Antiwar protesters trash 9/11 memorial!(blood pressure riser)

Wittier Dlily news ^ | 3-11-03 | OXENinFLA

[OXENinFLA]

LA HABRA -- Antiwar protesters burned and ripped up flags, flowers and patriotic signs at a Sept. 11 memorial that residents erected on a fence along Whittier Boulevard days after the terrorist attacks in 2001 and have maintained ever since.

However, although officers witnessed the vandalism Saturday afternoon, police did not arrest three people seen damaging the display because they were "exercising the same freedom of speech that the people who put up the flags were,' La Habra Police Capt. John Rees said Monday.

"For this to be vandalism, there had to be an ill-will intent,' he said.

[Smogger]

Remember folks:

(562) 905-9701

is the number to call and ask to speak to the Mayor (Juan Garcia) the Mayor Pro Tem (Rose Espinoza) or any available city council member to voice your displeasure with their policework there in La Habra.

[k2blader]

What sick pieces of human offal.

And is that policeguy for real??

[Texas_Jarhead]

effen disgusting

[Texas_Jarhead]

why not post the whole article so it can be achieved - geesh

[spookycc]

Not only don't they remember, they deface tributes that show *our* memory of 9/11.

I can't even begin to express the tears this article wrung from me, or the anger that makes me wanna kick some peacenik butt right now.

spookycc

[Chad Fairbanks]

I wasn't referring to the destruction of property - I was referring to the cop's assertion that the first amendment came into play so he couldn't arrest them - THAT was the BS part :0)

[spookycc]

I hear you. I didn't lose any loved ones on 9/11, either, but it still stings to see the destruction.

Damn.

spookycc

USA: We spill our blood for your freedom.

[Callahan]

The DUpes are convinced this was a Bush-CIA plot to make the "Peace Movement" look bad. Uh...we don't need black ops for that. They do a fine job of exposing their warped ideology all on their own.

[El Gato]

However, although officers witnessed the vandalism Saturday afternoon, police did not arrest three people seen damaging the display because they were "exercising the same freedom of speech that the people who put up the flags were,' La Habra Police Capt. John Rees said Monday.

"For this to be vandalism, there had to be an ill-will intent,' he said.

Wrong. The people who put the flags there were putting their own property up. The scum who vandalised them were destroying someone else's property. Free speech protections do not extend to physical acts of destruction of property not your own. This town needs to get some new police that actually know the law.

[spookycc]

I sent the article along to CNN, too. I know that's not a fav channel around here, but I want to get the word out.

spookycc

We gave peace a chance. We got 9/11.

[El Gato]

so if some pro-war citizens decided to do something in this guy's front yard, it would be free speech and not vandalism?

Something like testing a MOAB? Well maybe a very small version thereof, to avoid "collateral damage to the rest of the neighborhood.

[Smogger]

Ok folks. Here's the deal. After leaving a message for the Mayor and City Council or anyone else who cares my call was returned by Brad Bridenbecker. Brad is the Assistant City Manager over there in La Habra. Obviously he was concerned about the negative publicity this incident was creating for the city of La Habra. He told me that the article had gone out on the AP newswire, and so, as you can imagine (hopefully with the help of some Freepers) it's certainly generated a little firestorm.

First of all Brad reiterated serveral times that the City and City Council have been very supportive of Ms. Chandler (the lady that maintained the display) in the past. They have gone as far to pass resolutions make her an honorary something or other and so forth. Secondly, he said that there were certain inaccuracies in the article. He stated to me on the phone that no police witnissed the incident! He asserted that the police were not on the scene, and were only notified after the fact. He also stated that a report has been taken, but barring witnisses he did not hold out much hope for a prosocution. This seems to conflict with something else he told me, which was that if the police had gone in to break up the protest there would have been a 180 degree turn in how the article was written, and it would have made the police look like bad guys. Of course, one has to wonder if the police weren't there then how could they have "gone in" and broken up the the protest? He also reiterated what Captain Reese said about the owner of the fence having to file a complaint in order for the police to take any action. Again, this seemed to conflict with his assertion that no police were present.

For my part I told him I found the police Chief's (he corrected me: Captain's) remarks about vandalism requiring intent seemed ridiculous to me. He did not respond directlty about this comment except to reiterate that the whole incident was unfortunate. Some of you may want to call back for some clarifcation. For my part I will e-mail what I learned to the author of the article and get her take.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

That's interesting... They already have their spin machine out in force? They know blood is in the water...

Any links to posts or articles where these DUs actually espouse this conspiracy theory?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Actually I was thinking more like leaving some personal reminder of themselves...... some might call it "dropping a bomb"......lol

[El Gato]

I thought we had laws desicrating the American Flag.

They've been found unconstitutional, IF the flag you desicrate belongs to you or you have the permission of the owner. If it's someone else's property, that's destruction of private property. The very thing we are supposed to have police to stop, or at least prevent the same perp from doing it again by throwing their carcass in the hoozegow.

[Beck_isright]

I hope he does too nicmarlo. These are sad times to be a nationalist. Let's hope the louder voices carry the flag for us.

[tophat9000]

All of the children made decorations for the 911 memorial, understanding that it was to remember those who died there

Yes thats what she told me

She mad as hell about this (and at the police who stood there and watched) and will rebuild

This was no small display the flags were full size nylon so just the dollar costs to her replace this will be steep

Per Tracy she pretty sure who did this

Over the week end there was a Soccer yard sale up the street The woman holding the yard sale had posted her flyers on top on the American flag… Tracy took these flyers on the flags down so the yard sale lady got some local teenager and the sale and destroyed the display

I have Tracy phone number but don’t want to post it yet and have her get deluged with calls (she did say any and all help is welcome and was ok with posting a mail address and her email

Mail address of the property owner (good guy)
Aaron Winer
Certified Home Improvements
2249 W. Whittier Blvd Ste. A
La Habra CA 90631

Tracey Chandler (good woman)Email
Sunburnttc@aol.com

To local out here the display in at 2249 W. Whittier Blvd La Habra
This is about a ½ mile south of were Beach Blvd (Hwy 39)dead ends on Whittier Blvd.

[El Gato]

Much better, why use a wimply little Russian carbine when GE's minigun is so much better suited to the task?

[OXENinFLA]

I just heard Rush mention this. He didn't go into it too much.

[tophat9000]

Correction
To local out here the display in at 2249 W. Whittier Blvd La Habra
This is about a ½ mile west of were Beach Blvd (Hwy 39)dead ends on Whittier Blvd.