Theyre arresting the walker supporter twitter.com/RosieGray/stat…
— Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) June 1, 2012
Free speech, anybody?
MORE:
@rosiegray Saw the arrest take place. Cop said it was because protester pointed his finger in cop's face when cop told him to leave.
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) June 1, 2012
@rosiegray Cop also said Willoughby's sign was "too close to the President"... But Willoughby was 30 feet from Clinton.
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) June 1, 2012
Willoughby? I wonder if he's related to Tricia Willoughby, the 14-year-old girl who spoke — over boos and heckling — at the Tea Party rally in Madison last year.
AND: Here's the Buzzfeed article by Rosie Gray
"I have no idea why I'm being handcuffed," he told the gaggle of reporters who had followed him. "They won't tell anybody what I did wrong. What rally specifically do I get to peacefully protest?"Quite aside from the free speech rights, it's stupid to arrest someone in this situation. Now, he's the story, instead of Clinton rallying for Barrett. And the police are the story. The Milwaukee police. The Madison police didn't treat protesters/counter-protesters this way. And you know something about Milwaukee? Its mayor is Tom Barrett.
A crowd of Barrett supporters formed around the Walker supporter, yelling "Why agitate the people?" and "Bye-bye!" as he was led into a police car.
A police officer on the scene would not say why the man had been arrested.
The man has been identified in previous news stories as David Willoughby, a swimming coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He stood in the middle of the crowd at the Clinton/Barrett rally holding a tall sign and was repeatedly asked by volunteers to move. One volunteer asked him to "move to the left of the press." Willoughby refused.
His presence, which was vocal, angered many in the crowd, especially when he yelled "Tell me how you're going to create jobs!" repeatedly as Barrett and Clinton spoke. He argued with Barrett supporters for the duration of the rally and even drew attention from speakers on the stage; Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Mike Tate mentioned him twice. One man in the crowd said he would "take him out," and a woman told him "I'm a union thug and you're ignorant as hell!"
Posts
116 comments:
I wonder what the charge is?
WTF? Did he hit someone? I bet the cops are pissed about the crime stats issue.
I'd add "civility bullshit" to the tags.
"Free speech? We don't need no steekin' free speech!"
Free speech, along with many other of our Constitutionally (no longer) protected rights, is a dead letter.
This will not help the Mayor, unless the guy is really nasty. For chrissakes, he offered to help a guy who'd fallen!
I wonder what the charge is?
Protesting w/o a vuvuzela?
For students of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, it's obvious that should be "steenkin'".
That is absolutely disgusting. The guy is apparently an EMT who offered to help someone who's fallen, and has been otherwise standing there peacefully holding his sign.
Hope this goes viral!
Protesting w/o a vuvuzela?
Don't need a vuvuzela if Clinton brought his own "vulvapalooza" along.
Hope this goes viral!
Count on it.
I'm no longer worried about Walker's supporters being motivated to turn out.
Well he started the civil war like Walker did by standing his ground.
In fact that was like Lincoln started the Cicil war of 1861 by atanding his Fort Sumpter ground.
I think you can only disrupt an event if it involves Governor Walker appearing before mentally challenged citizens.
Hope this goes viral!
I'm sure it will! Meade better get to work protecting this site from the onslaught of trolls that will be appearing here any minute now.
It looks like a Wrangler Jeans ad. Did he say, "Hey bro..don't taze me!"
those poor union cops look like they can barely keep their family fed.
I will state up front that I don't know why the guy was arrested.
The presence of a former President is going to amp up the overall jitteriness of the police.
Certainly this looks bad though, like a lawsuit waiting to be filed.
Maybe he dropped the 'you're arrested' word on one of the flat foots...in baseball, the word that'll get you tossed is 'cocksucker'...
Wonder what he said...
I am sure if the arrested protester did anything that made him look bad the Dems will put it up on YouTube in the next 10 minutes because I am sure 20 cell phone cameras were on him. If not, then he didn't do anything wrong.
There's a holster and a sign that says 'Support Scott Walker' in that photo.
Clearly this calls for Chip Ahoy.
