Added: April 15, 2008 We reached out to hundreds of rush hour drivers with our beautiful brand new banner (5' x 21' CHECK IT OUT!!), until the CHP showed up an hour into our truth action.
The CHP officer violated our First Amendment rights by insisting that we leave the bridge. We reluctantly complied, but that's not the end of the story... Stay tuned for what happens next in PART 2!
Poster Comment:
Cop keeps telling the cameraman 'put the camera down', and when asked what law forbids them from holding signs, he tells the sign holders they will be charged with PC 148 if they don't comply, completely bogus: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/appndxa/penalco/penco148.htm Penal Code Resisting, Delaying, or Obstructing Officer 148. (a) (1) Every person who willfully resists, delays, or obstructs any public officer, peace officer, or an emergency medical technician, as defined in Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 1797) of the Health and Safety Code, in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of his or her office or employment, when no other punishment is prescribed, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment
The cop made for a good video ... We Are Change L.A. made for good citizenship ... great citizenship ... FREEDOM ...
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the bankswill deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)
what has become of the land of the free the home of the brave??
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the bankswill deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the bankswill deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)
Their hearts were in the right place, but the banner wasn't.
imo it is not a good idea to distract drivers. People have a hard enough time as it is, just keeping it between the ditches. No point making it even more risky.
If I had been a cop, that is what I would have told them. But they seem to prefer being unreasonable and, in general, dicks.
------They may look intimidating, that's by design; but they aren't bulletproof. -------
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the bankswill deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
That's a BS excuse. billboards are 10 times bigger than the sign.
its not cops jobs to prevent 'potential' hypothetical scenarios. do you agree with banning cell phones while driving like CA has done? No evidence they cause accidents either, just emotionalism nanny-state attitudes.
the cop never did answer what specific law forbade them from holding a sign. the law he cited is bogus.
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
Should the CHP have all signage removed from the highways ???
I don't think so ...
LOTS of HORNS HONKING ... [I love good citizenship]
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the bankswill deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)
I might try this in my own neighborhood just to see what happens. good idea.
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
That's a BS excuse. billboards are 10 times bigger than the sign.
Yes, but people know billboards are there. They are on the sides of the highways and it takes a conscious effort to read them.
The banner they used was not so easy to ignore. THey wanted to create a scene to help their cause (which I also believe in). It could have been handled better, both from the demonstrators side and the LEO side.
You said "its not cops jobs to prevent 'potential' hypothetical scenarios. "
OK then, dont arrest DUIs anymore. The DUI didnt cause an accident, yet... But having seen the bodies covered with tarps on more than 1 occasion, and people laying dead on the shoulder, and lots of trashed cars that you just know has at least 1 dead body in it, I have seen the results of nitwits behind the wheel.
It's not a game. We lose almost as many people in 1 year on the road as we lost in 10 years of Viet Nam.
"do you agree with banning cell phones while driving like CA has done? No evidence they cause accidents either, just emotionalism nanny-state attitudes. "
I dont know enough about it to comment. If there is no evidence, what studies can you cite?
"the cop never did answer what specific law forbade them from holding a sign. the law he cited is bogus. "
The law is genuine, the application was bogus, IMO. There are also laws against creating traffic hazards. CA is rather scrict about that. Why he didn't cite them, I don't know.
------They may look intimidating, that's by design; but they aren't bulletproof. -------
no, DUI is illegal in itself and is not a non crime. whereas, holding the banner is not a crime. with that logic the state could ban all protests under the guise of 'preventing (enter here,_______catastrophe XYZ'
as far as the phones, i dont need to cite evidence of no danger, they should have to cite evidence to justify their 'law'.
The law the cop cited was not even related to what the people were doing. he couldnt cite a real cause because there was none. he should be arrested, actually, not them.
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
no, DUI is illegal in itself and is not a non crime. whereas, holding the banner is not a crime. with that logic the state could ban all protests under the guise of 'preventing (enter here,_______catastrophe XYZ'
I agree, holding a banner is not a crime.
Creating a traffic hazard is illegal. Like I said, I dont know why the cop didnt cite this. IMO he was probably just lazy and didnt want to think too hard. It's like the parents saying "because I said so!" to justify what they want. That used to piss me off when I was a kid, and it pisses me off when those in .gov authority use it WITHOUT CAUSE.
