Posted on 05/01/2009 8:05:12 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Criminal charges against a junior at Dakota Ridge High School, who wore a T-shirt saying "NOBAMA" before an appearance and speech last fall by Michelle Obama at the school, were dropped Thursday.
Blake Benson, 17, was one of three students at the school who chose to "stay and campaign" for Sen. John McCain when Michelle Obama spoke at the school on Nov. 3.
At the time of his arrest, Benson was holding a McCain-Palin campaign sign.
He was handcuffed and taken to the school's administrative office, said Dan Recht, a Denver lawyer who took the case on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Benson.
Benson was given a "promise to appear" citation by a Jefferson County sheriff's deputy and accused of "interference with staff of an educational facility," said Recht. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department decided not to forward the citation to prosecutors, effectively dropping the case.
Recht said Benson also was given a one-day suspension by the school. Shortly after the incident, the school rescinded the suspension.
Recht said he learned Thursday that authorities would not pursue the interference charge.
"There is no more classically protected speech than peacefully protesting against one candidate and for another," said Recht. "What Blake Benson was doing is as American as apple pie."
Jacki Kelley, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, said that the decision to drop the charge was made three weeks after the incident after a consultation with the Jefferson County district attorney's office.
(Excerpt) Read more at denverpost.com ...
Swine flew!
Don't be. The ACLU occasionally picks out a case like this so they can keep up appearances that they are simply interested in upholding the Constitution instead of being a left-wing legal good squad. Just because you do the right thing 10% of the time doesn't excuse the other 90%.
Just the beginning...it’s going to get a lot worse.....
RE: ACLU...
>”Holy mackerel — pigs are on the wing! “<
-yep...swine flew... ;^)
If there had been more to the story you can bet the Denver Post would have highlighted it!
lol last fall? It's May! What took so long?
The ACLU actually defended this kid? Must have been low on filling their quota to keep receiving federal funds...
Don't worry - beheading will be soon enough...
Civil suit should still be able to proceed. Deprivation/Violation of civil rights under color of law. Sue the arresting officers personally, they do not have immunity from such a charge.
US Code 18 section 244.
Unfreakinbelievable!
No mention of any of the idiots being fired.
3 students protest and only the one with the NOBAMA T-shirt was arrested?
Lawsuit!
I am surprised the ACLU did not sue the school administration for failure to properly indoctrinate these youths.
Very true. At least this offended both sides enough that even the ACLU took it on. While I might be optimistic, but that speaks to some speech in which both parties (whether they like it or not) agree must be protected.
“Charge against student wearing NOBAMA shirt dropped”
“How Republicans Can Build a Big-Tent Party”
We need to stop worrying so much about how to build a “big tent party” and we need to start shouting from the rooftops that the country is being tyrannized by fascists.
If the GOP continues with this limp-wristed approach to dealing with lying, fascistic bastards whose goal is to destroy America's sovereignty, devalue its money, and force us to obey a global ministry, I'm out.
“Charge against student wearing NOBAMA shirt dropped”
“How Republicans Can Build a Big-Tent Party”
We need to stop worrying so much about how to build a “big tent party” and we need to start shouting from the rooftops that the country is being tyrannized by fascists.
If the GOP continues with this limp-wristed approach to dealing with lying, fascistic bastards whose goal is to destroy America's sovereignty, devalue its money, and force us to obey a global ministry, I'm out.
Guaranteed, this scumbag college would have never interfered with a student wearing an anti-Bush shirt at a Laura Bush event.
Uh, make that “scumbag government high school”.
If this had been reversed and he had been and Obamacorn, some “jury” would have awarded him between 3 and 5 million for having his “civil rights” violated when he was arrested. I guess that stuff don’t work for our side.
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