Lawmakers demand swastikas be removed from California house

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Lawmakers demand swastikas be removed from California house
By JUDY LIN, Associated Press | February 26, 2015 | Updated: February 26, 2015 4:02pm

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State lawmakers on Thursday demanded that a California man take down poster-size swastikas displayed in front of his house, calling the signs racist and vulgar but acknowledging the person had a right to free speech.

"It's time to remove this disgusting display of racism from our community," said state Sen. Marty Block, D-San Diego, chairman of the Legislative Jewish Caucus.

The symbols desecrate the memory of 6 million Jews who died in concentration camps, he said.

On the front door of the Sacramento house is a depiction of the American flag with a swastika replacing the stars next to the stripes. Two Israeli flags show swastikas in place of the Star of David.




Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Lawmakers-demand-swastikas-be-removed-from-6103490.php

[jberryhill]

1. Good luck with that

There seriously are people in actual government offices who, absent a content neutral zoning or property code, think they can make someone take down a display of their political beliefs?

They should have school field trips to this place where they take the kids by in buses and say, "And now kids, this house belongs to the stupidest person in Sacramento" just so everyone is clear on exactly what a maladjusted evil and stupid person is.

They should put tourist signs on either end of the street directing visitors to "Most Vile Person In Sacramento".

Or, we can have a discussion about whether, just maybe, laws like the ones they have in France about this sort of thing would or would not work here.

[NutmegYankee]

6. Reading the story, I'm not sure it's actually pure hate speech either.

It seems a virulent symbolic attack on Israel and the USA for the treatment of Palestinians. Attention seeking at it's worst.

[cynzke]

31. Yes, I think this the case.

He is trying to paint Israel's treatment of Palestine as similar to Hitler's treatment of Jews. He needs the swastikas to make the connection.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. The people in office in the story don't think they can *make* him take them down

If you actually look at what they say:

"It's time to remove this disgusting display of racism from our community," said state Sen. Marty Block, D-San Diego, chairman of the Legislative Jewish Caucus.
...
On Thursday, Block was joined by lawmakers, veterans and labor leaders in calling for the homeowner to voluntarily remove the signs.
...
Block said the resident has the freedom to deface his own home, but that doesn't make the use of the swastikas right.

"We have learned that the purveyors of hate tragically often follow their vile speech with criminal acts of terror," Block said. "We've seen it around the world. I pray that's not going to be the case in this instance."

[cstanleytech]

11. Problem though is if they tried those suggestions they would be sued by the guy and he probably

would win.

[jberryhill]

13. Why?

It's perfectly within the town's right to take the kids on educational field trips or put up tourist signs.

True story - the first time my two boys saw a confederate flag, they asked me what it was. It was on a decorative license plate (we don't require front plates in DE) and I told them, "That's the Universal Symbol Of Stupid People". The state makes those people put that license plate on their car, so that everyone else knows to keep away from them.

Now, okay, I'm sorry, I used to tell my kids weird shit and forget.

One fine warm day, we are driving down a street with the windows open, and there in someone's driveway is a pickup truck with a rear window-sized Confederate Flag graphic. One of the boys excitedly shouts and points, "Look at the Universal Symbol of Stupid People they put on that truck! That guy must be REALLY stupid!"

I accelerated a bit more for a convenient getaway... not knowing whether to grin or grimace.

[cstanleytech]

14. That does not grant a right for the government to harass the guy just because he is

doing something thats constitutional that they dont approve of.

[jberryhill]

17. How is that harassing him?

They are not depriving him of any rights.

[Throd]

18. How is that not harassment?

[jberryhill]

24. Towns give out awards all of the time

And I'm sure it's a crowded field in some cities.

[Throd]

25. I don't understand that response.

[jberryhill]

26. They establish the "Stupidest Man In Town" award

He doesn't have to come to the ceremony if he doesn't want to, but they can erect signs in his honor.

