Veep trouble: Amherst native sues security man over 'free speech' arrest

[Bonobo]

Veep trouble:Amherst native sues security man over 'free speech' arrest
BY MARY CAREY STAFF WRITER

http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=12235

AMHERST - When he came across Dick Cheney one day last June in Colorado, Amherst native Steven Howards decided to give the vice president a piece of his mind.

He told Cheney his policies in Iraq were 'reprehensible.' And, for his trouble, Howards was arrested by a Secret Service agent on an assault charge. The charge was later amended to harassment, and was dropped a few weeks after that.

Howards had just returned from Washington, D.C., that morning and had read in the Washington Post that the total of American deaths in Iraq had reached 2,500, that 10,000 Americans had been maimed or injured, and hundreds of thousands Iraqis had died, he said.

'A few hours later I'm in Beaver Creek, Colo., taking my kids to piano class, and who walks by me but Cheney.'

It was a 'surreal' experience, Howards said.

'I just walked up as Cheney was walking through the area with a ton of Secret Service agents, shaking hands. I waited my turn and said, 'Your policies in Iraq are reprehensible.'

Ten minutes later, Howards was walking by with his son, and the agent approached him and said, 'Did you assault the vice president?' Howards told him no, but he did tell Cheney he opposes his policies.

'I said if he wants to be shielded from public criticism, he should avoid public places. If freedom of speech is against the law, arrest me.'

At that point, Howards was put in handcuffs and taken to jail.

The most upsetting thing, Howards said, is that after saying he needed to attend to his then 8-year-old son Jonah, who has since turned 9, the agent told him the Secret Service would call social services. Luckily, Jonah, who became frightened when he saw his father placed in handcuffs, ran back to his mother, who was not far away, Howards said. She bailed him out of jail about three hours later.

[Richard Steele]

1. "If freedom of speech is against the law, arrest me."

At that point, Howards was put in handcuffs and taken to jail.


And there you have it, folks.

[Historic NY]

2. Suit to be thrown out.............

Administration argues its wartime. Our leaders should be protected from real citizens.
:sarcasm:

[HereSince1628]

3. He got his answer...freedom of speech _is_ against the law

in the "opposition-free zone" maintained about Dicky. It's a national security threat. It could discourage Cheney and that could directly lead to encouragement of the terrorists.

[Bill McBlueState]

4. kick n/t