My guess is that he shouted "Boooo!", but the cops heard "Mooo!"
Mocking the dairy industry is probably illegal in Wisconsin. Sorta like when Oprah dissed beef in Texas.
What was he doing?
"I think you can only disrupt an event if it involves Governor Walker appearing before mentally challenged citizens."
Heh.
Mocking the dairy industry is probably illegal in Wisconsin
It's June Dairy Month!! No one mocks the Dairy Industry this month.
those poor union cops look like they can barely keep their family fed.
Their families would be better fed if those cops didn't devour all the pork rinds and jelly donuts they could otherwise bring home to the wife and kids.
Quite a few zipped-up leather jackets and windbreakers in the photo. Another symptom of global warming, obviously
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/scott-walker-supporter-arrested-at-bill-clinton-ra
The guy's last name is Willoughby. I wonder if he's related to the young lady who was heckled at the rally last year, Tricia if I recall.
Seems he was argumentative. At a rally. Imagine that. The crowd seemed quite delighted that he was being arrested. Not exactly covering themselves in glory. Unless there's something missing, this is pretty bad.
Being led away by union thugs.
John McCormack at the Weekly Standard says cop told him Willoughby's sign was too close to the President. 30 feet away.
Ridiculous.
Could the optics be any worse for Barrett?
Weekly Standard says cop told him Willoughby's sign was too close to the President.
Did the sign read "Perjured serial rapist"? That too close to President Clinton for comfort.
I'm not seeing context. Without it, this is useless.
Could the optics be any worse for Barrett?
I suppose the cops could've been wearing "blue fist" armbands, but aside from that? No.
"'Willoughby', you say. Interesting." - Zombie Rod Serling
So...
This guy rated arrest while the protesters blocking mentally challenged young people didn't rate arrest... because the cops never asked the douchebags to move?
Another "own goal" by the lefties.
According to a story from an earlier protest, Willoughby is also an ex-Marine. So the cops may consider his finger a lethal weapon.
But, as the unnamed Barrettista quoted in the Buzzfeed story indicated, his real crime was "agitating the people."
So in other words, say something bad about the Mayor and he'll have the police force of the city he governs arrest you.
These people can stop lecturing on "right" like, any time now.
I tend to think that people holding their own rally ought to get to hold their own "peaceful assembly" in peace. I've got no sympathy, for example, for the Occupy *ssholes that think it's their "free speech" right to disrupt or shut down a pro-Israel speaker, or any of the idiots on campuses that declare victory when they send an invited guest packing.
But this isn't the Kingdom of Julie and, you know, vuvuselas.
"Arrested for protesting without a vuvusela" (as Chip S said) is short and pithy and memorable.
video of the arrest
Maybe one of the lefties can enlighten us as to why the crowd cheered the arrest. Didn't dissent used to be patriotic?
Robert Cook exempted, as he has already made it clear where he stands. Plus, I think he just hates everyone! (I kid, I kid). At least everyone elected to political office.
Thanks for the video Tosa guy. Yeah, the guy looks like a real meanace.
Professor, you should get a hashtag thing going on your Twitter deal.
Cop said it was because protester pointed his finger in cop's face when cop told him to leave.
Why is the cop telling this guy to leave? Can't he be in a public space?
Too close to the President?
What, did we travel back in time 12 years?
Mr. Clinton is not the President at this time, any more than anyone named Bush or Carter.
Gee, does that mean the next time Axelrod sends some people to heckle the Romster they can be busted?
Patrick said...
Maybe one of the lefties can enlighten us as to why the crowd cheered the arrest. Didn't dissent used to be patriotic?
Only when they're dissenting a Republican.
(have to explain everything to some people...)
"This is what democracy looks like!"
Not arrested for: Actually physically touching other citizens at a protest, littering, ignoring orders to leave and breaking into a sealed building.
Arrested for: Uh... pointing at a cop?
I wonder. Were any other attendees closer to the stage? Did they have signs? Were they arrested?
If not, why not?
This arrest is going to be very helpful to the conservative cause. The reason is simple: it can be used to establish one of the following standards.
One -- if you go to a rally carrying a sign, get close to the main stage, and shout out at the speakers, you are violating a law (the specific law not being important here) and are subject to arrest.
Good to know. Now I want that standard applied to the leftie nutters who go to Walker and Romney rallies.
Two -- the new standard in #1 is not applied to leftie nutters. Instead, we have a different standard encapsulated in the old statement by the Left, "it's not wrong when WE do it!"
Also good to know. I'll use that to bludgeon them rhetorically, at least until rhetorical bludgeoning becomes a crime (which it may already be in Milwaukee).
The charge of course is contempt of cop.
My very reliable inside sources report that the miscreant farted in the President's general direction.
Remember back in the Bush years when Democrats claimed that dissent is the highest form of patriotism?
Yeah, we all knew they were lying. It's only good in their eyes when they are the ones dissenting.
Freedom of speech for me but not for thee.
The guy's last name is Willoughby. I wonder if he's related to the young lady who was heckled at the rally last year, Tricia if I recall.
No. Per his bio, his daughters are Madeline, Abbie and Sophie.
She could be a niece or sister, of course, but not a daughter.
They really are scared, aren't they?
They should be . . .
I was on Willoughby's side until I read that he was shouting over the speakers at the rally. I don't have any problem with him standing his ground, holding a sign, speaking to people around him, or even shouting if there is no organized speaking going on but I really don't think that 'freedom of speech' includes interrupting the peaceful assembly and speech of other groups.
I can't get the video to load, but it does appear that he might have been an a crowd of literally ones of Barrett supporters.
Next stop Willoughby.
He'd better not leave the country. He is on the President's list. The Drones will follow him.
I really don't think that 'freedom of speech' includes interrupting the peaceful assembly and speech of other groups.
So, you have freedom of speech, as long as somebody else isn't speaking, too. In that case, you -- but not the other speaker -- must be quiet.
Is that the constitutional rule you have chosen to apply? Is that the altar of liberty and freedom on which we are asked to sacrifice our children in war?
Comedy fucking gold, dude.
Looks like the citizens of Milwaukee are facing another tax hike to cover the §1983 damages for this event.
One man in the crowd said he would "take him out," and a woman told him "I'm a union thug and you're ignorant as hell!"
Tool, much, Les?
Please let there be video.
Oh please oh please oh please........
Added for Radar:
Do you know what peaceable assembly means? Do you understand that people are protected from the government interfering with peaceful assembly? Are so much of an idiot that you don't understand that a single private citizen being verbally annoying cannot in any way jeopardize the rights of anyone to peaceably assemble?
Good God, little person. Go to school. Learn something.
"Help! Help! I'm bein' repressed!"
WV: 114 Porksens
The video has been expanded to include actions prior to the arrest
Meade would have been arrested about 70 times if held to the standards of Tom Barrett's police force.
Is that the constitutional rule you have chosen to apply? Is that the altar of liberty and freedom on which we are asked to sacrifice our children in war?
Constitutional rights are not absolute. They have to be balanced (need I bring up the standard "Fire!" in a theater example?).
Is it your belief that anyone can interrupt any meeting in a public location and simply claim that they are excercising their freedom of speech? How to you square that with the other groups' right to assemble?
My tolerance for 'freedom of speech' is maximized in impromptu public settings but as you move towards more organized events and/or private settings I think the control should shift to the organizers and not to the protestors. There should not be a hecklers veto.
Looks like a typical Walker supporter. Incoherent, loud, obnoxious, angry, and at the wrong rally.
Who would have ever thought that if you yelled at everyone around you at a rally for an hour, and then approach a rope line with a former president, and refuse to move, you might be arrested!
Added for Seven Machos:
Am I to understand that you think Willoughby's one man protest is an example of peaceful assembly that must not be infringed? How to you come to the conclusion that his claim at that particular time and place is greater than the claim of the larger group that organized the event? Do you not think that there rights need to be protected also?
Do you imagine that the Constitution simply prohibits any attempt to balance the competing groups excercise of speach and assembly? It is just a free for all with no balancing mechanism at all?