Like I said, it could have been handled better, but because the cop used the "because I said so" argument, it escalated. It's his fault, he should have known better.
Imagine this:
You come upon this situation. Both sides are reasonable, especially the LEO. All you have to do is say "We have no problem with you or your banner. But you are creating a traffic hazard. Please take your banner to a safer location, we cannot let you put it where is causes distractions. It's not safe."
If I was a demonstrator, I'd have said "no problem", because the cop made a good point.
End of problem, and no hard feelings.
"as far as the phones, i dont need to cite evidence of no danger, they should have to cite evidence to justify their 'law'."
If that wasn't done, then shame on CA for allowing it to happen. But I am sure that with a little effort I can find some good studies that show cellphone use is a major distraction.
------They may look intimidating, that's by design; but they aren't bulletproof. -------
It appears from your positions on these 2 issues that you tend to side with the state over personal liberty. Why?
They are very basic issues. holding a sign does not present a traffic hazard, that is a stretch. parking an auto on the shoulder and standing on the hood waving a sign, Yes that might qualify.
re: cell phones, regulating personal behavior under the guise of 'safety' to the point of barring peoples habits is obscene. the socialists who propose this nonsense dont give a damn about you or anyone, or your 'safety'. theyre just revenue hungry control freaks,.
dare I ask what you think about 'child protective services' agencies??
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
It appears from your positions on these 2 issues that you tend to side with the state over personal liberty. Why?
I dont equate personal liberty with the right to act stupid. Liberty requires common sense. Otherwise you have a bunch of liberated dumbasses doing dumbass things. Why put others at risk needlessly? Why do it at all?
"They are very basic issues. holding a sign does not present a traffic hazard, that is a stretch. parking an auto on the shoulder and standing on the hood waving a sign, Yes that might qualify."
OK, we can disagree on what is a hazard. Leave it to a jury of ones peers to decide. But it shouldnt even make it to a jury, if both sides are reasonable.
"dare I ask what you think about 'child protective services' agencies?? "
They are great. Super, especially the ones in Florida. (sarcasm there)
------They may look intimidating, that's by design; but they aren't bulletproof. -------
What I said was: "Like I said, it could have been handled better, but because the cop used the "because I said so" argument, it escalated. It's his fault, he should have known better.
Imagine this:
You come upon this situation. Both sides are reasonable, especially the LEO. All you have to do is say "We have no problem with you or your banner. But you are creating a traffic hazard. Please take your banner to a safer location, we cannot let you put it where is causes distractions. It's not safe."
If I was a demonstrator, I'd have said "no problem", because the cop made a good point.
End of problem, and no hard feelings. "
There is a risk:benefit ratio. The risk: an accident caused by the distraction. Ask an EMT how many low speed fatalities he/she has seen. You'd be surprised. The benefit? Someone gets to feel like a persecuted VIP. There were better ways to handle this.
------They may look intimidating, that's by design; but they aren't bulletproof. -------
Our Ron Paul MUG checked with the Austin PD prior to signing a major thoroughfare here and got a written opinion that as long as the foot-bridge was not 'impeded' the action would be lawful and legal.
'Individuals should not take responsibility for their own defense. Thats what the police are for. ... If I oppose individuals defending themselves, I have to support police defending them. I have to support a police state.' Alan Dershowitz
When are you going to have the second installment? I think the cop was being a "polite jackass" and I think the people had every right to be where they were doing what they were doing.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The "conversation" with CHP was all very civilized and polite. The Truthers showed they are bright, educated, intelligent, and non-violent. Well done!
'Individuals should not take responsibility for their own defense. Thats what the police are for. ... If I oppose individuals defending themselves, I have to support police defending them. I have to support a police state.' Alan Dershowitz
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
the people had every right to be where they were doing what they were doing.
I agree with you. I dont know when theyre gonna post part 2,, but i'll let you know when they do. I think it was an outrageous affront that the pig liked like he did, not to mention threatening to charge them with a bogus charge to justify it.
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
I wasnt involved with either of these actions. if it were me i would definitely follow up on the first incident with the cop.
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." "I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
I wasnt involved with either of these actions. if it were me i would definitely follow up on the first incident with the cop.
Yes, I think the people who were involved need to take some kind of action against him even if it is nothing more than filing a complaint. Of course I think they should sue him for trying to coerce them into waiving a right under color of a "law" that didn't even apply to the situation.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton