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
I guess the man with the club didn’t have to spend dough for his woman’s abortions, took care of them himself.
I bet the ACLU’s knocking down his door to sue. /sarcasm
Thomas More, Ave Maria or ACLJ would take care of it though.
Those cops were chicken-sh*t, Barny Fife wannabes.
That creep with the stick should have been hauled off and arrested.
Disgusting.
I bet if the sign compared Bush to Hitler, the officer wouldn’t have had a problem with the size of the sign.
This needs to be sent to Drudge.
I know I would’ve had an accident driving by all those Hillary signs.
Of course -- says so plain as day, right there in the First Amendment -- published in the latest DNC newsletter. s/
I sent it.
Good thing he had a camera.
“Of course — says so plain as day, right there in the First Amendment — published in the latest DNC newsletter. s/”
But of course it only applies to Conservative causes, or causes that they dissagree with.
I wonder what the police would have done if the person holding a sign on that corner had been one of those folks who advertise for sales at nearby stores, or apartments for rent, or the myriad other things folks stand on public sidewalks with signs for.
This may be a rhetorical question.
That intersection didn’t look very safe. There is one point in the video where a truck is passing very close to a pedestrian.
However, the police seemed a way too relaxed when they were told that one of the protesters was just assaulted AND the guy with the club is right there saying he’d do it again.
Been wanting to smoke the tires on a nice M-B for a while . I bet I can make one of the 600 series will burn out like ole number 3 .
Why not use the left’s tactics against them?
Bump for later reading/viewing.
If the sign was a distraction to the drivers, then the cop should have suggested the guy move to a place down the block where it wouldn’t be such a distraction.
Instead he told him to leave, or get arrested.
And liberals are the 'tolerant' ones...
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