Protester Denied Free Speech at Town Hall:
Protester: “Did you take an oath to follow the Constitution?”
Police Officer: “Yes I did”
Protester: “This used to be America”
Police Officer: “It ain’t no more”
The below video was taken on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 at Rep. Jim Moran’s (D-VA) Town Hall meeting on Obama Deathcare (Howie Dean was there too) held at South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia, in Fairfax County.
Many people were left outside when the school filled to capacity. Fairfax County School Police Officer Wesley Cheeks, Jr. did not approve of a protester’s anti-Obamacare poster (shown above) which used one of the “Joker” graphics.
Watch the video below and see what happens when Officer Cheeks sees the anti-Obamacare poster.
Good example of content based discrimination. Yes, the public school used for a public town hall may be a limited public forum, under First Amendment case law, and there may be regulation of the general use of signs (maybe) during the event, but any such regulation of how someone expresses their speech must be applied equally to all, and when you target a particular sign for its content, while letting others alone who also have signs, that is discrimination against that speech (the sign) based on its content, rather than simply prohibiting all signs. That is known as “content based discrimination” in legaleese, and it is unconstitutional.
It looks pretty obvious that this officer just didn’t like the message of the sign and was targeting the content of this protesters speech.
Update:
If you would like to file a complaint, go here:
He is a security officer employed by the Fairfax County Public Schools.
You may go to
http://www.fcps.edu to contact the School’s Department of Communication and Community Outreach concerning this matter. They may also be reached by phone at 571-423-1200.
The head of the security department at Fairfax County Public Schools is Fred Ellis. His email is fred.ellis@fcps.edu and his phone number is 703-658-3763”
Let them know that, contrary to what their officer thinks, this is STILL America, the Constitution has not yet been scrapped, the First Amendment still applies, and their oath requires that they respect the right to free speech of all Americans, even when the officer does not like the speech. The First Amendment does not just protect speech the officer on the scene agrees with, and he is not free to implement his own mini-constitutional suspension zone.
Be polite, but firm. Don’t use profanity, but let them know that as an Oath Keeper, you don’t appreciate the oath breaker they have on staff.
Stewart
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October 27th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Agreed the officer is a moron. But common people, how old are you when you put white face on a black man on a poster and not expect people having a problem with that. I have been reading alot of your web pages out of couriosity but it appears that you all are using shock factor (sometimes bad taste) to create a soap box for yourselves. The fact is it is still America and that is not going to change. I don’t care if they said turn in all your guns, balh blah blah,…it aint gonna happen. Thats the main reason we’ve never been invaded (with troops on the ground), because we all own guns and we would use them! lol
That is the probelm in the war that Bush created. They all own guns and we are on their grounds. Its a no win situation. Obama is talking about withdrawing troops. Good, we need to. We are not going to win that war. Lets build up our defenses here, put embargos on their country, grow independent from foriegn oil and move one in life. But you guys are not focused on solving the problem. Your focused on raising hell crying about it. Do something to benefit this country istead of calling the Waaaambulance.
Its funny to read all the comments from cops on here and then look at the board members. lol
Cops, haha, what do you need to become one, a highg school diploma? yeah thats what I thought. The blind leading the blind. Get an education people. Benefit society don’t bring it down.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Dave,
You are correct about one thing, we should not have to depend on foreign oil. However with that being said next time you decide to come to OUR web site to insult these true patriotic Americans, saying that we need an education. Maybe you could spell check your message before you go blabbing all kinds of stupid everywhere. I counted over 10 grammatical or spelling errors but we are the dumb ones, right? Oh as far as being dependent on foreign oil goes, the U.S. has enough reserves to last us 380 years at our current level of demand. Also here “is some skoolin for ya dave” note the sarcasm in my misspelling of words.
President Bush — almost sounding like former Speaker Newt Gingrich — pushed for offshore oil drilling on America’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) yesterday, urging Congress to lift the legislative ban on exploration in that area.
As the nation’s gas prices skyrocketed again this week — in some places up to $4.30/gallon — Democrats’ opposition to in-country drilling faces heavy criticism.
Bush said his administration has “repeatedly called on Congress to expand domestic oil production” but “Democrats on Capitol Hill have rejected virtually every proposal.”
Offshore drilling, banned under a 1981 federal moratorium, could produce years of sufficient oil production. But the practice is frowned on by environmentalists even though recent technological advances make it possible to drill without harming the natural environments.
“With these advances — and a dramatic increase in oil prices — congressional restrictions on OCS exploration have become outdated and counterproductive,” said Bush.
This came straight from an old news article written by Ericka Andersen on 6/19/2008 at Humanevents.com
To the other Oath Keepers, I am sorry to deviate from the original subject of discussion, I just don’t like being called stupid by a less educated person.
If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
he said this was not the united states anymore,in uniform wile on the clock getting payed by taxpayers, he should be fired.
November 8th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
POLICE, ANYWHERE GIVE THEIR ALIEGENCE TO THE REGIME IN POWER. IF TOMORROW CHINESE TROOPS ARRIVE AND ISSUE A SET OF NEW LAWS, OUR LOCAL POLICE WILL INFORCE THOSE LAWS ON US. CIVILIANS SHOULD NEVER EXPECT POLICE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC, IT’S NOT IN THEIR DNA.
