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Soldier’s Uniform Display Ignites Freedom of Speech Battle in Sacramento
Here's my article about the big freedom of speech battle in Sacramento over an anti-war display.
Soldier's Uniform Display Ignites Freedom of Speech Battle in Sacramento
by Dan Bacher
A display of a soldier's uniform on the gable of a house in a quiet
neighborhood in the Land Park District of Sacramento has ignited a battle
between anti-war activists and Bush administration supporters over the First
Amendment. The conflict has created a media circus of TV cameras, newspaper
reporters and talk show radio hosts in front of the house many days over the
past week.
Stephen and Virginia Pearcy, both lawyers who work in Berkeley, decided to
put up a uniform of a U.S. soldier hanging on a noose, with the sign "Your
Tax Dollars at Work," at their house in Sacramento. After a group of right
wing opponents of the display gathered at the house last week while the
Pearcys were absent, two individuals, captured on TV cameras, took the
display down.
On Saturday, a group of supporters of the Pearcys and their opponents argued
heatedly while Steve Pearcy, with the support of members of Veterans for
Peace, put a new uniform display on the house. However, this time the
uniform was placed with a new sign saying "Bush Lied I Died," and the noose
was no longer there.
"It is important for the public to know that violations of our
Constitutional rights won't be tolerated," said Virginia Pearcy, "It is
important for all Americans - not just those who disagree with the war - to
support our right of free expression under the First Amendment.
Stephen emphasized that the purpose of the First Amendment is to protect
"unpopular speech" - and this is a clear case of free speech that is
unpopular with supporters of the bush Administration's war on Iraq.
"We put up the display seeking to engage our neighbors to start speaking to
one another about the war," said Virginia. "For example, one ex-military guy
came from Marysville who was opposed to our display. In spite of our
disagreement, we spoke civilly. This is the kind of conversations that we
want."
However, opponents of the display said they felt there were more appropriate
ways of getting the Pearcys' message across. "Why don't they attack the Bush
administration responsible for the war rather than putting up a uniform of a
U.S. soldier?" said James McKee. "There are other ways of making your point
than hanging up a soldier's uniform on a house."
On the other hand, the actual veterans there on Saturday - as opposed to
neo-con chickenhawks backing the war - supported the display.
Dan Buckley, a Vietnam War veteran and member of the Nevada City chapter of
Veterans for Peace, stated, "Freedom of speech is very important and I
consider myself more patriotic than the people opposing this display because
I don't blindly follow someone like they do. The Administration has people
running the war who haven't experienced war - like the soldier represented
on the Pearcy's house."
Buckley emphasized that during the Iraq sanctions, over 1.5 million Iraqis
died, including 500,000 children. "Did the people who started the war and
the sanctions pay the penalty for their crimes?" he asked the crowd of
supporters and media gathered in front of the house..
Dan Daniels, another member of Veterans for Peace, had even harsher words
for the individuals taking the uniform down. "The people who took this
display down and support them - that's what a fascist state is all about,"
he said. "There is no sound reason for us to be in Iraq."
On Monday, a man identifying himself as"Mike" was captured by TV cameras
taking down the display for a second time.
Surprisingly enough, Mark Williams of KFBK Radio, who has been berating the
Pearcys for their anti-war display during his weeknight program, also
blasted the individuals who trespassed on the Pearcy's property and took the
uniform down. In fact, he is offering a $100 award for information leading
to the arrest and conviction of the vandals.
And after the noose was removed and the sign changed to "Bush Lied I Died"
the second time the display was put up, Williams claimed that the display
was no longer "hate speech," as he had earlier described it, but was
"political speech," guaranteed under the First Amendment.
A Sacramento-based group called Move America Forward has called for a
candlelight vigil outside the home at 7 p.m. tonight opposing the display.
Siobhan Guiney, executive director, was quoted in the Sacramento Bee today
saying. "We believe this family has the right to free speech. but speaking
freely does not mean all sentiments should be warmly embraced."
