Strip Searched Teachers Sue Over Arrest at Bush Campaign Rally

[kerrygoddess]

This is outrageous! On September 3, 2004, two female teachers, both in their 50’s were arrested at a Bush campaign and subsequently STRIP-SEARCHED at the local county jail.

Two teachers arrested at a 2004 campaign rally for President Bush and strip-searched at a county jail have filed a lawsuit alleging law officers conspired to violate their constitutional rights.

Alice McCabe and Christine Nelson, both in their 50s, were among five protesters arrested at the Sept. 3 rally. The pair were handcuffed, taken to the county jail, strip-searched and charged with criminal trespass. The charges were dropped months later.

"I believe the federal government behaved very badly in this situation," said David O'Brien, the women's attorney.

The lawsuit claims the strip search violated constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Typically suspects are searched only if authorities have cause to believe they possess a weapon or illegal drugs, O'Brien said.

MORE & LINKS - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=801

[okieinpain]

1. who you know they liked it.

[foreigncorrespondent]

18. Oh yeah!

I'm really sure they enjoyed such an invasion of privacy! :eyes:

Ask yourself, how you would feel if you found out your mother had this happen!

I have been strip searched and I can tell you, it truly isn't something one would enjoy!

[Nikki Stone 1]

2. It's a scare tactic, and it works

This administration would strip a couple of nuns if they could.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Fucked up

Stripsearching fifty year old ladies. And trespassing? Was this at a public place?

[kerrygoddess]

10. Definately F/U

It appears they were "trespassing" on public property.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. What the hell?

That's their excuse? How in the hell can you tresspass on PUBLIC PROPERTY?! :banghead: (Oh and I like your icon kerrygoddess hehe)

[kerrygoddess]

14. HeHe...

I like your icon too?

Haven't figured that out, how that is trespassing. Just can't believe the audacity of putting those poor women through that... being close to 50 myself! LOL !

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Humiliation and intimidation tactics.

I have it understood that they do this on purpose to teach a lesson to anyone who they perceive as a dissenter.

[k j]

4. OF COURSE

...a 50+ year old woman who carrys a sign saying "No More War" or wears a John Kerry button in a city park should be arrested and then stripsearched... after all, the two women were TEACHERS for crying out loud, you know, probably members of that terrorist group, the National Education Association.

:sarcasm:

[kerrygoddess]

11. That subversive NEA! LOL!

[tsuki]

12. This is not sarcasm. The Republicans do think the NEA is a terrorist

group. They think all unions are full of terrorists.

[Gato Moteado]

5. facism

the republicans in power are facists. the more control they get, the closer we get to a police state. that's all there is to it.

[kerrygoddess]

6. Yup!

It's absolutely nuts!

[demgurl]

7. People, people! Calm down!

These were terrorists to the * admin. Anyone who can teach the truth to the public or even someone who can turn out an educated person is an imminent threat to Bushco. If Saddam had WMD's then teacher are certainly have the tools to be a WMD to Republicans. They were just acting in self defense!!!!!

[kerrygoddess]

9. LOL!

Teachers are most definately WMD's to repubs!

[johnaries]

15. yeah Weapons of Moron Destruction!

:evilgrin:

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. This is OUTRAGEOUS and needs to be publicized. And also see this other

over-the-top incident of clearly illegal suppression of free speech: Three people were evicted from a taxpayer-supported public presidential speech because of their bumper sticker. One of the two men who evicted them was identified as a Young Republican leader and the other, who identified himself as Secret Service but was not, has had his identity protected....for now. He may well be a White House employee.

The White House (McClellan) actually said that if they THINK you MIGHT disrupt an event, they will remove you. Orwell's Thought Police have arrived and have the White House's blessing.

Read the article:
http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3735489,00.html

The current DU thread on this is here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x122245

Recommended!

[stpalm]

17. these guys are so fascist.

god, I hope we still have elections in '08 so we can fix the messes they have made.

[kerrygoddess]

20. We damn better have elections in '08!

[Timebound]

19. Unbelievable... n/t