Is it your belief that anyone can interrupt any meeting in a public location and simply claim that they are excercising their freedom of speech?
Yes. Without question. A campaign event in a wholly public space has no more merit than an annoying person in the same public space. Go have your event in a private space, or in a city property, such as a council chamber, where there are rules that govern decorum.
Why does the public space belong to the campaign only? That's ludicrous.
"
My tolerance for 'freedom of speech' is maximized in impromptu public settings but as you move towards more organized events and/or private settings I think the control should shift to the organizers and not to the protestors. There should not be a hecklers veto."
This was a free event that was open to the public. If it was a ticketed event (can still be free) then I would agree with you.
Politicians have been heckled forever. If one guy can disrupt your event and become the story, then you have lost. Successful politicians know how to neutralize a single heckler and turn it in their favor. Resorting to arrest creates a martyr, opens the politician up to ridicule (don't tase me, bro!) and shows weakness.
How to you come to the conclusion that their claim at that particular time and place is greater than the claim of a single person who did not organize an event? Do you not think that his [sic] rights need to be protected also?
There should not be a balancing test for free speech in a purely public space, Justice O'Connor.
In the video, it looks like other people are closer; I have no audio, but I doubt they are also yelling.
Really, I'm not getting this. Unless, we're going to start seeing people arrested for significantly more disruptive acts at conservative speaking engagements, this looks like a mess up by the police.
The video has been expanded to include actions prior to the arrest
Not really, IMO. No way of knowing, from my cursory glance, how close in time those two snippets are. (Although he certainly seems pretty peaceable in the added pre-arrest part)
It's fascinating, though, to see all the cell phones out taking video of the arrest!
I wonder who the guy is in the 15-23 seconds of the video taking his arm and trying to guide him.
Is that someone who should be touching him? He doesn't seem to mind, but again, no audio.
"It's fascinating, though, to see all the cell phones out taking video of the arrest!"
If the guy was truly doing stuff worthy of arrest, these cell phone videos would be on the internet already.
That's just ridiculous. You can't even hear what the guy is saying over the loud music and he's really nowhere near the stage.
Yet there are the tolerant, compassionate lefties shouting "lock him up" when he's not doing anything nearly as bad as they and their ilk have been doing to the governor and Republican legislators and conservatives for the past 16 months.
What a bunch of pathetic, hypocritical crybabies.
Tosaguy's video doesn't show the guy shouting down the speakers; it shows Walker opponents screaming "retard" at him.
I wonder if Led Zeppelin gave permission for these people to use "Houses of the Holy"; and why they'd use that particular song. From the appearance of the crowd, there are several other more appropriate Zeppelin songs they could have featured: Tangerine; Custard Pie; Hot Dog; Candy Store Rock.
You 'Sconsinites are some fat bastards, aren't you?
I too would like to know what happened between the two segments on either side of the break at 00:38 in the "expanded" video. Going just by the parts they show us, the arrest is unfathomable.
And what a miscalculation by Milwaukee's finest. Now this arrest is the big story rather than Clinton's appearance.
Not to mention that anyone watching the video can see that the rally was attended by literally tens of people, rather than "5,000". Ha.
I was under the impression (perhaps incorrectly) that the event was scheduled in some manner. Lots of public locations have mechanisms for reserving space for public events. It is in that context that I think that individuals or other groups should not be able to disrrupt an organized event.
Even in a public space that isn't 'reserved', I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea that a couple counter-protestors with megaphones (for example) have a constitutionally protected right to interrupt and disrrupt the gathering.
Old and busted vs new and busted
"Even in a public space that isn't 'reserved', I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea that a couple counter-protestors with megaphones (for example) have a constitutionally protected right to interrupt and disrrupt the gathering."
-- It's not classy to do it, but they can. Hence why to stop ghouls like Westboro Baptist, you have to find counter-protest groups to protect people at funerals. It doesn't make it morally right to picket a funeral and yell God hates your dead kid -- but if it is on public land, then they can be assholes in public.
