Posted on 06/22/2014 9:46:23 AM PDT by gorush
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A pedestrian bridge over Interstate 90 has linked the two sides of a western Wisconsin burg for decades, providing a test of courage for bike-riding children and a symbol of home for travelers returning from Minnesota.
Over the last year, the town of Campbell’s overpass has become the front line in a Hatfield vs. McCoy free-speech clash between a tea party activist and the police chief.
The fight was spurred by last summer’s national push for tea party overpass protests calling for President Barack Obama’s impeachment. Nowhere, though, has the protest caused as much of an uproar as in Campbell.
The local tea party alleges the town and Police Chief Tim Kelemen are trying to curtail their free-speech rights by banning signs on the overpass. The chief, for his part, maintains tea party supporters responded to the ordinance by deluging his agency with complaints and threats. So, he fought back by registering one of the party’s leading activists with websites for gay dating, pornographic and federal health care.
Now Keleman could lose his job and possibly face criminal charges.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Which part of the bill of rights was I violating? I never said they couldn’t protest...never told them they had to leave...never told them they could t hold their signs. However, the bill of rights doesn’t cover clamping signs to city property. As far as the interstate, the state police regulate that. What should I do, go stop everyone on the I terstate to tell them not to look up at the signs? I’m sure that would be violating the drivers rights somewhere as well.
“never told them they could t hold their signs.” - B8
My mistake. I thought you referenced that you asked them to leave/stop their protest because they were disrupting traffic.
My apologies.
3
No worries...but believe it or not..most of the older cops I know are with the constitution... At least the ones I know, but I live in a conservative area...
stay safe my friend...
I was one of the protestors and I live in the Town of Campbell.
When we first started exercising our 1st Amendment rights, our Tea Party group had a press release and got the ok that we would not be hassled by the police, but the Town of Campbell told bold face lies.
They hated the message of “Impeach Obama” and called 911 even before we went on the overpass. Chadwick Hawkins, the town clerk of Campbell said we were “Rioters and protestors forming at the base of the bridge” and he wanted us removed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMqe-spgt5A
Right out of the Gestapo Field Manual.
It’s very obvious to me that if there were more police like you the ‘us cops vs them guilty citizens’ would never have gotten a foothold, let alone be such a high profile view.
To be fair our county police and state troopers were professional and polite (state police honked in support!) The Town of Campbell police on the other hand were looking for revenue from their shiny new ordinance.
Here is my friend Kevin being ticketed for simply holding a wooden cross!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUVeEIFpYwE
does Campbell have an MRAP yet?
He should be fired and fined/jailed.
Hitler Rants about Overpasses for Obama’s Impeachment in Wisconsin’s Town of Campbell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhRLH9k8w7Q
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