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
What is it about abortion that brings out the worst hatred and anger against pro-lifers? Some people do find those signs objectionable because little kids see them or probably something else.
I've been reading comments in a less "protected" forum. Some of the pro choice people get rabid that people would vote according to their religious beliefs.
Many would revoke tax exempt status for churches who ostensibly tell their flock how to vote or pastors who throw their weight behind a candidate (unless it is a Dem, can you say hypocrisy?), but zero zip nada when a Dem campaigns in a church? Why is that?
Around here, the Dems have campaigned inside at least two (and probably more) public schools, but is that right either? Who pays the bill for that venue? We do out of our property taxes (probably not a whole lot for the extra light, janitorial services, etc., the campaign probably pays for security and checking for threats). We have to pay for the extra police duty, too, but that is probably more 50-50.
Why do Republicans have to rent places out of presumably campaign funds from which to campaign (sometimes they are guests on private or corporate property)? In the red states, are Republicans allowed in churches and public schools to campaign or is it just my state? Now I will cut some slack for pols who for a photo op or to refresh their souls go to a church on the stump if they attend like an ordinary person and are not invited or allowed to speak to the congregation, yes they can say hello and smile after the services or the greet your neighbor.
Small world. That’s wallew from GIM. I posted the video over there.
Agree .......$$$$$ video for sure !
Stay safe !
Correct. I am glad you posted that.
Seems so. bjs1779 in post 69 said he was charged. Like others here
I also believe that the land owner was a friend of the officers and I'll tell you why.
When I had a business in a small town just about every business owner
got away with almost everything, Including myself. Bar fight?, no problem.
Speeding?, no problem. DUI?, go sober up and slow down. No problem.
Small towns have their privileges so I can understand why the Officers
didn't react to the club-man's ongoing threats even though it was public property.
The judge will probably just fine him $50 and tell him to behave.
If I lived in a small GOP town, I can beat up any anti war demonstrator and the local cops would give me a pass???
lawsuit
take em to court and have him convicted of assault with a weapon
the cop pretty much acknowledged it on tape, and the arse mitchell threated him repeatedly, even after the cop showed up.
wow
>> 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.
What if Holman were knocked unconscious by the assailant. Would the officer have been kind enough to tuck instructions on filing the report into Holman’s shirt pocket?
Heh, I lived in a 80% Rat constituent controlled town with a population of just over
3k. Bottom line there was, Business owner =' tax income, "therefore"
don't mess with the city's limited income.
Hmm, maybe I should write a book about small town America.
/rubs chin
“But I wonder if Mr. Holman had a protest permit from the authorities?”
Since when do you need a permit to hold a peaceful protest? That permit would be called the First Amendment.
“This is sickening!”
Yup. Most abolitionists a looked upon as easy marks for thugs. As are Christians.
I should hasten to note, though, that not all Christians or abolitionists are either passive or pacifists.
Ping.
“Sorry, not very Christian of me......but I’d feed the sumbitch that club and dare the cops to do a damned thing about it.”
There is nothing un-Christian about defending yourself. I’m an abolitionist because I believe in the sanctity of life, particularly unborn life which by definition is completely innocent. That said, I have no problem with the use of force, even deadly force, for self-defense.
Turning the other cheek assumes receipt of a smite on the cheek. It does not assume that you’re being clubbed, shot, or stabbed.
“I would suggest that Mr. Holman obtain a concealed carry permit. Purchase a handgun then get some training and shoot the next person who attacks him with a club right between the eyes.”
Naah. There was no reason for this to have progressed as far as it had. If Mr. Holman had been exercising his rights to open carry, he would never had the problem in the first place.
Seems the democRAT brownshirts are starting early this election season.
This is a crystal-clear example of what awaits any of Hitlary’s critics if she becomes president.
I wonder when they will come after me with taser
and handcuffs for causing a motorist distraction.
Just do it like the Libs, Wait until the camera's are on you,
then scream and squirm like a worm.
Hey, that sounds like a song! No wait.. YES!
I was thinking of the Surfin'Bird" song.
God Bless Our Troops!
God Bless America..
I wonder when they will come after me with taser
and handcuffs for causing a motorist distraction.
Just do it like the Libs, Wait until the camera's are on you,
then scream and squirm like a worm.
Hey, that sounds like a song! o wait.. YES! I was thinking of the Surfin'Bird" song.
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