We Were Arrested for Speaking by David Swanson

[Joanne98]

For OpEdNews: David Swanson - Writer

U.S. Park Policeman (USPP) who shall remain nameless on Monday, October 5, 2009: Next!

Me: Is that me?

USPP: Whoever. I'm flexible. I'm agreeable. I'm just here to please.


Me: Except for the whole arresting us part, huh?

USPP: What? I thought that was the whole point. You wanted to get arrested.

Me: No, we didn't want to get arrested. We wanted to engage in free speech.

USPP: Oh, I'm not going to get into that. Step over here. Charlottesville? It's beautiful down there. Why would you want to come here and do this? I mean I know why, you don't need to tell me.

But of course I did need to tell him. He just didn't want to know.

Earlier that day in front of the White House:

Another police officer (APO): You all will have to move off the sidewalk into the street.

Me: Are you sure the First Amendment says that?

APO: Oh you want to play that game? We can shut the whole area down if you want to play that game.

Me: I didn't say anything about a game.

The president was holding a press conference inside the White House fence with a bunch of doctors who oppose serious healthcare reform. Donna Smith, star of Michael Moore's "Sicko", was standing next to me and telling me that every patient who had appeared in that movie had determined that the healthcare bills now under consideration in Washington would not have done anything to help them and won't now.

Hundreds of peace activists made their way to the White House sidewalk. We joined with some doctors and nurses who were not permitted to take part in the events inside because they support single-payer healthcare. We shouted "Healthcare Not Warfare." We shouted "Troops Home Now. End Warfare." We shouted "Single Payer Now. End Warfare." We made a lot of noise, but we were in the street rather than on the forbidden sidewalk. And there was an incredibly noisy truck behind us that had chosen this moment to clean Pennsylvania Avenue with pressurized hoses.


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http://www.opednews.com/articles/We-Were-Arrested-for-Speak-by-David-Swanson-091005-679.html

[Don Caballero]

1. I love Swanson's work and his website

but I think it is the wrong tactic to go after President Obama. President Obama is doing his best to end these wars in a respectful and dignified manner.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. Fuck you, Karl.

[ixion]

5. Huh? That has not been my perspective, quite the opposite

what part of 'surge' don't you understand?

[Don Caballero]

6. The surge in AfPak is part of a larger plan

to end the war.

[ixion]

7. ...

:rofl:

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Cops always think it's a GAME when you try to live according to America's constitution.

Makes you wonder what country THEY think they're living in, doesn't it?

Maybe we should find that country and send all the cops there. They don't belong here...

[geckosfeet]

3. Sorry to hear about the arrest. I agree with your actions and wish you the best.