Sign-carrier arrested after balking at curbs

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | 9/4/02 | Milan Simonich, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

[smokinleroy]

Sixty-five-year-old Bill Neel wanted to needle President Bush in the spirit of the First Amendment.

So Neel concocted a protest sign, picked up his sister and drove to Neville Island, where they planned to spend Labor Day criticizing Bush in public. The president was in town to make a speech to unionized carpenters.

[smokinleroy]

This story has gotten a lot of notice in the Pgh. area. It is in regard to W's visit to speak to union members on Neville Island (near Pittsburgh) on Labor Day. They act like this is the first time the prez was shielded from protestors. I'm reminded of this stuff regarding our 1999 protest against Bubba at Texarkana.

[wideawake]

Fascinating that the media only picks up on this when it's a leftist lunatic holding a silly, meaningless sign.

Hey, Mr. Neel, take some advice from your hero and put some ice on that.

[11th Earl of Mar]

How does the protester feel about the "bubble zones" around abortion clinics that prohibit protesters from the sidewalks in front of abortion clinics.

[perfect stranger]

"who has run for Congress as a Democrat and for the state Legislature as a Republican."

Wow. I guess therefore he must have something important to say (sarcasm).

[Quix]

YO SHOWH GAHT DAT RAHGHT!!! THIN SKINNED BILLDO COULDN'T BEAR PEOPLE TELLING HIM 1/10,000TH OF THE TRUTH . . . ALL HE COULD BEAR WAS HIS WILD A**ED TRAITOROUS INSANITIES AND HIS UNBRIDLED LIBIDO AND EGO EXTREMETIES--THE LATTER GARGANTUAN AND ANOTHER EXTREMITY EMBARRASSINGLY INADEQUATE--EXCEPT MAYBE WHEN ON THE PHONE TO HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS . . . WHEN IN THE CARE OF BILLDO'S BIMBO'S INC.

[TightSqueeze]

The police told me I had to be in the designated free-speech area.

Sorta-kinda reminds me of FreeRepublic lately.

[cksharks]

One good thing about FR you dont have to bring your ass over here and be insulted. You have the right to go some where else!

[TightSqueeze]

You have the right to go some where else!

If I did, who the hell would ever post back to your lame-ass comments? BTW, I was someplace else, when I found this place.

[cksharks]

Maybe where you were before will take you and your insults back. FR belongs to Jim Robinson. Period! End of discussion. We have been doing rather well without your smart mouth for over 5 yrs that I have been here.

[Cultural Jihad]

[Politically Correct]

Frankly, this stinks.
What good is the first amendment (or more to the point, what's left of the amendment) if you have to exercise it where no one can see you.

Just like you have freedom of religion as long as you don't ever bring it to the public square.

And no I don't care how silly his sign was, let him and all the other idiots open their mouths and remove all doubt.

[Drumbo]

Frankly, this stinks.
What good is the first amendment . . .

As I recall, the Constitution assures individuals certain rights; including the right to assemble and freedom of speech. I don't think that it says anything about where you may exercise those rights. The protesters were accommodated and allowed to demonstrate their rights within the constraints of the local and Federal authorities guidelines.

Neil challenged authority, disobeyed police (and therefore the Secret Service) and he admits he was warned. The next time the President comes to town (regardless of his party), try publicly defying police orders along the President's motorcade route and see what happens.

[Cultural Jihad]

Frankly, this stinks. What good is the first amendment (or more to the point, what's left of the amendment) if you have to exercise it where no one can see you.

When it comes to the safety of the President, the professional malcontents will just have to learn to lump it. There is no erosion of 1st Amendment rights happening. The only thing being eroded today are the interpretations which some groups have as to what the 1st Amendment says.

[Politically Correct]

As I recall, the Constitution assures individuals certain rights; including the right to assemble and freedom of speech. I don't think that it says anything about where you may exercise those rights.

Good, from now on all political protests will be held in the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico......that ought to be safe enough for you.

The protesters were accommodated and allowed to demonstrate their rights within the constraints of the local and Federal authorities guidelines.

Oh, now the feds get to decide on where and when I can assemble? So when the guidelines say Shrove Tuesday in odd years only what are you going to do?

Neil challenged authority, disobeyed police (and therefore the Secret Service) and he admits he was warned. The next time the President comes to town (regardless of his party), try publicly defying police orders along the President's motorcade route and see what happens.

Always ready to obey a lawful order......what are you going to do when it's not?

[Politically Correct]

When it comes to the safety of the President, the professional malcontents will just have to learn to lump it. There is no erosion of 1st Amendment rights happening. The only thing being eroded today are the interpretations which some groups have as to what the 1st Amendment says.

Yep, safety of the president trumps everything.....ok everyone turn in their guns, it makes it hard to guarantee the safety of the president.
And just what interpretation of the 1st Amendment are you running under?

[TightSqueeze]

Whats next a threat to kick my ass? Kiss off!

[TightSqueeze]

Let me guess, 5, the number of informative posts you have made here?

[Alas Babylon!]

Well, I have to tell you, as a FReeper of many years and in good standing AND a protestor of the TRIPOTUS X-42, we had similar tactics tried by police, etc against us. So while this person might be a dummycrat, I think he has a right to wave his sign at the President's motorcade.