Cal. Highway Patrol threaten "Rally For America"

Me | 3/11/03 | Drango

[Drango]

For 18 months the Lafayette Flag Brigade has held a “Rally For America” on the 11th of every month. (see old picture below). Today the California Highway Patrol threatened to arrest us and kicked us off the overpass. SHAME on them. We repeatedly assert our rights to be there and that they were treating us different than the routine protests held by the appeasnicks in Berkeley. The Lieutenant claimed ignorance of that, as it was in a different jurisdiction he asserted. They claim our flag waving was creating a disturbance and slowing traffic. Both sides waved a California Court decision that we felt was controlling.

While we had perhaps 30 people the cops had 10???? The rank and file cops were fairly embarrassed about the whole thing. We embarrassed ‘em on camera but asking point blank if it was the flag they found offensive! Clearly Grad Davis’ administration will give latitude to almost any form of expression except flag waving.

None of us wanted to be arrested so we disbursed. Shook hands with most of the cops... More to come.

The CNN cameras caught most of it, so please let us know if you see anything. We’ll post pictures as we get ‘em.

[Drango]

Bay Area ping please....and watch CNN to see if we made the news!

[davisdoug]

I heard this happened on the radio on the way home from work. Sorry. Thank you for your labors. It is amazing that folks can block traffic, wreck San Francisco, burn flags and deface 9/11 memorials in LaHabra. Oh well Gray Davis regime is alive and well. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!

[muawiyah]

The "corrupt Gray Davis Regime" is what you meant, right?

[11B3]

Thanks for your hard work and support of our nation and soldiers. It's too bad that the CHP displayed so vividly the state of affairs in California. I guess red, white, and blue doesn't get it in the Blue Zone.

[Seeking the truth]

You should always have a handheld recorder on you at all times.

I had a similar problem with a police sargeant for a Clinton protest in Aventura, Florida.

He tried to move us off the sidewalk. I surrepticiously turned on the recorder and asked him if he was aware of Supreme Court decisions regarding sidewalks.

At that point, I showed the small Panasonic tape recorder, with the red light on, in my palm.

He saw it & asked if it was on. I said yes and that I want to have a record of this in order that there are no misunderstandings or miscommunications of what we were saying.

He changed his tude immediately. He gave his orders to his subordinates who were standing there and we had a successful rally.

I bought mine at an Office Depot for about $15.

[davisdoug]

Yeh...I just felt it may be duplicitous to mention. LOL

[Seeking the truth]

BTW, beautiful display.

We did something similar on the overpasses over I-95 down here in Florida.

We had no problem with the local cops but the FHP later forced us to take down our large signs with the same excuse about safety.

Of course, it was a windy day and one of our people did drop a sign onto the highway below.

That was dangerous and certainly did not help our argument!

[mdittmar]

Here in Wa. a law was just passed that anyone "impeding the free flow of traffic" can be arrested,fined,etc.

They can't fix the fricki'n traffic problems so they have to go after free speech.

I left the "left" Seattle area for central Wa.(Solid Republican) years ago.

[Drango]

We had no problem with the local cops

During the hour long bannter with the Highway Patroll, they said the LOCAL Lafayette Police would come and give us the order to move.

The local cops arrived and essentially refused to tell us any such thing! In fact one of them quiped to me they don't listen to the HP or take orders form 'em. LOL. Eventually the Highway Patroll had to order(?) us off.

Imporatnt to note, our own flagbrigade gets all the credit and honor for putting most of this together. He puts a ton of work into these events and I'm proud of him.

link to old thread

[NonValueAdded]

3D-JOY ping. Joyce, was this (see picture, not the hassle with the troopers!) what you had in mind for the overpasses on I-95 down in the lesser republic of chad?

[Libloather]

To the top...

[aruanan]

None of us wanted to be arrested so we disbursed.

How much did you disburse?

[Mudboy Slim]

Keep the pressure on...America must RETAKE California from the ANTI-American DemonRAT Left!!

FReegards...MUD

[AppyPappy]

Don't be a smartass.

There's nothing wrong with a little bribe.

[rimmont]

THE CHP IS BASICALLY WORTHLESS as a law enforcement organization. I have driven the freeways in the L.A. area on a regular basis for over ten years now and I rarely see them. There are reckless drivers, people flaunting the law right and left, people driving 90-100 miles an hour, especially after dark. At times over the years it has been a nerve-wracking experience just to drive 30 minutes or so on the freeway. THE WORTHLESS CHP is never anywhere to be seen, except, of course, if you try to fly the flag, or if you go to a doughnut shop.

[SeenTheLight]

Lafayette Troop Tribute wrap-up ping

Police say no to the American Flag:(

[SeenTheLight]

That sux! I was the one who sent the CNN cameras, by the way. I've been in touch with CNN/SF and they asked for info on local events, so I directed them to Lafayette. I'm sorry they missed the real thing, but maybe this outrage will be a wake-up call for them...

[Inspectorette]

THE WORTHLESS CHP is never anywhere to be seen, except, of course, if you try to fly the flag, or if you go to a doughnut shop.

Sorry to disagree a little here - it was five years ago last month that we here on the Central Coast lost two fine CHP officers who responded to a rescue call in the middle of the night regarding a problem with cars stranded in flooding on Hwy. 166. (This was during the El Nino year.

Officers Reed Irvine and Britt Stovall's police car was washed away when a 400-ft. section of Hwy. 166 collapsed under them. Their bodies were found the following day.

That section of Hwy. 166 has now been officially designated as the Irvine-Stovall Memorial Highway.