Posted on 03/05/2006 9:09:35 AM PST by PolishProud
U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo has come to the defense of Mike Gray, an Arapahoe County employee who claims the county is violating his free speech rights by not allowing him to display a sign on his personal truck describing himself as an "English Speaking American" or to wear a cap that says "U.S. Border Patrol."
The 50-year-old, who works for the county's road and bridge department, drives a truck with a sign advertising a side business that reads: "Lawn Services Done with Pride!! By An English Speaking American."
"The sign on his personal vehicle cannot be fairly categorized as violating any one else's rights," Tancredo wrote in a letter to Rod Bockenfeld, chairman of the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners.
"It is an expression of his own opinion and interferes with no one else's right to express their own opinion," the letter continues.
The Colorado Republican, who has earned a national reputation for his crusade against illegal immigration, said he could not understand why anyone would object to Gray's hat.
"How can a hat saying, 'U.S. Border Patrol' be offensive?" he asked in the letter. "As long as the hat's wording is not obscene, his right to wear a hat of his choice ought not to be in danger in Arapahoe County."
Gray said he received a letter in November from his supervisor, Marty Sedlak, warning him that if he did not cover up the sign or stop wearing the hat, he might lose his job of 16 years.
"Some of your conduct . . . is reprehensible and discriminatory to our non-English speaking and/or Hispanic work force," Sedlak wrote.
Tancredo agrees with Gray that it is a free speech issue and urged the commissioners to restore that right to Gray.
"It will be a sad day in Arapahoe County, where I have two congressional offices and where thousands of my constituents live, if county employees have to bow their heads to the winds of political correctness with regard to their personal transportation," he wrote. "What is next - a ban on American flag bumper stickers?"
Arapahoe County released a statement later Friday.
"In this case, Arapahoe County has received several complaints, not only from Mike Gray, but also from some of his co-workers who complained there has been a pattern of disruptive behavior," county officials wrote.
"In this case, there are complaints from both sides. It's important for the county to find out what the true facts are; therefore, we are in the process of hiring an independent professional experienced in these types of matters to investigate both sides of this conflict." *
* My emphasis
Its a no-brainer. Mike Gray's free speech is violated and we tax payers have to pay a consultant to help country commissioner CYA
Why doesn't this man just file a declaratory action at the nearest courthouse instead of calling his congressman? This is a clear cut case. All he wants is publicity. I guess that's what you get when you have an irrational fear of the judiciary. Those county officials should be sued for a violation of his civil rights.
I wonder what the pattern of disruptive behavior is.
If they can't read English, how would they know?
Whatever. This schmuck is on the public dole as a road commissioner--not "the US Border Patrol"--what position will promote himself to next?
Sheriff? FBI SWAT? ATF?
rbockenfeld@co.arapahoe.co.us
Offered my services for free.
"If they can't read English, how would they know?"
lol. Thanks for the chuckle of the day :)
But when he takes a nap on the job, he has the right to pull a hat over his eyes that says, "U.S. Border Patrol."
"The gutless Arapahoe commissioners take a page from the congressional template, passing the buck to an "independent professional."
The voters of Arapahoe should take this into account next election - They could save money by just hiring clerks to call "experts" when a decision has to be made.
You recover legal costs in a civil rights action.
Wearing a Bronco's hat wouldn't make him a bronco player - so that's a silly argument.
As an HR manager, I can see restricting caps to company only - or no writing to avoid situations like this - BUT if that's not the rule in place - he gets to wear it. I don't think anyone would care if it said IRS.
LOL! I wonder if the 'US Border Patrol' hat was a sleeping cap.
Refusal to submit.
The "free speech for me, not for thee" crowd prefers that citizens not disrupt their world by offering an opinion counter to the PC paradigm.
Once again Tancredo is right but the Rino's in congress and the ones on this forum will most likely not concede that fact.
What would really cause trouble would be his wearing a cap that read U.S.A.
Reminds me ... Whats orange and sleeps six?
If I were Mike Gray, I would provide the translation directly adjacent to the the english version.
In as many languages as would fit.
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