Posted on 01/28/2007 4:09:17 PM PST by RDTF
Anti-war protesters were allowed to spray paint on part of thewest front steps of the United States Capitol building after police wereordered to break their security line by their leadership, two sources toldThe Hill.
According to the sources, police officers were livid when theywere told to fall back by U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Phillip Morse andDeputy Chief Daniel Nichols. "They were the commanders on the scene," one source said,who requested anonymity. "It was disgusting."
After police ceded the stairs, located on the lower west frontof the Capitol, the building was locked down, the source added.
A second source who witnessed the incident said that the policehad the crowd stopped at Third Street, but were told to bring the policeline in front of the Capitol.
Approximately 300 protesters were allowed to take the steps andbegan to spray paint "anarchist symbols" and phrase such as "Ourcapitol building" and "you can’t stop us" around the area, thesource said.
Morse responded to these claims in an e-mail Sunday afternoon,explaining that the protesters were seeking confrontation with the police.
"While there were minor instances of spray painting ofpavement by a splinter group of Anarchists who were seeking a confrontationwith the police, their attempts to breach into secure areas and rush thedoors of the Capitol were thwarted," Morse said. "The graffiti waseasily removed by the dedicated [Architect of the Capitol] staff, some of whom responded on their day off to quickly clean the area."
He added, "It is the USCP's duty and responsibility to protectthe Capitol complex, staff and public while allowing the public to exercisetheir First Amendment rights … at the end of the day, both occurredwithout injury to protestors or officers."
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
never should have happened...
Since when is spray painting public property free speech?
Looks like the Dems have allowed their people to get out of control.
Excercising your First Amendment rights is carrying a sign, not vandalizing the Capitol Building. Disgusting, I hope this officer is censured in some way.
Well I don't like these idiots painting on my taxpayer funded property.
Need someone to go spraypaint/mace these morons.
The First Amendment does not encompass vandalism.
(Or does it? SCOTUS can get screwy sometimes.)
And it's no surprise, it seems right in character to me. It's about respect, and these idiots don't respect their country, much less the Capitol building.
Now see. That pisses me off!
In their defense, they simply treated the Capitol steps with the same treatment Pres Clinton's staff treated the White House upon their departure. /sarcasm off
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What's the point of face shields and billy-clubs if they can't use them?
Hope pictures were taken to use against them showing just what Democrats do, and their lack of respect for our nation's capital!
Whoever authorized this travesty needs to be immediately fired! No early retirement allowed either!
Dear God, forgive me for hating them. Amen.
>>"anarchist symbols"
Anarchy In The USA. They wanna beeeeeeeeee anarchy.
(Down with government! Oh..did my welfare check show up yet?)
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