Clearly the video is not complete, but compared to what happened in Madison in Spring 2011, it would tough to argue that there is no double standard.
Dissent is no longer patriotic.
"Even in a public space that isn't 'reserved', I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea that a couple counter-protestors with megaphones (for example) have a constitutionally protected right to interrupt and disrrupt the gathering."
The dude had no megaphone. He has a sign and one voice. The police could have moved him along without arresting him. The crowd could have come up with a chant to drown him out. Did the guy get his kicks out of annoying a crowd -- he certain did. Does he have a bit D-bay in him -- most certainly. But it was the impotence of the assembled crowd and the speakers that gave him the power to rule the day.
D-bay = D-bag
Not impotence; the phone cameras were all out. They wanted him to lose his cool; to do something stupid like glitterbomb Clinton or Barrett. It doesn't look like he gave them much though.
Leslyn said Nice preconceptions. Once again, Milwaukee Police and Fire are Walker supporters. They are exempted in Act 10 from the increased benefit and pension contributions.
I called them thugs, which if nothing else turns up in a video would be accurate, without regard to which candidate their union supports.
You seem to always miss the distinction between what a union believes, and what its individual members believe. A distinction that is becoming more clear as union members ditch the unions as soon as it is possible.
Bailey said:
Who would have ever thought that if you yelled at everyone around you at a rally for an hour, and then approach a rope line with a former president, and refuse to move, you might be arrested!
Certainly no one who watch all of the thugs last year in Madison. E.g. the hecklers cursing at a 14 year old. Hecklers yelling at the Governor while he is with Special Olympians.
All class, you folks on the left.
"Not impotence; the phone cameras were all out. They wanted him to lose his cool; to do something stupid like glitterbomb Clinton or Barrett. It doesn't look like he gave them much though."
Which is passive bullshit. A group chant would have shut him up and made for great video for the lefties to crow about. Instead, they had the police act and their event has no positive PR value.
Wasn't one of the leftish commenters here commenting on how Romney wasn't appearing with Walker? I think it's kind of funny that although the President has fundraisers in MN and IL today, he couldn't fit in any time for Mayor Barrett.
You 'Sconsinites are some fat bastards, aren't you?
I'll have you know I've lost 5 pounds this past month (I hope to have dropped 15 by the end of the summer).
The dude had no megaphone
So? I was extrapolating from the argument that Seven Machos and you are making. Presumably your belief that no group can monopolize public space doesn't suddenly change when the opposing group shows up with voice amplifying electronics, right?
I'm completely aware of groups like Westboro Baptist. I think that even they are careful to not physically invade the space of the other groups. They might be nearby but I think that is a distinctily different situtation than two groups trying to occupy the same (public) space.
(I would be enjoying this little debate more if I didn't have to think so hard about the blogger verification words!)
"I was on Willoughby's side until I read that he was shouting over the speakers at the rally. I don't have any problem with him standing his ground, holding a sign, speaking to people around him, or even shouting if there is no organized speaking going on but I really don't think that 'freedom of speech' includes interrupting the peaceful assembly and speech of other groups."
It's certainly rude. I don't think he kept anyone from hearing, but I'm sure they didn't come to here *him*, they came to hear Clinton.
In the Kingdom of Julie (and I'd be a horrific autocrat) "peacefully assemble" would mean you get to assemble in peace. But, you know... vuvuselas.
The rules, whatever they are, ought to be the same for everyone. If people get to show up with noise makers, not even speech!, but pots and pans and vuvuselas, for no purpose other than to make enough noise that their opponents CAN'T speak...
And not get arrested.
... well, it's NOT the Kingdom of Julie, and those are the rules.
2 Clinton protesters arrested at 1996 Taste of Chicago.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-07-06/news/9607060030_1_chicago-police-patricia-mendoza-humboldt-park
Upset over the fatal terrorist bombing of a U.S. Air Force housing complex in Saudi Arabia June 25, in which 19 Americans died, Patricia Mendoza allegedly told the president as he shook hands with members of the crowd Tuesday, "You suck, and those boys died."
