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.
Ambushed..the term is derived from the practise of lying in wait, in a low area, a gulch, or ditch, which is dry, and attacking without warning.
So, what are the police asking you to do? Quiet it down? Move?
What are the police asking Pinkos to do? Quie it down? Move?
This could get touchy if they revoke both permits.
Well this stinks!
But I have no doubt the DC Chapter will find a very creative way around this problem till things can get resolved
God Bless y'all and thank you for all that you do!
This then takes on another dimension: the whitewash of equal treatment. What I mean by this is that the police decided to end the misbehavior of one group by eliminating both groups. They used the excuse of neighborhood complaints even though such complaints could have been a tactic being used by Code Pink to take you off the block. If such happened, it is an injustice. It was their disturbance; not your demonstration causing the trouble. And, the tactic of eliminating your positive effect on our wounded patriots should not prevail. I would have stood with you if I lived in the D.C. area.
You should know that your fellow patriots are fighting our share of Zombie Lefties here in Kirby Wilber Country.
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things
The sight of middle aged hippies dressed in pink with a marxist agenda disguised as sympathy for our troops is, well, DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!
And they tortore a cat. We call their corner "Abu-Meow"...
....or a Metro Bus, especially a Metro Bus!
Oh good, you're here. I almost provided the link when I answered your post. Nice - huh?
Is every one home safe? There are a couple unaccounted for.
self ping bump for later reading
Hasn't Code Pink called the police to complain several times? Is there any way to find out how many times the Pinkos have called he PD to complain?
If they are badgering the police with calls, perhaps the police just thought to put a stop to it this way.
a capella in 4 part harmony
Thanks to all of you for doing such an excellent job! Use the issue for publicity. Hopefully someone like Shawn Hannity will give you guys some support and spread the word about Code Pink.
BTTT
I bet they called in the complaints themselves.
I am new to this conversation, but in reading through, I was just thinking the same thing. Why are the FR standing across the street and not inside somewhere, doing as you said? Wouldn't doing so be much more effective than trying to outshout/outprotest the pinks, in which our message may be lost? I've never been to WR, just going on a 'visual' based on what's been said.
Kimberly
I haven't seen Irish, Germans, Italians, Greeks, and Eastern European immigrants and entrepreneurs on Gerogia Avenue lately. Matter of fact I don't think Irish, Germans, Italians, Greeks, and Eastern European immigrants are allowed to enter into this country anymore.
Never underestimate the DC FReepers.
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