To everyone:
I am the eldest of the Parlock clan. I am Sophia's older sister. To clarify for all of you, the photo WAS NOT A SET-UP. Perhaps it is hard for some of you to believe that Kerry supporters really can be that cruel. She is crying real tears, the thug in the picture is NOT one of our brothers, Dad really IS upset, and boy on the right is a brother and has fists clenched ready to fight. I am disappointed that some of you think a Bush supporter would actually set something like that up. One of my other brothers has been on some of the other threads clarifying other questions. I thought I should get on here and clarify before things got blown out of proportion. To the rest of you who have shown nothing but support THANK YOU! Dad had no intention of causing problems. He merely took my sister and brother out to show support of the President. It is a sad day when we cannot assemble peacefully in support of the President. Someone mentioned it was a shame Dad took a 3-year old with him in protest. There is a difference in protesting and supporting. He was not heckling, not chanting, yelling, nor antagonizing. He was merely standing there with signs. There is no crime against that. This is America, one should think that he would be able to take his young daughter out and show support without being concerned about her safety among fellow West Virginians. Also, I am disappointed with the WV comment. No, not everyone in WV is related. BTW My brothers look NOTHING like that thug in the photo! Zoom in and take a better look!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1218865/posts?q=1&&page=51
96 posted on 09/17/2004 11:46:20 AM EDT by big_sis_10 [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
Although the man who is General President more or less apologized, I think that they ought to take the miscreant out and hogtie him to an ant hill with honey all over him - of course it would have to be in the middle of some bee hives and wasp nests.
I received the following in my email today:
For those of you who may have emailed the IUPAT about the actions of their member in Huntington, WV, yesterday, here's some gratifying news --
Statement from the General President Regarding the Events in Huntington, WV
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades believes in the fundamental right for civil discourse, freedom of speech and activism to support our candidates and issues.
What happened in Huntington, West Virginia yesterday is an affront to everything we, as a union, pride ourselves to represent. We extend our apologies to the Parlock family, especially Sophia, for the distress one of our overzealous members caused them.
I have personally taken steps to address this issue internally, and will take immediate disciplinary action to the fullest extent allowed under U.S. Department of Labor regulations and the constitution of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.
It is my hope that this incident reminds all of our members that every last citizen in this country has the right to express his or herself freely. Not one single one of us has the right to tell them otherwise.
General President James A. Williams
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
http://www.ibpat.org/news/WVa.html