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The Sargent Boys stand up for the First Amendment (WI Capitol child exploitation?)
Youtube ^ | 3-28-11 | arthurkr222 via Youtube

Posted on 03/28/2011 11:35:59 AM PDT by bigbob

Per the original poster (obviously sympathetic with the pro-union protesters):

"While exercising their first amendment rights The Sargent Boys sign is confiscated and their mom Melissa Sargent, Dane County Supervisor of District 18 gets a ticket for them holding a sign outside of the Designated Demonstration Area"


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: capitolprotest; childexploitation; melissasargent; mom; parenting
Painful as it is, I think this video is worth watching. Thus far it has mostly been linked on pro-union blogs.

The video shows two young boys who are displaying a sign in an area where doing so is a violation of the Administrative Code. The parents enable the boys to continue in violation, receiving a citation and having their sign confiscated as evidence rather than comply with the officer's request to move.

The mother is an elected member of the Dane County board. The father is occupied as videographer. --- A good lesson in how liberals think and act. Compare and contrast with how conservatives would behave in their place.

Is this what parenting looks like?

1 posted on 03/28/2011 11:36:03 AM PDT by bigbob
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To: bigbob
Sorry, disagree. As long as these folks were not disrupting anyone, they should have been well within their first amendment rights to temporarily hang the sign. I don't agree with their position, but they have the right to state it.

A good conservative would have stood his/her ground under the First Amendment.

However, a good conservative would also not hide behind his or her children.

2 posted on 03/28/2011 11:47:02 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Rose, there's a Messerschmit in the kitchen. Clean it up, will ya?)
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To: IYAS9YAS

I see your point but the Adminstrative Code *is* the law, and I would expect conservatives to obey it. I assume the parents felt this was a teachable moment, but we saw the results of that sort of education when the vast hordes of protesters invaded the Capitol and camped, held seige, etc for weeks on end. I guess in their minds that was acceptable behavior too.

How do you determine which aspects of the law are to be obeyed, and which are to be ignored? Just because I have freedom of speech doesn’t mean I can disturb my neighbors peace.


3 posted on 03/28/2011 12:00:38 PM PDT by bigbob (u)
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To: IYAS9YAS

Did you watch the video?

The officer was very kind and respectful and explained that they could deisplay the sign but that they had to do it in a specific area.

These parents are teaching their kids to disregard boundaries and to thumb their nose at law enforcement.

If I was the judge (assuming they refuse to pay the fine) I’d assign the family to combined 100 hours of community service picking up litter.


4 posted on 03/28/2011 12:06:43 PM PDT by proudpapa
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To: bigbob

This is not a free speech issue, it’s civil disobedience by a family of Marxist moon bats. Just as you can’t create a riot by yelling fire in a crowded theater, you must obey reasonable governmental rules. To move to the ground floor was reasonable so as not to interfere with the normal working of the government.


5 posted on 03/28/2011 12:23:02 PM PDT by Exton1
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To: proudpapa
These parents are teaching their kids to disregard boundaries and to thumb their nose at law enforcement.

And those who bought our freedom from the Crown did so with the Crown's permission?

6 posted on 03/28/2011 12:31:10 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Rose, there's a Messerschmit in the kitchen. Clean it up, will ya?)
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To: bigbob

I don’t understand what constitutes this “free speech” zone? If they are on public property - then the government has a pretty high hurdle to allow such things.


7 posted on 03/28/2011 12:39:34 PM PDT by fremont_steve
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To: IYAS9YAS

I do believe that you’re missing the point. This is not a first amendment issue. The family is free to protest inside the rotunda or outside the rotunda.

Protesting on the balcony could create a safety issue, especially for those below, and therefore it is not allowed.


8 posted on 03/28/2011 1:12:58 PM PDT by proudpapa
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To: fremont_steve

Do you recall that after the last occupation of the capitol, many thousands of dollars had to be spent repairing the building and removing the gunk from the wall where the protest signs were hung.

The government has a right to make reasonable rules regarding where you can protest, and even what kinds of signs can be used. In a large crowd, you may not be allowed to wave a large sign on a wooden staff because of the danger to others. Nothing to do with content, but they are allowed to protect people and property.

And by the way, this has nothing to do with “Congress shall make no law” regarding free speech. This isn’t congress.


9 posted on 03/28/2011 1:34:59 PM PDT by Tin Man Tex
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