Man Accused Of Punching, Kicking War Protester Who Was Carrying a Defaced U.S. Flag

WISC-TV ^

[Ronaldus Magnus]

WAUSAU, Wis. -- A man upset that a war protester was parading around downtown Wausau with a defaced American flag is facing a disorderly conduct charge after attacking the demonstrator.

The incident happened Monday afternoon outside the Marathon County Courthouse. Mike Wallschlaeger of Mosine carried an upside down flag with "EMPIRE" written across it.

A fellow demonstrator says a man got out of his car, tried to grab the flag, then pushed Wallschlaeger to the ground, punched and kicked him.

Wausau Police Chief William Brandimore says the right to free speech is protected, but disorderly conduct is not.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

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I just called and spoke to his wife. They sounded like a quiet, elderly couple who are very afraid. She said that they are feeling very alone right now. She explained that husband did not attack anyone and that their portrayal in the press has been grossly unfair. She said that her husband tried to talk the protester into putting the flag away and that it was the protester, not her husband, who became violent.

They currently don't have an attorney or a legal defense fund. I conveyed our best wishes and ask that she call me if they decide to accept financial assistance for their legal defense. I will keep you all posted and please freep-mail me if any of you have any other ideas about how we can help.

[Chummy]

Read in this thread statements from the charged party's wife.

Take this in context with the circumstances that now exist among those in the anti-American cult, not only by what one views blurred through the eyes and ears of the media, but by observing personally and firsthand how this cult is acting.

Only recently the Republican Party of Wisconsin headquarters was vandalized to the tune of thousands of dollars worth of damages, and the party claiming responsibility was published in the very liberal CapTimes as a group calling itself "Citizens of Earth."

"If it takes two to make a bargain, it should take two to break it."

You will note that the charged party was apparently not charged with assault, but with disorderly conduct. How on earth did he manage to do this by himself?

[kristinn]

The big city police forces are making a huge mistake by releasing and 'papering over' charges against lawbreaking demonstrators. It encourages them to do more (and bolder) actions.

Those who deliberately break the law in furtherance of their cause should be made to pay the price. It will discourage the dilletantes from tying up precious resources and put those who plan worse on notice.

I've got to go now. Good talking with you.

[Dimensio]

A phyiscal act against the US flag creates no physical harm nor financial loss to anyone except for the person engaged in the act. Throwing a punch at the flag-desecrator because you don't like what he is doing does create physical harm and possible financial loss.

(before anyone brings it up, and someone always, does, if the flag-desecrator is destroying a flag that belongs to another, and the flag is being used without consent of the owner, then the desecrator should be charged with theft, vandalism and/or destruction of property. If his act of desecration causes a danger to other people or property that does not belong to the desecrator, then the desecrator should be charged accordingly. I do not believe that the fact that the object is a US flag in and of itself constitutes grounds for accusing him of placing others in danger. If you would allow it to be done if it were a solid yellow rectangular cloth, then it should be allowed for the US flag as well)

[Stone Mountain]

For the sake of the discussion, assume for the moment it is not [a joke].

Well, I'll try...

If you or any one else defend as an expression of free speech the desecration of the American flag, answer the question: Explain why a physical act that expresses a passion for our country should not be protected, but an act of incitement is.

Okay. The fact that you call both a "physical act" does not mean that they are equivalent. WE live in a country that allows people to express unpopular points of view. Desecrating the American flag is one way of doing so. It may be unpopular, but it is still legal. Assaulting another person is not. I don't see how any person could possibly equate the peaceful expression of an unpopular view with an assault on another person.

Don't avoid the question with more rhetoric.

Wasn't avoiding the question - I really didn't think that anyone would seriously equate assault with non-violent protest. Guess I was wrong.

[Stone Mountain]

"In another article about the incident ,the police recommended that both men be charged with disorderly conduct, but the D.A. chose not to prosecute the flag desecrator."

Got a source on this? It would be nice to have more information...

[Wavyhill]

Generally, no, but after over a decade of being oppressed and treated as second-class citizens, we desperately need to turn the scales before it's too late.

[MassExodus]

I'm not sure that I wouldn't have done exactly the same thing.

[PhilDragoo]

Just in:

Mr. Dragoo,

The name of the man who punched the war protester is Casimir Krasowski, and I reported it the day after the incident, even before police released it. Please contact me if you need any additional information.

Best wishes,

Joel Christopher
Metro editor
Wausau Daily Herald
715.845.0655

That was very fast and very kind of Joel Christopher. I thanked him. So again here is the name:

Casimir Krasowski

Casimir Krasowski, this flag's for you:

[rattrap]

"Casimir Krasowski"

I wonder if he immigrated here...
I've heard it said over and over that people who immigrate here (and assimilate themselves) show a more profound understanding of what it means to live in America and be free.

