Anti-War protester at Jeb Bush event awarded $60,000 for false arrest...

[lib2DaBone]

Way to go.... one small victory against Free speech zones, Invitation-Only "public" meetings and fascist Rethuiglians.



------------------------------------------------

For Robert Moran, 68, of Punta Gorda, it was $60,000 and an apology from the Cultural Center of Charlotte County.

It may have taken a lawsuit and three years, but we all come out winners in this one.

In October 2006, then-Gov. Jeb Bush visited the center to boost the campaign of congressional candidate Joe Negron. All the Republican big shots were there.

So was Moran. A veteran and father of a veteran, he carried an antiwar sign. One side read, "Dumb Men Start Wars." The other, "Guided by God: George and Osama."

It didn't take long for Bill Cameron, then chief deputy and now Charlotte County sheriff, to confront him. Moran argued that the county-owned Cultural Center was public property and that he had as much right to be there as the Republicans.

When he refused to leave with his sign, Moran was arrested for trespassing. He spent the night in jail, and for the next three weeks couldn't leave the county without permission from authorities.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20091120/COLUMNIST/911201010/2416/NEWS?Title=Ernst-War-protester-s-lawsuit-a-victory-for-free-speech

[peekaloo]

1. Suck on that Freepers, a Moran with a brain!

[Atman]

2. Best response ever!

"Moran with a brain." :rofl:

.

[malaise]

3. DUzy

:rofl:

[TommyO]

4. Absolutely perfect!

I second the DUzy nomination.

[malaise]

5. I also hope he enjoys the money

As Marley said ' Get up Stand up, Stand up for your rights'!!
I love this Moran. :D

gr.

[chill_wind]

11. :-)

[ixion]

6. can you imagine the outcry if teabaggers had to deal with so-called "Free Speech Zones"

The howling would be incredible. But for 8 years, while progressives endured this fascist tactic, we heard nary a word from this group of "patriots."

[Lasher]

7. Related case from 2007

Couple Arrested at Bush Rally Settles Lawsuit for $80,000
August 17, 2007

The federal government has agreed to pay $80,000 to a Texas couple arrested for wearing anti-President Bush T-shirts at a 2004 event with the president in Charleston (West Virginia).

Jeff and Nicole Rank went to Bush's Fourth of July speech at the state Capitol wearing homemade T-shirts with a red circle with a bar through it over the word "Bush."

On the back, hers read "Love America, Hate Bush" and his read "Regime Change Starts At Home."

When the couple refused to cover up their shirts, they were arrested and charged with trespassing. Those charges were later dropped by the city of Charleston, and city officials later apologized.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/17/3243

[malaise]

13. Meanwhile Obama haters are allowed to protest

with guns and live ammunition.

[Lasher]

15. Correct. But it's better that we don't have brownshirts.

From the article I linked:

"Rally squads" were also used to drown out protesters by creating a shield between demonstrators and the press, according to the manual.

It's a shame nobody in the media has pointed out this glaring distinction between them and us.

[izquierdista]

8. So why is Bill Cameron sheriff?

This should be enough to disqualify him from office. Unless the voters of Charlotte County like to pay out judgments for official stupidity.

[lonestarnot]

9. Yeah!

[chill_wind]

10. Excellent!!

K & R.

[TexasObserver]

12. Recommend

[BeFree]

14. Ya know...

...I could use 60G. Hmm. Good work if you can get it.
Now to find some R big shot's meeting.
And make a sign.

Gonna strike it rich!!

[lib2DaBone]

16. If everyone leaves when you come around..maybe it's your deodorant..

Maybe you can find a free speech zone you like?






:patriot:

[gratuitous]

17. If only it came out of the candidate's pocket

As it is, the good people of Charlotte County will pay right along with their fascist sheriff. Hopefully this will get the likes of Bill Cameron to change his ways, but somehow I don't have much hope.