In New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina while people were in need of help, medical care, food, water and evacuation, the New Orleans Police Department carried out a house-to-house and traffic stops taking legally owned guns from people. Later courts declared they acted illegally and to return the confiscated firearms but that was never done. They were only following orders.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
1. BRING THE POLICE UNDER CONTROL
Leftist protesters always have a lawyer with them when they protest and expect police to confront them. Its is easy to spot their lawyer, they look like lawyers and stand out.
When planning to protest, march, or appear at a town hall meeting, make sure there are cameras recording every minute. If possible, hire a lawyer or get a volunteer lawyer to be with you. The Police will be on their best behavior if a lawyer is present because they know in a court the police do not stand a chance against a lawyer. The police can always explain away a video but will have a hard time explaining away a Member-of-the-Bar.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
WHEN WILL THE OATH KEEPER POLICE BEGIN TO ADVISE US?
We are not playing a game, we are going to defend our nation and our way of life against domestic enimies even if its our own government.
1. Tell us how to avoid police confrontations.
2. What can we do like at Pittsberg when trapped by police reacting to Mob Dynamics?
3. How can we assert ourselves when confonted by the police at a meeting who is exceeding his authoriety.
Stop telling us that you will not follow ten orders, we are beyond that. How do we remain civil, passive, yet assert our constitutional rights. Please advise us.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I am in favor of and support the oath keepers.
But I can understand how government property (school grounds) can not be used to send a political message. In my opinion, a government allowing that would be fascist.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Why is this police still a policeman in the United States? Why has he not been removed?
December 10th, 2009 at 3:59 am
Joey: Trust me! Whatever experience you’ve had with police you must realize that the majority of us aren’t the idiots that want to regulate behavior, write up the poor bastards driving to work who are trying to make a living, or derive pleasure from imposing our authority. The majority of us RECOGNIZE that law abiding citizens are not only our allies, but are our backup. If you come from an area that makes you feel that way then let me know and we’ll see what we can do about it. Please don’t think we’re all on a “power trip”, because we’re not. I don’t think you realize just how important you are to most of us.I’m guessing you’ve had some negative experiences with law enforcement that have lead you to your views. Do you think that we, in law enforcement, don’t see or recognize the morons that have been allowed to become police officers who have ruined our reputations and diminished the trust that our citizens once held? You have no idea what’s been going on behind the scenes and the battles we’ve been waging on your behalf. I’m telling you right now, with no equivocation that most police officers don’t want anything to do with the new standards that seemed to have surfaced recently. Many of us…not all of us mind you, are openly questioning what the hell is going on. I don’t think it is a co-incidence that hiring practices for police have changed to the point that this is a concern. I won’t say anything more about that. All I will say is that there are many of us that were hired because of our ability, because of our intellect, because of our credentials that despise what is going on right now. Please don’t abandon those of us that are trying to preserve your rights while we’re taking all kinds of heat from our superiors for doing it. There’s a major “shit-storm” within law enforcement about that exact thing and the older guys are taking our bruises because of it. We were soldiers, we adhere to our constitution, we know why we do what we do. Don’t abandon us when we need you to support us in these trying times. Why do you think Oathkeepers came to be? Most of us know we’re no better than anyone else, we’re just trying to do our jobs the best we can. We’re fighting as hard as you are to preserve the rights of the citizens whether you want to recognize it or not. I hope you do.
January 19th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Twelve years ago, I raised my hand to God and swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. You can take a man out of the Army, but you can never take the Army out of the man. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage. Being a law enforcment officer, soldier, or even an officer of the court needs to be about two things. Protecting the constitutional rights of civilians, and L.D.R.S.H.I.P.
However, when it comes to the issues we find ourselves facing as a nation, I find myself standing on a knifes edge. No matter which way you look, to the left or to the right, there is someone waiting to snatch away your personal freedoms to increase thier own wealth and power.
I do not believe in totalitarian socialism, whereby all transactions in our ecomomy are regulated by government agencys. That can only lead to absolute disaster.
I do happen to believe in universal healthcare. If our society is to progress and flourish we must provide all people of all economic situations the abillity to contribute to our society in a positive way.
This means providing healthcare, education (to the ph.d. level), and justice (as outlined by the constitution) as a function of that society. At no cost to the individual. So that more people can end up in a lab working on the next best thing instead of in a prison living on our tax dollars anyway.
But the party that stands for those things also stands for this video. Just as the Republicans would take away the greatest tool of free speech in history (the internet) through backroom international deals (ACTA) so would the Democrates press us against the fulcrum of political correctness in an attempt to silence thier detractors.
Just as Republicans will pass unconstitutional laws that allow for the creation of a fascist police state, so would the Democrates control our economy and our welfare through totalitarian socialism.
The right thinks you should give all of your money to the corporate elite, while making a slaves wage. The left thinks you should give all of your money to the government. Both sides think you should be striped of your first, third, and fourth ammendment rights.
All of them are on the take from corporations with special interests making laws instead of better products (where is your free market now?).
And I have no idea who to back without breaking my oath.