The U.S. Secret Service, which asked Chicago police to take the Westchester couple into custody over the incident, said the action was justified.
Apparently they were charged under some Cook County law. Later the county dropped the case, but Chicago then charged them with disorderly conduct. (I don't know the final resolution on those charges.)
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-10-30/news/9610300281_1_secret-service-charges-patricia-mendoza
"I'm completely aware of groups like Westboro Baptist. I think that even they are careful to not physically invade the space of the other groups. They might be nearby but I think that is a distinctily different situtation than two groups trying to occupy the same (public) space."
It would indeed be a fun debate. In a polite world, I would agree with you, but it isn't a polite world and it isn't a fair world. The Barrett side had the opportunity to take care of the issue at their level (crowd chants, etc) but didn't. Instead, Tom Barrett's cops got involved because some folks could not tolerate a single dissenting voice in a public space.
Geez, the cops really have to adopt reasonable weight standards. Those two are ridiculous.
Next, they'll be dressing them in shorts.
I was there. As much as we would like to believe, unfortunately this story is not true. The gentleman just like everyone else was asked to lower his sign when the speakers took the podium, so that people could see. He refused. At the end when Mr. Clinton was shaking hands with the audience the gentleman walked over and got in his face with the sign, saying slurs. It was a true embarrassment not freedom of speech.
"It was a true embarrassment not freedom of speech."
-- Embrace the freeing, conjunctive power of AND.
At the end when Mr. Clinton was shaking hands with the audience the gentleman walked over and got in his face with the sign, saying slurs.
If true, he was being foolish. I don't see in the video of the arrest any sign of either Clinton or his security detail.
-- Embrace the freeing, conjunctive power of AND."
Some punctuation might have done it just as well.
In any case, Totheright2 -- vuvuselas?
Are you suggesting that, at the Tea Party rally where the Willoughby girl was met with pounding pots and pans and vususelas, that all that was required was for the person introducing her to say, "Okay, everyone, please stop making noise so everyone can hear our next speaker," and then everyone would have been required to stop making noise? Or perhaps the thing that should have happened during the governors presentation to the mentally disadvantaged youth, is that people should have simply been asked not to stand in front of them? And then they'd have been required to behave in a civil manner?
What an interesting metric.
Free speech for me but not for thee!
Jackbooted government thugs: Remove the inconvenient free speaker standing on public property. Make up a reason later for openly disregarding the First Amendment of the Constitution.
This arrest makes no sense at all.
All the Barrett rally organizers had to do was get four guys with "Barrett for Governor” signs around Willoughby to block his sign.
That alone would keep Willoughby contained and irrelevant.
Any political campaign worth two shakes of salt knows that trick.
For Barrett's on the political staff at the rally too use cops to arrest Willoughby is purely a show of raw, naked, & hopelessly arrogant political power to cover for rank incompetence.
Political power of that kind is what got the Wisconsin progressives & public employee unions on the bad side of the Wisconsin voting public in the first place.
Seems like the next Barrett rally, if there is one, will be a challenge for the defenders of free speech and equal treatment under the law.
Are the Badgers up to it?
If this is what happens if your disagreement stands in close proximity to an Important Progressive Party Poobah, imagine what would happen if you vuvuzela-ed an IPPP. Death penalty.
Re: weighty Wisconsin cops
Dear Large and in Charge,
I've only visited WI once (unfortunately) but I can see why there might be an adiposity situation what with all the fish frys and frozen custard and butter dipped butter. Still, you are police officers and you should consider looking the part as well as playing it.
damn--when those police haul ass they have to make two trips
An account of the arrest at the Brookfield Patch
"My husband and I were at the rally standing six feet from him 15 minutes before the rally began, during, and when he was arrested as the rally ended," she writes. "Even before the rally began he was screaming at people near him that held recall signs. Get out the vote volunteers flanked him to make sure he was safe even as he was screaming at people and acting as if he could hit people with his sign.
"An elderly woman asked him to have some manners so she could hear the speakers. He became more belligerent, and when the president took the stage, he became louder with non-stop yelling at people in his close proximity and at the president. You could not hear the president anymore as the guy was yelling at everyone around him and the president."