Samantha McCarthy, a local peace activist and supporter of the Pearcys, has
called for a big turnout of people supporting freedom of speech and opposing
Bush's war at the Pearcy's house tonight.
"What Stephen and Virginia are hoping is that enough of us will be willing
to again gather in support of free speech like we did on Saturday," said
McCarthy on Monday. "I will be there and I am also happy to attempt to
organize car pools from Davis. All friends and supporters are welcome."
The address is 2732 Marty Way in Sacramento on Tuesday, February 15, 7-10
pm.
Directions: Take I-80 to the 15th street exit, turn right on 15th, then left
on Broadway, then right on Land Park Drive, then left on 2nd Avenue, then
right on Marty Way to 2732.
by Dan Bacher
A display of a soldier's uniform on the gable of a house in a quiet
neighborhood in the Land Park District of Sacramento has ignited a battle
between anti-war activists and Bush administration supporters over the First
Amendment. The conflict has created a media circus of TV cameras, newspaper
reporters and talk show radio hosts in front of the house many days over the
past week.
Stephen and Virginia Pearcy, both lawyers who work in Berkeley, decided to
put up a uniform of a U.S. soldier hanging on a noose, with the sign "Your
Tax Dollars at Work," at their house in Sacramento. After a group of right
wing opponents of the display gathered at the house last week while the
Pearcys were absent, two individuals, captured on TV cameras, took the
display down.
On Saturday, a group of supporters of the Pearcys and their opponents argued
heatedly while Steve Pearcy, with the support of members of Veterans for
Peace, put a new uniform display on the house. However, this time the
uniform was placed with a new sign saying "Bush Lied I Died," and the noose
was no longer there.
"It is important for the public to know that violations of our
Constitutional rights won't be tolerated," said Virginia Pearcy, "It is
important for all Americans - not just those who disagree with the war - to
support our right of free expression under the First Amendment.
Stephen emphasized that the purpose of the First Amendment is to protect
"unpopular speech" - and this is a clear case of free speech that is
unpopular with supporters of the bush Administration's war on Iraq.
"We put up the display seeking to engage our neighbors to start speaking to
one another about the war," said Virginia. "For example, one ex-military guy
came from Marysville who was opposed to our display. In spite of our
disagreement, we spoke civilly. This is the kind of conversations that we
want."
However, opponents of the display said they felt there were more appropriate
ways of getting the Pearcys' message across. "Why don't they attack the Bush
administration responsible for the war rather than putting up a uniform of a
U.S. soldier?" said James McKee. "There are other ways of making your point
than hanging up a soldier's uniform on a house."
On the other hand, the actual veterans there on Saturday - as opposed to
neo-con chickenhawks backing the war - supported the display.
Dan Buckley, a Vietnam War veteran and member of the Nevada City chapter of
Veterans for Peace, stated, "Freedom of speech is very important and I
consider myself more patriotic than the people opposing this display because
I don't blindly follow someone like they do. The Administration has people
running the war who haven't experienced war - like the soldier represented
on the Pearcy's house."
Buckley emphasized that during the Iraq sanctions, over 1.5 million Iraqis
died, including 500,000 children. "Did the people who started the war and
the sanctions pay the penalty for their crimes?" he asked the crowd of
supporters and media gathered in front of the house..
Dan Daniels, another member of Veterans for Peace, had even harsher words
for the individuals taking the uniform down. "The people who took this
display down and support them - that's what a fascist state is all about,"
he said. "There is no sound reason for us to be in Iraq."
On Monday, a man identifying himself as"Mike" was captured by TV cameras
taking down the display for a second time.
Surprisingly enough, Mark Williams of KFBK Radio, who has been berating the
Pearcys for their anti-war display during his weeknight program, also
blasted the individuals who trespassed on the Pearcy's property and took the
uniform down. In fact, he is offering a $100 award for information leading
to the arrest and conviction of the vandals.
