Posted on 12/19/2023 3:04:00 PM PST by nickcarraway
Edited on 12/19/2023 3:42:15 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
FIRE and the ACLU of Vermont are now representing the man in a free speech lawsuit.
Newly released video footage shows a Vermont state trooper arresting a man on disorderly conduct charges for the First Amendment–protected activity of flipping him off.
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Giving the bird is protected free speech.
“...the middle finger’s “nearly universal recognition” as an insult made it unreasonable for an officer to interpret it as a distress signal.”
On the other hand, I would consider anybody that flipped off an officer to have a screw loose and be a danger to himself and society. It’s a signal that the flipper has flipped out.
I would consider any public servant who feels that way to be unfit for office, and to be a prime candidate for immediate termination of employment.
Yeah, the Vermont State Stazi lost their sense of humor long ago.
When I was a teen ager we flipped of a Highway Patrolman.
He turned around and pulled us over. He thought we were giving him the Peace Symbol, and told us that it meant ‘Peace Pig’.
In any event he said if we did it again he’d break our thumbs and we believed him.
Obviously, you didn’t grow up in North Philadelphia…
In any event he said if we did it again he’d break our thumbs and we believed him.
Heh, heh. I was born in 1951 and grew up in lily white suburbs. In that era, you just didn’t disrespect officers of the law. Nor Mom & Dad. Nor teachers. It was a different world, but one that worked quite well.
Any lawyers contradicting what I said.
When I was in high school, I had some kid in my car against my will, and he deliberately flipped of a cop. Luckily, the officer didn’t see him, but I was not happy.
“ Of all the types of speech guarded by the First Amendment, criticism of government officials is among the most strictly protected…”
Except if you are Donald Trump or one of his supporters. What was celebrated as “civil disobedience” during the Civil Rights marches is now prosecuted as “insurrection.”.
As far as the middle finger goes, it’s called an “obscene” gesture for a reason. I don’t think the First Amendment was originally understood to cover such conduct. Granted, the article cites courts having ruled the opposite way a couple hundred years later. But I think this is modern judicial activism. You know, the police are hired by the public and they represent the law. I am all for free speech criticizing them and there are plenty of ways to do that without recognizing a constitutional right to obscene gestures.
Respecting people who hold legitimate authority only works when people who hold legitimate authority are respectable.
When, in the course of human events, they cease to be respectable and become abusive of their authority ...
I suspect that there are FAR more citizens (and non-citizens) who disrespect the cops than vice-versa. Goes back to the late 60s “counter culture.”
A friend doing that led to me missing Woodstock.
I would never do that to a cop, but a lawyer told me that giving the middle finger is free speech.
Any lawyers contradicting what I said.
What will you learn from the tuition you paid?
No.
With the sole exception of elected Sheriffs police are hired by The State, they represent The State, and they serve the interests of The State. When The State ceases to serve the public and seeks mastery over the public, police become enemies of the public.
It is indeed sir.
I suspect that police culture inherently contains a lack of respect for citizens, whom “officers” view as a lesser form of life.
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