Posted on 10/10/2007 1:27:11 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
It caused some controversy, but it was supposed to. Now, one man is headed to municipal court for burning a Mexican flag in protest in front of the Alamo.
The city is charging 46-year old David Bohmfalk with burning without a permit, even though no one gives permits to burn a flag.
"I was raised to respect my country," Bohmfalk said.
All the rallies and talk of amnesty for undocumented immigrants in May 2006 lit the fires of patriotism for Bohmfalk, he said.
"I just got angry," he said. "I decided I had to do something, make my statement, and that's what I did."
More coverage KENS video: Watch the broadcast
Bohmfalk had his own protest in front of a building known for revolution, where Davy Crockett and James Bowie made a stand. So did Bohmfalk but he used a lighter instead of gunfighter. Park police cited Bohmfalk for illegal burning of rubbish, even it was a Mexican flag he set ablaze.
"Because of what it's made out of, it took a little while to burn it. It took me two minutes, but I got it lit," Bohmfalk
Authorities say his actions left some of the Mexican nationals in the Alamo crowd feeling burned. However, Bohmfalk's attorney, Jason Jakob, says, freedom of speech is Bohmfalk's constitutional right.
"My client felt so strongly, and exercised protest, by burning that flag," Jakob said.
Bohmfalk says while he was detained by police, he was harassed, his life was threatened, and he was even assaulted by some tourists who spit on him. Ironically, all these offenses are punishable by law. Jakob says flag burning is not.
"In America, every day we see people burning the American flag and it's become desensitized," Jakob said. "If we can allow that, we can certainly say that the Mexican flag can be burned."
As a former Texas police chief and military veteran, Bohmfalk says he knows his rights, and is fighting for them.
"Why should a foreign flag get any better protection than the American flag?" he said.
The city has not returned calls for comment. As for Bohmfalk's right to a speedy trial, that's been delayed as well. His trial has been reset three times.
In the next few days, there should be a demonstration against the arrest of David Bohmfalk.
Those protesting his arrest should at the same given moment whip out a Mexican flag and burn it.
I would love to see hundreds of folks show up and burn hundreds Mexican flags at the same time.
Trust me, San Antonio is not browning!
We don’t know all that, and can’t infer it from the article. But I’d bet you’re correct, and also that the Police are expected to react in such a way. We have an alien army of tens of millions of potential fighters here, after all.
Good place to bump this thread. That could be the basis of his legal defense, basically showing the city guvmint is calling the Mexican flag rubbish.
If convicted, he faces being deported back to his hometown in Egypt.
It would be interesting to see what reaction there would be if someone burned the flag of a European country, say that of Belgium, on the plaza.
Don’t waste your time.
Face it, the much hated Corsi was right. The US has sold out US citizens in favor of global corporations. Hey y’all Rooty is their guy...anyway..If I were Bush, I would buy me some land in Paraguay.
This will be good material for the next Mexican Pol calling us xenophobic racists. “Jew See what he dun to our flag”
Name of “Bohmfalk”?
Are we sure this isn’t a DeNiro-Stiller comedy?
“Park police cited Bohmfalk for illegal burning of rubbish”
LOL
Ok, I'll buy that. Municipal justice done well.
Everyone needs to pony up a dime to pay his fine.
PayPal addy anyone?
5.56mm
If I were ever to be cited for something like that, I wouldn't even contest it. Just pay the fine and frame the citation.
Well, I thought it was funny. Maybe you need to ask Freepers to think a little on that one.
ping
The ghost of Thomas Miller from Gonzales, Alamo Defender and my ancestor, is smiling.
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