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.
I would recommend singing Green Berets in response. Perhaps that would cause them to shreek and melt like the wicked witch.
bttt
Thanks for letting us know...
THIS stinks bad...and what a Bah! Humbug! during the Holidays!
I think they might want to rethink pushing ya'll around..because I can forsee more freepers wanting to join your group...for MORE voices.
I bet if the patients at Walter Reed were asked, they would say they appreciate what you do.
Is there any way you could maybe get a copy of the flyer that Code Pinko supposedly put on the doors of the neighbors?
Dry gulch 'em!
Hang in there, kristinn. Whatever you need, please let all of us know....
did you see this?
Whatever you do, don't ask the ACLU for help.
They'll brag about it for years to come.
YES! Pinging MARK! You are a GENIUS!
For those who don't know, these same people showed up every Saturday for over two years to protest the Klintoon administration and their traitorous activities.
I know these people to be courteous, and true to their conservative values.
That someone in that particular neighborhood is being bothered by their noise is a curious accusation. How much of their so-called noise can even be heard above the roar of 6 lanes of traffic?
Let me know if y'all need some help, Takoma!
Okay, out with it. What is dry gulching? One never knows when one might need a new idea or weapon.
That is excellent advice. We had a similar run-in with the Harrisburg Police Dept. some years ago, when I was with a Prolife group protesting outside an abortion clinic. The lawyer with our group looked up the codes regarding how many decibels of sound were allowed by the codes before a violation kicked in. When measured, the sound of our voices was within limits. The police stood down at future demonstrations, after being advised of this by our attorney.
People who live in the rowhouses along Georgia Avenue, directly across the street from Walter Reed.
I also think our presence has disrupted the local drug and prostitution businesses.
The 24 hour traffic, including buses and 18-wheel tractor trailers driving by make more noise than we do.
From this link,
Historic Georgia Avenue, formerly the Seventh Street Turnpike, was once the transportation route running north into the countryside from Downtown Washington. Along this avenue, Irish, Germans, Italians, Greeks, and Eastern European immigrants and entrepreneurs built their communities.
More recently, communities of Caribbean, Latino, and African people have added their cultures to this mix. Today, with revitalizing underway, Georgia Avenue is a busy commercial street that serves a series of varied neighborhoods along its five-mile route to the District line.
Georgia Avenue has been a main route for going-on two hundred years. People who chose to live on this busy road can't say they "didn't know it was a busy road."
Keeping you in Prayer.
OK - let me get this straight---
The anti-war, anti-American freak-show can scream and holler profanity, hold insulting signs for the soldiers to see, and generally make themselves a nusance - and that's protected.... BUT - the D.C. Chapter of FR cannot have a counter-protest at the same site (and for less time and with generally less disturbance)?
Someone PLEASE take this to court. This would be a MAJOR and OBVIOUS infringement of free-speech. Isn't that one of those rights the left is always screeming about?
Great minds think.....
Thanks. if it did go to court, there would definitely be a balancing test between competing rights.
Are they still allowing the anti-war miscreants to rant and rave?
I guess we'll find out next Friday night.
The police officer arrived as the PinkOs were closing down their blood dance tonight.
If GuitarMan shows up next week and begins his bloody minstrel show, we'll see what the police do.
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