[Throd]

28. Do you honestly think that is an appropriate role of government?

[jberryhill]

29. I've seen more frivolous ones

You know, if we can have a government that awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom, then I think the City of Sacramento can duly honor its citizens of note.

Maybe a private foundation can do it, and purchase appropriate lots to place the signs.

[cstanleytech]

32. Ya and the guy could up laughing all the way to the bank

with tax payer money because his lawyer could probably show its intent was purely as harassment just because he was exercising his first amendment rights in a way many believe is vile so no, just a bad idea in general.
A better idea is just to ignore him because what people like that want most is more attention.

[jberryhill]

36. What is the specific legal claim?

...and measure of damages?

[cstanleytech]

38. Well harrassment and intimidation with the intent to punish and silence him therefore

violating his first amendment rights.
As for the measure of damages that would depend on what a jury and or judge decides, best case scenario if he were to win in such a case (and I bet he would) is an award of 1 dollar worst could be 5 to 10 million.

[cstanleytech]

20. What Throd said.

[brooklynite]

19. Only if they also talk to the students about how the First Amendment works...

[jaysunb]

2. Now can we do something about the millions who proudly display the

confederate battle flag ? Those who fought under it were treasonous traitors who only wanted to enslave and murder more black people.
In the words of a wise man: Yes,we weep for your six million, but who will weep for our 12 million that were lost at sea during their kidnapping or died under the yolk of slavery ?
I'll never understand the continued appeasement of those that did things equally as awful as the Nazis.

[freshwest]

4. Nope. Remember they believe the 2A backs up their 1A. Disagree and get shot.

[olddad56]

5. well said

[jberryhill]

8. Slavery had a yolk? I know it had a white!

[csziggy]

22. Since some may not get the joke

YOLK


YOKE


"Yoke of slavery" should mean the second.

[jberryhill]

23. The yolk is the part that's not white

Last edited Thu Feb 26, 2015, 11:19 PM - Edit history (1)

You think someone might not get the yolk?

[christx30]

27. We can't legislate vileness out of humans.

And if we start outlawing some symbols, before too long, when the political winds shift, things that you care about are going to be banned. Conservatives consider the rainbow flag to be offensive to them.
I'd rather deal with the Swastikas and the Confederate flags than the cops to have yet another reason to arrest or fine people.

[ailsagirl]

3. What the hell???

[irisblue]

7. a few questions

1-why is a Houston paper reporting on California? weird
2- as much as I f-ing hate to say this, his property, the owning morons' call. He rents, get ahold of his landlord, otherwise the neighbors all know he is a fool and ass.

[Xithras]

16. There is almost nothing a landlord could do.

Under California law, landlords have little power to evict tenants based on their behavior unless they can show that the behavior is causing damage to the property.

[shanti]

33. fyi, this story

is also in the sacramento bee, but the bee won't let you read for free...

[heaven05]

9. whether he is allowed to keep them

up or not, he's still a sick, hateful individual with no conscience. Bears watching, closely.

[cstanleytech]

15. Oh I agree there 100%. nt

[Reter]

35. He's actually not pro-Nazi, he's anti-Nazi

He's saying Israel is acting like Nazis for their treatment of Palestinians. Of course, he went way too far, but look closely:

[heaven05]

37. yep and I will have to agree,

in principle, to a certain point. I think all this heavy handed killing of civilians such as in Nigeria, Ukraine and Israel has no purpose except to terrorize. We, as a race, the human race , have so far to go in reaching any enlightenment. We are dragging ourselves through the mud, still.

[Nye Bevan]

21. Hey look everyone! I'm a disgusting anti-Semitic Nazi sympathizer! (nt)

[Reter]

34. No he isn't

He's saying Israel is acting like Nazis because of their treatment of Palestinians. While I don't necessarily agree, he's not using the swastika as a good thing. Look:

[jberryhill]

30. Where is this lady when she is needed?