Should we form up volunteer security teams for each district town hall?

[MindPilot]

Similar to how we handled abortion clinic defense, volunteers in each district with a democratic rep would go to each town hall meeting to protect the rep from assault and maintain order at the meeting.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Part of me says **YES**. The sane part of me says no.

[elleng]

2. YES AND, police must be informed and expected to show up.

[glinda]

5. Call the police. Videotape the incident and call the police.

[elleng]

8. Call the police BEFORE the event becomes an incident,

and keep it an information exchange.

[MindPilot]

12. The problem with that is here in San Diego,

we have roughly 1800 police officers for about 1.5 million people. There may or (more likely) may not be any cops available.

If you live in a place where you can get the police to show up, and they are not right-wing thugs themselves, more power to ya!

[havocmom]

3. meh, maybe just a narrow doorway and requirement of participants to sign in

with proof of ID.... maybe not the 'long form', but a driver's license or library card ;) Let them know they are noted and we might be cross referencing with participant lists from other town halls :evilgrin:

[glinda]

27. THAT is an excellent idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MercutioATC]

4. Bad idea

1) I haven't heard of any situation where the Rep has been in danger.

2) As a civilian, you don't have the authority to "maintain order" at a public meeting.

[MindPilot]

7. There was mention by a congressman about another who was assaulted

It was on Keith this evening. The congressman (or woman) was not named.

And who says a civilian can't maintain order at a public meeting? Is it necessary to call the police to tell someone their time is up; let someone else talk?

Sometimes a presence is all that's necessary.

ETA: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6225972&mesg_id=6226346

[MercutioATC]

9. I hadn't heard that. HOWEVER...

Yes, a civilian is permitted to intervene to prevent an assault, but an unempowered civilian has no authority to demand any action of another at a public meeting, nor do they have the authority to remove that person. Doing so invites civil action and possible criminal charges.

[clu]

6. most definitely

and not for protection. you just need to go. i went to a very short-notice town hall..... pete sessions in dallas, tx. a lot of his district was there. i had to park quite a distance away. you'll need to show up early to get seating. when you recall stories about abramoff and scanlon using phone trees and christian-right "wackos" to mobilize, we really need to stand up. my favorite talking points are the fact that we have CEOs of health insurance companies doing stock buy-backs and increasing their bonuses; combined with the fact that small employers who provide health insurance to their employees are steered towards dropping covering (firing) for employees who get catastrophic illness... why keep profit as a motive in this system?

i'm going to the denton, TX meeting on 8/8. step up people.

[prolesunited]

10. I think we need to go

but police should handle the security.

You don't stop mob action by creating a bigger mob.

[rwheeler31]

11. I understand your anger, but please, be sensible.

The right wing looks foolish and violent, put your big girl panties on and be a role model for your kids.

[MindPilot]

14. I'm not sure what you think I said,

but it has nothing to do with your response...

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MindPilot]

16. If there were someone at these meetings to do that

I would be happy to.

[masuki bance]

15. Long nightsticks and tasers might be helpful. nt

[MindPilot]

17. No weapons or violence.

If it gets physical, that will be on them.

[rwheeler31]

19. Look at history it will not be the violent people who win.

[liberal N proud]

18. We need to do something for sure

Not sure this is the answer, but I don't have a better one.

[MindPilot]

20. The responses in this thread are strange given the concurrency

of this thread about the townhall in Denver. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6230174&mesg_id=6230174

Sit down, shut up, don't make waves, let the "authorities" handle it, and for god's sake don't take any risks. It's only the future of your country at stake here.

ETA: To be clear I wasn't aiming that at you, l&p, it was a general lamentation.

[liberal N proud]

24. Not doing something cost us 8 years of the bu$h regime

There has to be a way to get the message through without being republican about it.

[TankLV]

21. Yes - and we should have STANDING COMMITIES to assemble at a moments notice!!!

NEVER AGAIN will we allow another "brookes brothers riot"!!!

It has been LONG OVERDUE to meet their VIOLENCE with our VIGILANCE!!!

[rwheeler31]

22. We could laugh, clap, sing, snap, dance, no violence.

[Joe the Revelator]

30. Check out Anti-Racist Action's Clown Bridgade

http://libcom.org/forums/north-america/clowns-kkkick-kkk-ass

[Expedite Trucker]

23. It's just a shame that we even have to consider this

[PHIMG]

25. NO. n/t (-1)

[Gregorian]

26. YES. n/t (+1)

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I saw the previous poster, and realized they have to be a troll. And yes, we do need to do something. We're headed right toward violence.

[asdjrocky]

28. How many ways can I say yes?

We are getting beaten down here by a bunch of bullies. The only way to deal with a bully is to bloody his nose and you only have to do that once. I can't believe we're hem-hawing about this.

Tell me where to be. Pick me up, I'll be ready.

You understand that if someone with any backbone at all stands up to these idiots they back down. Mobs are ruled by cowards and weaklings.

Where's our buses?

[Joe the Revelator]

29. YES, YES, YES, GOD YES!

Non-violent, just a show of force, or at the very least order to the meeting.