The account is odd, as it leaves out the part of people threatening to take out the lone guy with and calling him a retard.
But, sure. I'll believe it.
Arrested for protesting without a vuvusela, and forty friends with vuvuselas.
I think that, on numbers alone, "our side" still has better manners.
If the cops are going to start arresting on the basis of "public rudeness", I'll finally get a parking place around the Capitol.
Just remember, yelling "fuck you" at a 14 year old girl=just dandy. Protesting Barrett=jail time.
A crowd of Barrett supporters formed around the Walker supporter, yelling "Why agitate the people?" and "Bye-bye!" as he was led into a police car.
Oh, that one's hilarious.
Isn't their entire MO - the anti-Walker side's - to "agitate the people"?
Hell, isn't that kind of the entire core of political speech in the first place?
I can't help but read that as "How dare you publicly disagree with us?" or alternatively "only we get to agitate!"
A crowd of Barrett supporters formed around the Walker supporter, yelling "Why agitate the people?" and "Bye-bye!" as he was led into a police car.
A crowd yelling "Why agitate the people?"
Must be the People's Republic.
Re: the account of the arrest at Brookfield Patch
Hilariously incredible bullshit. "Get out the vote volunteers flanked him to make sure he was safe even as he was screaming at people and acting as if he could hit people with his sign." Sure they did. He was "screaming" and possibly violent and yet the fraudsters, excuse me, "get out the vote" people, were just looking out for his safety. Feh.
Reality translation: Useless tools surrounded him and tried to intimidate him but it didn't work.
How many times in the past year and a half have we seen video and photos here of progressive hordes trying to drown out a dissenting point of view? Surrounding people, getting in their face per the boss's orders. Sometimes daily. It's the entitled progressive's modus operandi, free speech for me but not for thee, and phony recharacterization is ludicrous.
"A crowd of Barrett supporters formed around the Walker supporter, yelling "Why agitate the people?" and "Bye-bye!" as he was led into a police car."
Taunting and jeering like a band of village idiots. Easily agitated idiots. Unused to hearing another point of view.
"make sure he was safe" doesn't mean make sure *he* was safe.
It's a weird grammar construction, and ambiguous as all get out, but not all that uncommon. What it means is... they surrounded him to make sure that whatever threat he posed was mitigated.
He was *made* safe, the way that a sharp object is made safe by wrapping it in foam.
Mic Check? I have not heard of agitators since the 1960s? When did the fascists take over Milwaukee?
This is craven repression and a shocking violation of free speech rights.
I'll bet the dude mentioned Brett Kimberlin.
I can empathize with this guy. I was almost arrested for heckling former California Governor Gray Davis during the 2004 Democratic Party Convention by the Boston Police.
I was out at lunch wandering around downtown Boston looking for trouble. I saw a crowd on people waiting outside a restaurant. I overheard people saying that Hilary Clinton was in the restaurant along with other Democrat bigshots.
When Davis came out he got a round of cheers (it is Boston, after all). So I started in on a chant of "Ah-nold!", "Ah-nold!", "Ah-nold!". Then I switched to, "Girly Man!", "Girly Man".
There was a guy out in front of the restaurant who was trying to herd the throng. He comes up to me and says, "OK, you've made your point! Move on." I said, "That's your opinion, and opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one."
Well, he flew into a rage, "You calling me an asshole?" He grabbed my arm and started to push me back against a wall. Thinking he was some Democrat flunky I was about to punch him out, but I saw other uniformed cops rushing over, so I figured he was BPD.
It turns out he was and tried to reach into my pocket. "Do you have any ID?" I grabbed his hand and said, "I'd be glad to show you my ID if you take your hand out of my pocket." So they run my license to see if I have any warrants, of course I didn't.
More on Willoughby here:
http://www.floridapoliticalpress.com/2012/06/04/pro-walker-marine-detained-by-police-at-wisconsin-rally-is-son-of-florida-tea-party-leader/
Post a Comment