And after the noose was removed and the sign changed to "Bush Lied I Died"
the second time the display was put up, Williams claimed that the display
was no longer "hate speech," as he had earlier described it, but was
"political speech," guaranteed under the First Amendment.
A Sacramento-based group called Move America Forward has called for a
candlelight vigil outside the home at 7 p.m. tonight opposing the display.
Siobhan Guiney, executive director, was quoted in the Sacramento Bee today
saying. "We believe this family has the right to free speech. but speaking
freely does not mean all sentiments should be warmly embraced."
Samantha McCarthy, a local peace activist and supporter of the Pearcys, has
called for a big turnout of people supporting freedom of speech and opposing
Bush's war at the Pearcy's house tonight.
"What Stephen and Virginia are hoping is that enough of us will be willing
to again gather in support of free speech like we did on Saturday," said
McCarthy on Monday. "I will be there and I am also happy to attempt to
organize car pools from Davis. All friends and supporters are welcome."
The address is 2732 Marty Way in Sacramento on Tuesday, February 15, 7-10
pm.
Directions: Take I-80 to the 15th street exit, turn right on 15th, then left
on Broadway, then right on Land Park Drive, then left on 2nd Avenue, then
right on Marty Way to 2732.
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Comments
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Nice . . . I hadn't thought of that one.
The long (re-posted) article uploaded here as a comment is available at:
http://www.focusonfreedom.org/resources/at_home/america.html
The original has been removed to avoid clutter. If you want to read what was here, just go to the web site above.
http://www.focusonfreedom.org/resources/at_home/america.html
The original has been removed to avoid clutter. If you want to read what was here, just go to the web site above.
I suppose if these "lawyers" had a couple of black mannequins hanging from nooses outside their window, you would also support their right to free expression. Right? Right? Thought so.
And Jesheeka, why are you going on about "America"? Who cares? Another case of Leftist terminal fixation on tiny, irrelevant topics that absolutely no one cares about.
I agree that "U.S. flag" is the proper term, but I was quoting a right wing neighbor of the Pearcys, who used the term "American flag."
That was a quote from a neighbor - and journalistic integrity requires quoting a person exactly as he or she says something! I don't make up words and put things in people's mouths, as some so-called "journalists" do!
Dan
Here's the citation:
However, one neighbor, “Mark,” said he has battled with the Pearcys for two years over their methods of political protest.
“Besides the American solider uniform in a noose, they have also put an American flag halfway in a garbage can, as well as a sign saying Fuck Bush, Fuck America, Burn the American Flag,” said Mark. “I’m for America and freedom, but this is a clear case of hiding behind freedom of speech. These people are just lucky to be born here and to have brave men and women dying for them overseas.”
That was a quote from a neighbor - and journalistic integrity requires quoting a person exactly as he or she says something! I don't make up words and put things in people's mouths, as some so-called "journalists" do!
Dan
Here's the citation:
However, one neighbor, “Mark,” said he has battled with the Pearcys for two years over their methods of political protest.
“Besides the American solider uniform in a noose, they have also put an American flag halfway in a garbage can, as well as a sign saying Fuck Bush, Fuck America, Burn the American Flag,” said Mark. “I’m for America and freedom, but this is a clear case of hiding behind freedom of speech. These people are just lucky to be born here and to have brave men and women dying for them overseas.”
First, these people are lawyers, not "lawyers", Secondly, the difference between hanging the soldier and hanging the black person is that i beleive like the Bush lied sign that the implication of this was not to literally hang all soldiers (even tho i support the Iraqi resesistance and the freedom of the Irqi people by any means necessary), but to say that
these soldiers die because of the US policy of invading and occupying Iraq. The Black person hanging would because the person was Black.
these soldiers die because of the US policy of invading and occupying Iraq. The Black person hanging would because the person was Black.
