OAP told: Take down atheist poster or you'll be arrested

[cbayer]

OAP = old age pensioner (I think)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4384525/OAP-told-Take-down-atheist-poster-or-youll-be-arrested.html



POLICE threatened to arrest a pensioner after he put a sign in his window that read: “Religions are fairy stories for adults”.

Atheist John Richards, 89, was warned by cops he could be committing a public order offence.

They said his home made pro-atheism note might cause “alarms or distresses” to his neighbours.

But defiant John, from Boston, Lincs, has refused to remove the sheet of A4 paper - branding the police’s actions as “a threat to free speech”.

more at link

[eqfan592]

1. The UK has been having some serious civil liberties issues.

Here's to hoping they are able to figure things out. Stand strong, Mr. Richards!

[cbayer]

2. Do you really consider this a *serious* civil liberties issue?

I mean, the man has the right to put up a sign, but I hardly find this earth shattering.

It's pretty sweet though.

[eqfan592]

3. I was speaking in general terms, not that this specific incident is serious.

More like this incident is indicative of the serious issues they've been having.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Actually it's not - it's pretty atypical

Since teaming with Bush for the war on terror, we do have civil liberties problems: e.g. the possibility of detention without trial for 42 days. And for that matter, we had 1984-ish problems under Thatcher in and around 1984, notably the infamous 'sus laws'.

But public expression of atheism is generally accepted.

[eqfan592]

6. Fair enought.

Either way you want to put it, I hope things get worked out.

[LeftishBrit]

4. I would not rely on the 'Sun' as a good source; it's super-sensational

This is not typical of Britain; we have our own civil liberties issues, but police cracking down on the public expression of atheism is not generally one of them. I suspect there may be more to the story. But if not, then it's absolutely vile.

[cbayer]

7. I know. I just thought it was a cute story, particularly the picture.

I wish him the best of luck and commend him for making a fuss.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Local paper article, with police statement

http://www.bostonstandard.co.uk/news/local/update-police-now-issue-statement-on-boston-pensioner-s-religions-are-fairy-stories-poster-1-3962839

So they've advised him to take it down, and said that if they receive a complaint and he still doesn't take it down, they could arrest him.

[dimbear]

8. I suggest he start a blog.

"Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time? "

You run out of space in a window practically from go.

[Flying Squirrel]

10. Just in case anyone didn`t notice, he`d be

arrested for POO. (Public Order Offense)

[cbayer]

11. Lol, gotta love it.