Posted on 02/05/2009 7:55:00 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
ITHACA - A protester dressed in his 1950s-era military uniform threw his shoes at Mayor Carolyn Peterson and brought Common Council's Wednesday night meeting to an almost hour-long standstill, insisting that he wanted to be arrested in protest over the Council's position against the "immoral wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Long-time Ithacan and former Weather Underground member Robin Palmer began speaking at about 7:15 p.m., near the beginning of Council's privilege of the floor, during which any citizen may speak on any topic.
Palmer handed out packets of information on the U.S.S. Indianapolis, a Navy vessel sunk during World War II; Common Council's Community of Sanctuary resolution, which asserts Ithaca's commitment to protect the rights of military personnel protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and a statement addressed to the editor of The Ithaca Journal titled "Who were the terrorists? And who are the unrepentant?"
Palmer then addressed the Council, saying he was drafted in Ithaca in 1952 and was honorably discharged two years later. He then stated, "I'm here to protest the Community of Sanctuary Resolution."
Palmer repeatedly called the resolution "odious" and "nauseous" and challenged the Council members to explain what right they had to make such assertions.
"You ... resolve that 'all city officials and all city employees and all others who are opposed to the immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan' - excuse me, who are you to say that the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan is immoral? Who are you to say that?" Palmer said.
The Council passed the resolution unanimously at its October 2008 meeting. The resolution declares Ithaca a "Community of Sanctuary, thus respecting the rights of its residents to support lawfully and proactively military personnel and veterans who are organizing to stop the wars in and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and all future violations of the United Nations Nuremberg Charters."
An AWOL Fort Drum soldier cited the resolution late last year when asking Council members to write him letters of support as he hoped to avoid a court martial or jail time.
Peterson then told Palmer that his time was up, to which Palmer replied, "I know it is."
He then reached into a bag, pulled out two shoes and hurled them at Peterson. The shoes fell short and did not hit the mayor. Several Council members pushed their chairs away from Palmer while Aldermen Svante Myrick, D-4th, and J.R. Clairborne, D-2nd, stood and began to approach Palmer. There were roughly 30 people in the city hall audience.
Palmer pulled another shoe from his bag and waved it at Council members, asking "Who wants another one?"
Ithaca Police Officer Brad Nelson, who has attended virtually every Common Council meeting since an incident in February 2008 when a gunman killed five people in a Missouri city hall, approached Palmer and placed his arm around him, attempting to calm him.
For roughly 10 minutes, Nelson continued talking calmly with Palmer, encouraging him to leave. Janis Kelly, chairwoman of the City of Ithaca Republican party and the only person who spoke against the Community of Sanctuary resolution when it was passed in October, was also in the audience. Kelly approached Palmer and also spoke quietly with him.
Kelly said afterward she told Palmer she, too, was opposed to the Community of Sanctuary resolution and she encouraged him to leave because he had already made his point. Palmer continued to insist he would not leave until he was arrested.
Palmer's wife, Mimi Palmer, arrived and entered Council chambers, attempting briefly to encourage her husband to leave. He wouldn't.
She then exited the room, followed by Peterson.
"He wants to be arrested," Mimi Palmer said, noting that he would be if Peterson pressed charges.
"I don't want to give him the satisfaction," Peterson responded.
Mimi Palmer then turned to a police officer and said, "Please arrest him."
Palmer said her husband is unwell and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
By 8:15 p.m., Bangs Ambulance personnel arrived and, with Ithaca Police officers, escorted Palmer from the room and aided him into an ambulance.
Mimi Palmer said he had not been arrested and was being taken to the hospital.
In his statement, Palmer said he had personally placed a bomb in the Criminal Court House in New York City as a member of the Weather Underground. He also participated in the 1971 Attica prison uprising.
Palmer said he felt the Vietnam war was immoral because Ho Chi Minh "was, and is, the George Washington of Vietnam."
He said he "so far support(s) wholeheartedly U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, especially in Iraq."
