Posted on 12/08/2007 1:04:17 PM PST by wagglebee
Video shows angry attack followed by police violation of civil rights
Fort Madison, Iowa – Pro-lifers with graphic signs were attacked by a man wielding a club during a protest at a Hillary Clinton campaign stop in Fort Madison, Iowa, on Friday, yet responding police threatened to arrest the pro-lifers if they did not immediately leave the public sidewalk. The incident was captured on video. (View video below.)
Police were parked across the street from where Dan Holman of Missionaries to the Pre-Born was standing on a public sidewalk on December 7, when a man in a pickup truck got out of his vehicle and approached Holman with a club, shouting at him to get off his property. Holman was attacked and struck with the club.
“The man continued to try and assault me in the presence of three Fort Madison police officers,” Holman told Operation Rescue. “Rather than arresting the attacker the police threatened to arrest me! The police acknowledged that I was on a public right of way but said our presence posed a traffic hazard.”
Police told Holman that if he wanted charges pressed against the man with the club, he would have to go to the police station and fill out a report. Holman complied with the order to leave under threat of arrest, and later filed a complaint against his attacker, identified as Jim Mitchell. Holman is considering legal action against the Fort Madison Police.
Holman’s group was protesting Clinton, a radical supporter of abortion, in advance of the Iowa Caucuses, which will be held on January 3, 2008. He has protested Clinton at 32 of her Iowa appearances.
“Police departments across the nation have shown a disturbing disregard for the First Amendment rights of abortion protesters in recent weeks,” said Operation Rescue spokesperson Cheryl Sullenger. “We have a great deal of respect for the vast majority of police officers, who are decent people, trying to do a very difficult job. However, rogue officers who bully and falsely arrest peaceful protesters that are simply exercising a precious right in defense of innocent babies, are put on notice that they will be held legally accountable for their abusive behavior. We urge every police department to train their officers concerning First Amendment activity in order to bring an end to this kind of abuse.”
Assault at Fort Madison
Uploaded by antiaborticide
Civil Rights for me but not for thee ....
I hope the guy with the club does not get hurt in retaliation , but if he does I hope someone will post the video. Maybe use two cameras .
Also it figures that with 40 million aborted innocents the MSM logs how many murderers have been executed .... count so far is a bit over a thousand covering the same period ...
Thought it was a free country...
Nope. I didn’t bring up the issue of a permit though. The poster I replied to did.
Isn’t it a crime for a LEO to witness a crime and give it a pass?
And, isn’t hitting someone with a weapon, improvised or otherwise, a felony?
I could be wrong, of course, but I’ve always thought assault and battery and threating someone’s life while brandishing a weapon were legally punishable no nos?
Under the concept of equal protection under the law, this means we can now go beat on people we don’t like, right?
As a former deputy I’d suggest going against the cops (and the clintonista) for being witness too and allowing the ass-hat Hillary hugger that assaulted him go free. As well as the fact that the Idiot Rat with the bat was verbally threatening the guy as a number of LEO’s were present......
The call on not allowing the protest etc etc , bad weather , busy intersection etc is a reach but without a permit to protest with such a LARGE banner......it would be tough to go after anything vs the assault that the police witnessed and ignored IMO.
All that on video .......cash in the bank from the cops and batman per my SWAG.
Unions=Democrats=Liberals=pro-death.
The Police Officer acted pro-actively to prevent a traffic accident and seemed very reasonable in asking the group to move. This was a slippery snowy intersection; any roadside protest would distract drivers. The combination of the road conditions, traffic, the signs, protesters, and the unexplained man-with-stick was trouble-in-waiting. Karnak The Magnificent sees a long pileup in the future and many headaches for the officer on duty. Not every adverse police action is political.
That depends on what nationality you are.
It's not conclusive from the video whetehr or not the officers saw the guy being assaulted but it certainly can be inferred.
If that is the case they should forget camp and start looking for new gainful employment.
The police told the protester that he could not be on a public right of way with a sign such as his. It was too much of a distraction to the drivers. I heard it on the video. Good Night! Next thing they will say any political sign advocating for candidates is too much of a distraction.
This one is unless you happen to think that establishments need to dim their advetising lights and billboards must come down every time it snows a little bit.
bump
Car Dealer Name: Mitchell Motor Co
Dealer Address: 202 N 8th St, Adel, Iowa, 50003
Deals Mainly In: Mercedes Benz Cars
Contact Person: Jim Mitchell
Dealer Phone Number: 515/993-4769
Is this the attacker???
It is sickening, but it is not unusual. One of the Priests for Life was in FEDERAL PRISON for several years when Clinton was Prez. They wanted to make a test case out of him, arrested him, prosecuted him. His situation was similar to this. It does not surprise me that this happened, nor that the police did not protect the man. But it surely is disgusting.
The officer probably knew he wouldn’t get in trouble for harrassing the Protestor of evil.It is sick.
You make a good point!
I would hope these pro-lifers are savy enough to always have a protest permit.
So you’re saying that even though police witnessed the protester being beaten with a weapon, this was good cop behavior?
Where are 'protest permits' mentioned in the First Amendment?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.