Not to try to take anything away from those of us who are born here and will sacrifice for this country, but I have seen/heard evidence of this again and again.

[Chummy]

What it comes down to is that, symbolically, a defender of the flag, a defender of a symbol of freedom, of the American way of life, is once again up against the proverbial wall, while an anti-American and despicable cur who, if one accepts counterstatements being made about the incident, is just as, if not in fact more guilty.

Do I advocate attacking such morons with physical violence? Of course not. When our nation defines who is worthy of a right given to all by God, our nation will perish from this Earth.

The simple fact of the matter is that there is an inequity in this incident that is grossly appalling. That a community's principal law enforcement officer usurped the rights of one over another is secondary, albeit perhaps tantamount to the injustice done to Mr. Krasowski. Should the protestors be protected? At who's expense? Who compels these people to voice in America their hatred for the very nation that secures the freedoms they demand?

Charge them both, or drop the matter, and issue a warning to each to take more responsibility for their actions.

And the Common Council of the City of Wausau should discuss immediately with its chief his performance in this incident.

[Stone Mountain]

Read in this thread statements from the charged party's wife.

I have. If what she is saying is correct, they have a legitimate gripe. However, we don't even know if she was there (it didn't sound like she was) and of course, she's going to be biased, even if she's only reporting on what her husband said.

You will note that the charged party was apparently not charged with assault, but with disorderly conduct. How on earth did he manage to do this by himself?

It's not possible to be disorderly all by oneself? Serious question - I'm not familiar with the specifics of the law. Perhaps they thought assault was too serious a charge for the guy so they pressed disorderly charges instead?

[Chummy]

Physical harm or financial loss are not the sole arbiters of an offense against another. Consider a spouse who cites mental cruelty in a divorce.

A section of the US Code was obviously violated. From the sounds of things, the flag desecrator disturbed the peace, and reacted -- by some accounts not unemotionally -- to another citizen who initially and simply approached the flag desecrator to express an opinion.

[Chummy]

I did not say each of the physical acts was equivalent, nor did I imply or intend to do so. They needn't be.

Is violation of the US Code "legal" as you write?

[Stone Mountain]

I've heard it said over and over that people who immigrate here (and assimilate themselves) show a more profound understanding of what it means to live in America and be free.

My view (and apparently I'm in the minority here) is that he showed no understanding of what it means to live in America and be free. As soon as he saw a symbol that he disagreed with, he chose to react violently. That certainly isn't respecting the freedom that he was supposedly defending - exactly the opposite, in fact.

[SpyGuy]

As much as I sympathize with the position of the patriot, I have to admit that he should be prosecuted for his crime of assault. That doesn't mean he has to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Perhaps there are extenuating circumstances that could be taken into account at trial (like "Fighting Words", or perhaps the man's son just died in combat in Iraq). The bottom line is, without (common sense) laws--and the unbiased, equal application of them--then we have anarchy.

What gets me totally pissed off is that there are numerous incidents where flag-waving patriots are physically assaulted by so called "peaceniks", and the police, district attorneys, and/or courts do absolutely nothing. That is how the laws are being UNEQUALLY applied by the Leftists in our government (or due to litigious extortion and intimidation by the powerful Leftist organizations like the ACLU). In fact, just yesterday, the corrupt and incompetent San Francisco district attorney dismissed, or reduced to misdemeanors, the felony charges against a dozen or so violent "anti-war" protesters, over the objections of the police.

[PhilDragoo]

Good of you to call and speak with his wife.

So the report is not accurate.

Perhaps the editor should speak with the man.

Perhaps further investigation will produce the truth, rather than the current depiction.

[Dimensio]

Physical harm or financial loss are not the sole arbiters of an offense against another. Consider a spouse who cites mental cruelty in a divorce.

I'd love to hear someone try to make a case that desecration of the US flag can inflict severe psychological harm on observers.

[Stone Mountain]

Is violation of the US Code "legal" as you write?

Honestly, I'm not sure. I thought it was. My understanding was that absent a flag desecration amendment, desecrating a flag was constitutional in this country. Am I wrong?

[HenryLeeII]

Well, I would claim that my First Amendment rights were being violated. If protestors are allowed to burn American flags in violation of existing laws regarding burning anything in a public place (even though the flag in this instance was being desecrated and not burned), then I think Americans have the right to kick and punch anti-American trash in violation of existing battery laws. Its a "free speech thing!"