"You ... resolve that 'all city officials and all city employees and all others who are opposed to the immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan' - excuse me, who are you to say that the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan is immoral? Who are you to say that?" Palmer said.
The Council passed the resolution unanimously at its October 2008 meeting.
The morons should be glad Mr. Palmer wasn’t healthy and didn’t throw 1950’s military boots at them.
Thats the best response she could come up with?
Nuts abound up there and now even more profusely in Washington.
Or did I miss something?
Does this mean the shoe is off the other foot?
A bit of background on Mr. Palmer, who runs a cable access show in Ithaca.
Palmer, who was born in Ithaca, has journeyed a particularly American dissident life. He was a high school English teacher in New York City, before touching down in that city’s Vietnam War driven, ultra radical culture of the 60’s. Busted along with a group of others for a failed attempt to bomb a bank, he was sent to Attica Prison. Just in time for the 1971 riot. Though Palmer has always followed his beliefs, sometimes into dark places, he was never an ideologue with a checklist of predictable positions. Now living with his wife in the house where he grew up, he’s a member of the Rotary Club. A bit of a booster. He calls himself a Republican yet remains involved in “Remember Attica” causes. Though he still believes the Vietnam War was wrong, he supports the war in Iraq. And gay marriage. And Palmer is always up for a good conspiracy show about Who Killed Kennedy. If he isn’t too busy demonstrating against Senator Hillary Clinton. A few years ago Palmer—and his dog— were arrested for doing just that when Hillary spoke at a local college. Though later, after a lot of legal wrangling, she did send him a written apology.
What’s with all the shoe throwing? First some bozo throws a shoe at W and now this.
The City of Evil looks increasingly like an open air insane asylum.
yay. we should all start acting like the left when we protest except we shouldn’t leave a mess.
A communist who doesn’t like the city’s anti-war resolution?
Very weird.
leave it to the sodomites from the Peoples DemocRATic Republic if Long-time Ithacan and former Weather Underground member Robin Palmer began speaking at about 7:15 p.m., near the beginning of Council's privilege of the floor, during which any citizen may speak on any topic... Palmer then addressed the Council, saying he was drafted in Ithaca in 1952 and was honorably discharged two years later. He then stated, "I'm here to protest the Community of Sanctuary Resolution." Palmer repeatedly called the resolution "odious" and "nauseous" and challenged the Council members to explain what right they had to make such assertions. "You ... resolve that 'all city officials and all city employees and all others who are opposed to the immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan' - excuse me, who are you to say that the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan is immoral? Who are you to say that?" Palmer said... He then reached into a bag, pulled out two shoes and hurled them at Peterson. The shoes fell short and did not hit the mayor... Ithaca Police Officer Brad Nelson... approached Palmer and placed his arm around him, attempting to calm him... Janis Kelly, chairwoman of the City of Ithaca Republican party and the only person who spoke against the Community of Sanctuary resolution when it was passed in October, was also in the audience. Kelly approached Palmer and also spoke quietly with him... Palmer's wife, Mimi Palmer, arrived and entered Council chambers, attempting briefly to encourage her husband to leave. He wouldn't... "He wants to be arrested," Mimi Palmer said, noting that he would be if Peterson pressed charges. "I don't want to give him the satisfaction," Peterson responded... Palmer said her husband is unwell and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments... Palmer said he felt the Vietnam war was immoral because Ho Chi Minh "was, and is, the George Washington of Vietnam." He said he "so far support(s) wholeheartedly U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, especially in Iraq."
thanks, bfl
It's like the suicide bombers who want to die, it immediately gives them status amongst the other terrorists.
Likewise, being arrested is a badge of honor amongst the loonie left. They have now had to "sacrifice for the cause" like Che Guverea. In fact, most cases, it no worse than a traffic ticket. Yeah, you may have to spend an hour or so in custody, get printed and go before a Judge, but most "cite out", that is, admit guilt, pay a $50 fine or so and walk.
Party on Garth...most excellent!
Is an “Ithacan” anything like a “wiccan”?
Thanks for this cool synopsis. What a background!
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