Posted on 03/11/2003 3:57:59 AM PST by OXENinFLA
LA HABRA -- Antiwar protesters burned and ripped up flags, flowers and patriotic signs at a Sept. 11 memorial that residents erected on a fence along Whittier Boulevard days after the terrorist attacks in 2001 and have maintained ever since.
However, although officers witnessed the vandalism Saturday afternoon, police did not arrest three people seen damaging the display because they were "exercising the same freedom of speech that the people who put up the flags were,' La Habra Police Capt. John Rees said Monday.
"For this to be vandalism, there had to be an ill-will intent,' he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at whittierdailynews.com ...
post 127: the desk sgt also told me that part of the reason that nothing was done was bacause of advice of the city atty and the fact that the person who owned the property had said nothing.
post 172: He stated to me on the phone that no police witnissed the incident! He asserted that the police were not on the scene, and were only notified after the fact. He also stated that a report has been taken, but barring witnisses he did not hold out much hope for a prosocution. This seems to conflict with something else he told me, which was that if the police had gone in to break up the protest there would have been a 180 degree turn in how the article was written, and it would have made the police look like bad guys. Of course, one has to wonder if the police weren't there then how could they have "gone in" and broken up the the protest?
The attorney was mentioned as a reason in #127, not #172; has the spin started?????
I just want to thank all those in the area that supported this memorial. I now understand it's all being put back up.......
To all peace protestors out there who wish to protest the the upcoming/actual (depending on your timing) war in Iraq by burning the flag, please observe the following rules of etiquette.
1. Purchase your own flag, flammable liquid and ignition source.
2. Soak flag in flammable liquid before arriving at the protest (to reduce the chance of splashing fuel onto non-inflammatory protestors).
3. Squeeze any excess liquid from flag before arriving at the protest (see rule 2).
4. Make sure you are standing on a fire proof surface and at a safe distance from other protestors and spectators.
5. Wrap yourself in flag before igniting.
Thank you, and have a nice day.
The "International Womens' Day" protests last weekend were people marching in support of another Communist holiday (check into the origins of the day).
Destroying the property of others is not free speech. If some crack-smoking trust-fund loser wants to buy his own flag and burn it, that is one thing, if he destroys mine, I will bust his head.
Interfering with a military operation is not free speech, it is military action on behalf of a foreign power, and treason if you are an American citizen. "Shoot on sight" is a valid response, and I think it is time for a showdown on this in the courts.
Denying someone else the right to speak, as by heckling a non-communist or a terror-opponent on campus, is not free speech. This should be axiomatic, but post-modernism (the gonorrhea of philosophy) allows for almost anything, so long as it asserts superior social status via displays of authoritarian hypocrisy.
Assaulting passers-by is not free speech. This one alone would put Greenpiss and its jock-nazi goon squad out of business if it were enforced.
If Gen-H'ers have to be re-educated at bayonet-point, so be it. That is our obligation to the young.
You idiot, what about the people and neighbors of that entire area that have privately maintained that memorial since 911. It has been standing since 911. I know people in that area, and they are great for putting this up and maintaining it.
Some of you are pissing me off.
It's also filled with great patriotic people. Californians that live in that entire area, that have gone out, and bought flag poles, made posters, flowers, and have maintained that private memorial since 9/11. No one told them to do this. The people of that area are great for doing this.
Don't slam them.
Of course, it's the very same state where the people in that area maintained and supported this memorial since 911. But it's easy to shoot your mouth off isn't it?
Remember, it was the good people of that area that put up, supported and maintained the memorial since 911. I personally called the La Habra Police dept and the woman told me that they are getting nasty calls from all over the country over the response from Capt Rees.
I am really sorry! I didn't realize it was a touchy subject for you.
I do know exactly how you feel, though. I'm from Michigan.
Becki
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