Posted on 08/20/2013 8:28:43 AM PDT by don-o
The Tea Party News Network reported yesterday that two protesters in St. Charles, Missouri, were arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol for refusing to vacate a public overpass when ordered to do so without any reason or demonstrable cause.
One of the two men arrested, Duane Weed, spoke with The Tea Party News Network about his protest and his arrest.
The group had assembled on the morning of Saturday, August 17th, to create awareness of the discontent felt by many Americans for the Obama Administration and the continuous string of scandals perpetrated by the executive branch.
“We felt that there were plenty of impeachable offenses and if any other president in the history of our country had committed even one of these [offenses], they would have been impeached,” Weed stated.
“We had done this before. We had done the same thing a few weeks back. I had seen videos on YouTube from various other places around the country where law enforcement has shown up to a protest and a lot of times run them off… In our particular case, we made an issue of it and said, ‘no, this is our First Amendment right.’ I questioned the highway patrolman, ‘What are the charges,’ you know, ‘What is your reasoning?’ And he couldn’t come up with any reason other than he kept saying ‘we’re requesting that you vacate the bridge.”
The highway patrol refused to cite any specific authority or statute that allowed them the right to break up the protest. Finally, after issuing several demands for the protesters to disperse, the highway patrol officers took Weed and another man, Mark M., into custody, claiming they were disobeying orders fro a police officer and resisting arrest.
The officers claimed that the protesters were causing accidents, however, Weed explained that St. Charles was having a big festival that weekend with the standard increase in traffic that is normal for such an event.
“The traffic was horrendous,” Weed noted. “But I’ve seen situations like that where they station one police officer down the road with their lights on to warn people to slow down, and they could have done that with one officer. Instead, they brought eight [cars] to come up on the bridge. As far as accidents were concerned, I was the first person to arrive there as far as protesters were concerned as when I arrived there, there was already an accident that had just occurred and we certainly couldn’t have been responsible for that accident because we weren’t there!”
After being confronted by the officers, Weed and others offered to move the protest to a different side of the street where there had been no accidents. “He wouldn’t accept that. They had come up there with eight cars and a huge show of force with the clear intention that they were going to clear this overpass.”
Weed and his fellow protester were booked and housed in the county jail overnight. Weed claimed they were treated professionally, but that the whole experience was uncomfortable. After 24 hours, the police let the protesters go without any charges having been officially filed.
The right to peaceably assemble is one of the most important rights for Americans. Protests alert the government and the citizens that something is wrong and the silence of peaceful protests by police or government agencies is a serious threat to our republic.
So many enemies and so little ammo!
Overpasses For Obama's Impeachment, Two Patriots Arrested (St. Charles County, Missouri)
the overpass would collapse?
It will be local law enforcement who participates in this Gestapo Stasi action as demonstrated here. AND it will be well deserved. Locals patriots WILL know where they live and where they go
1) "Congress shall make no law prohibiting...or abridging the freedom of speech..."
2) "Congress shall make no law prohibiting...or abridging...the right of the people to peaceably assemble..."
3) "Congress shall make no law prohibiting...or abridging...the right of the people...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
He kind of looks like Si Robertson.
The overpass would have little to no problem with just the sign. Both? Not so much.
/johnny
SOP. intimidation didn't work. The LEOs didn't get a violent response so they could charge the protestors with something serious so they let them go.
For crying out loud. Your country is almost lost, and you want protesters to wear their Sunday best to impress the Obots and RINOs who might think badly of us?
Glad to see you've got your priorities in order ... sheesh...
Yeah, sure. Have you forgotten that the Justice for Trayvon 'protesters' blocked the 101 freeway in Hollywood, marching right on the very pavement, just last month??
Exactly. Not everyone looks the same. Freedom is independent of outward appearance. To be honest, I know this gentleman and respect him. If He and I had judged one another on appearances we would have both lost the opportunity to share our Respect for the Ideals that have made this Nation so sought after as a destination for Millions in the past 230 years.
It is very tempting to allow ourselves to be divided by rhetoric and forget the entire “...divided we fall.” Part of “United we stand”.
“What if Oprah were standing on an overpass with a protest sign?”
The overpass would collapse from the excessive weight.
Duck Dynasty is immensely popular. It appears viewers may actually identify with this family of bearded millionaires who wear camo everything, t-shirts, shorts, et al.
I don’t know where you live, but in my rural area and in the nearby city of 50k+, there are loads of older men with beards, longer hair and t-shirts. OTOH, I can’t say that I see all that many neatly dressed or groomed folks, at all. Americans ARE super casual.
If this was a leftist protest,the protestors of all ages/genders would have looked quite similar to the one arrested this time. Neat dress and grooming are more considered the mark of the banker elites. The banker elites are in cahoots w/the administration and likely are held in contempt by many Americans as stick-up-the-butt control freaks.
Excellent. Thanks for the linkage!
I agree. Doesn’t help the cause when one looks like the Unabomber.
Most guy around my area look like the Duck Dynasty cast.
You’re telling me they don’t have a First Amendment right to protest in a public right of way?
I didn’t know a dress code was mentioned in the Constitution.
I think I remember illegals and their co-conspirators shutting down the traffic on freeways.
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