th District HQ where Walter Reed is located.
We plan to formally challenge tonight's order as a violation of our First Amendment rights. D.C. case law is extremely "liberal" when it comes to exercising First Amendment rights and we believe there is strong grounds for our right to vocalize our political beliefs.
Our permit application on file with MPD clearly states that we planned to use battery powered megaphones. MPD has not denied the usage of megaphones when they processed the application. However, out of respect for the residents in the mixed-use area we have never used megaphones--just our voices.
The D.C. noise ordinance kicks in at 10 p.m. We stop using our loud voices between 9 and 9:30 p.m. when Code Pink slinks off before the Fran O'Brien's bus returns to Walter Reed with the soldiers and their family members.
Several months ago, Code Pink left fliers at the doors of residences near Walter Reed encouraging them to call the police to complain about our vocal exercising of our First Amendment rights.
We understand the complaints of those who live in the neighborhood, however our demonstration would be crippled if we were silenced.
We've never had to file a lawsuit in seven years of activism in our nation's capital, but there's a first time for everything.
No, they don't use megaphones either.
Hang in there, guys and gals. You do us all proud. Play Christmas music instead!!!
We get to deal with the peanik bongo drums and a 6 foot Chicken foot symbol from Piece Fresno.
It's a six-lane road - a main thoroughfare into and out of downtown DC.
One block north are gas stations, liquor stores, 24 hour fast food places, crack houses, whorehouses, and all other sorts of city businesses.
Gunfire is louder than our voices, and occurs 24/7 in that neighborhood.
It's far from residential.
We have friends that will most likely help us. The ACLU is definitely not our friend :-)
LOL !!
Perhaps you can get the ACLJ on your side.
Have the cops _measured_ you to determine whether or not you ARE breaking the ordinance? How loud are you? Do you have a sound level meter? Have you measured yourselves?
What is the limit in the ordinance (sound level at a particular distance)? Doing your homework is a Good Thing.
see: http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=sound%20level%20meter
$40 is a lot cheaper than a fine.
</my_opinion>
In a way I am sorry to hear this BUT if the bottom line is that the pinkos are silenced.. well, then that is good.
Is there any chance you can get a permit from WR to be on the grounds? there should be nothing preventing your group from being in the lobby with handshakes, wmiles & good words for family & troops..
This might be the opening for something bigger & better..
keep us posted via ping/perhaps just with this thread.
Thank you for ALL you do!
Happy New Year Kristinn & the DC FReepers /great activiists!
dolly howard
Then who are the "neighbors" who are complaining? Patients in the hospital?
No.
The sick, self-made SOBs have their GuitarMan singing songs.
His favorite song tonight was "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."
bump
It is a two black women that the Code Pinkos have been talking to other nights.
may god bls u!!!!
LOL. What's even funnier is that they have this stupid sign that says "Quiet Zone" and then they stand next to it and sing and play their guitar. Dumber than a box of rocks these people are.
Better yet, I wonder if a bunch of healing soldiers would like to say how they feel about Code Pink taunting them and their wounded buddies every week?
Thanks for the advice. No one's used a sound meter. I doubt we're louder than a police siren or a firetruck.
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