The above article by Elizabeth (Betita) Martinez is available at the following URLs, among others:
http://www.racismwatch.org/article5.html
http://www.focusonfreedom.org/resources/at_home/america.html
http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Aug2003/martinezpr0803.html
Since the point of the article, though important, is peripheral to the main issue of this thread, inserting the text of the article as a comment subverts our ability to deal with the concrete situation that was the issue. The above URLs are enough; the editors should delete the comment.
http://www.racismwatch.org/article5.html
http://www.focusonfreedom.org/resources/at_home/america.html
http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Aug2003/martinezpr0803.html
Since the point of the article, though important, is peripheral to the main issue of this thread, inserting the text of the article as a comment subverts our ability to deal with the concrete situation that was the issue. The above URLs are enough; the editors should delete the comment.
deanosor, so what? Free speech is free speech is free speech. I read about "actions" on this site all the time about plans to "shut down" something or someone that the writer does not agree with. Now, when someone does the same thing, it's unacceptable. Unacceptable is unacceptalbe is unacceptable. You either support people's right to say what they want or you don't. It's wrong to remove these people's dummy with a uniform on (or whatever it is). They have the right to make the statement. Why is it unacceptable for Horowitz or Netanyahu to speak in Berkeley? It's exactly the same thing.
we swore to defend the constitution against enimies foreign and domestic. i spent ten years in the military, ahven't seen my retirement pay yet, have gotten third rate medical care ( 7 months between tests and finding about the results) or the problem is ignored untill the point of death! bush is a bigger threat to the constitution than the taliban ever was! created for all people, not just the citizens, how can we have liberty without human rights? how can we have freedom without human rights, how can any of us hold up our heads without everyone having human rights. bush does not have the right to hold anyone without legal representation, what happened toa speedy trial? bush does NOT have the right! he does NOT have my permission to treat any one the way he has in gitmo. i helped to pay the dues for everyone to be protected by the constitution. i doubt if bush has bothered to evcen read it!
Here's a shot of the flags of the Américas. Remember, the Pilgrims didn't discover "America", nor did Columbus, however you decide to believe in the A-word and all the baggage behind it. The Martinez article does a good job exploring all this, and why it matters. It's not as simple as some pathetic terminology, and the least leftist/radical/etc. people should do if they want to end imperialism is began with something as simple as stop using the A-word in reference to the Gringo nation. No one said it'd be easy to end imperialism, but if it was, this would be an easy first step in getting there. Start in your minds.
Good job Leo!
You made the first intelligent statements I have read on this pea brain site for months. I bet if someone hung a doll on a noose with the words "Gay Marriage" on it every leftist group in Berkley would picket the neighborhood.
You made the first intelligent statements I have read on this pea brain site for months. I bet if someone hung a doll on a noose with the words "Gay Marriage" on it every leftist group in Berkley would picket the neighborhood.
one of the corporate tv stations is taking a survey on their site. fyi..
Do you find this display offensive?
Yes, but I support their right to express themselves.
Yes, and they should be forced to remove it.
No, it is not offensive
so the folks tonight supporting the pearcy's were chanting, "bring them home" in reference to get the troops home and the folks supporting the troops chanted back saying "they don't care" in reference to the troops don't care if they come home. now that was a bright chant for rebuttal. every time there's a few troops coming home either dead or alive, they always seem glad to be back on US soil or so the way the corporate media has portrayed it the past couple years with their trips to the sac airport when a US troop arrives home. troops don't care that they are overseas?
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/4201947/detail.html
Do you find this display offensive?
Yes, but I support their right to express themselves.
Yes, and they should be forced to remove it.
No, it is not offensive
so the folks tonight supporting the pearcy's were chanting, "bring them home" in reference to get the troops home and the folks supporting the troops chanted back saying "they don't care" in reference to the troops don't care if they come home. now that was a bright chant for rebuttal. every time there's a few troops coming home either dead or alive, they always seem glad to be back on US soil or so the way the corporate media has portrayed it the past couple years with their trips to the sac airport when a US troop arrives home. troops don't care that they are overseas?
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/4201947/detail.html
For more information:
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/4201947...
this is the raddest thing I've ever seen - good job!
What is the fuss about? Did Bush and his friends not lie?
For more information:
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