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Fifth Column
Antiwar protesters trash 9/11 memorial
2003-03-11
These people should have their heads kicked in.
Pro-Saddam Antiwar protesters burned and ripped up flags, flowers and patriotic signs at a Sept. 11 memorial that residents erected on a fence along Whittier Boulevard days after the terrorist attacks in 2001 and have maintained ever since. However, although officers witnessed the vandalism Saturday afternoon, police did not arrest three people seen damaging the display because they were "exercising the same freedom of speech that the people who put up the flags were,' La Habra Police Capt. John Rees said Monday.
I'd feel safe with these bozo's guarding my city...
Presumably, they were also destroying somebody else's property. Wonder if they got their training in Zim-Bob-we?
"For this to be vandalism, there had to be an ill-will intent,' he said.
Thanks, Cap. You can get back to your doughnut now.
Rees said in order for police to take any action, the owner of the fence would have to file a complaint. Jeff Collison, owner of The RV Center in La Habra, who has allowed residents to add patriotic symbols to the fence on his property, said he just might do that. "Their free speech stops at destruction of private property. If they are allowed to come on my property and burn flags, does that mean I can go to City Hall or the police station and light their flags on fire because that is freedom of speech? To me, this is vandalism,' Collison said.
I'd sue them for every nickel their Mommies and Daddies have...
Some residents Monday hung signs criticizing those who destroyed the display. Tracey Chandler, a Whittier mother of four who has maintained the spontaneous memorial since it was created by other area residents soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said she was shocked by the destruction. "They trashed 87 flags, ripped 11 memorial tiles made by myself and my children out of the ground and glued the Bob Dylan song to a sign that said, 'America, land of the brave, home of the free,'' she said.The Bob Dylan song she referred to is "With God on Our Side,' an antiwar anthem of the 1960s.
How trendy.
"It's unbelievable, because there were absolutely no political messages on this fence. It was all about supporting our troops, which could mean bringing them home, and about remembering 9-11."
The "political" message was love of country, and respect for its people. The beauzeaux have neither...
Les Howard, a sociology professor at Whittier College, said the incident might be an indication of some confusion among people trying to stop a possible war against Iraq but uncertain how to express their sentiments. However, he said he does not condone the destruction of symbols important to those who erect them.
Poor misguided, confused souls. How did I know he'd come up with something like that. Thanks, professor.
"Some think (the best way to support the troops) is to not question their role. Some think the best way is to pursue all means possible to avoid putting them in danger," he said. "That still does not excuse any desecration of people's symbolic participation."
I don't think our troops feel supported by the beauzeaux...
Chandler said she plans to rebuild the Sept. 11 memorial. "We are going to rebuild this memorial, and it will be brighter, bigger and better than ever,' Chandler said.
...and don't worry. Barney Fife and the boys will keep an eye on it for you. Just hope some snotty high school 60's wannabes don't decide to exercise their First Amendment rights on it.
Posted by:tu3031

#8  I gotta get out of this state. It is sucking the life out of me.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-03-12 00:46:47  

#7  i think what they need is a small detail of licensed armed-guards, issued with M-1's and fixed bayonets. Remember: Your free speech ends at the point of my bayonet.
Posted by: Drew   2003-03-11 22:46:41  

#6  Isn't defacing the US flag a criminal offense and evidence of "ill-will intent"?
Isn't damaging someone's memorial a violation of the free speech and civil rights of the memorial makers?
Is Police Capt. John Rees limited to enforcing dog licenses and arresting drunks?

Posted by: Meyer Rafael   2003-03-11 19:07:14  

#5  Ease up Wills. My parents live three blocks from there. It's a very middle class, Republican neighborhood. Don't confuse the half-million nutbars on the Westside with the other 12 million in the LA metro area who are just doing their jobs and bringing up their families.
Posted by: 11A5S   2003-03-11 17:49:08  

#4  You know if it were not for the eleven or twelve decent people out there I'd vote to nuke the fault line and cast the goddamn rats out to sea, where are all those big dudes that bitch slapped Reginald Denny, maybe they need some exercise wacking some of the protesting pussies
Posted by: Wills   2003-03-11 15:32:08  

#3  Municipal contact info:

Public affairs e-mail: maritza_sanchez@lahabracity.com

Mr. Brad Bridenbecker
City Manager
City of La Habra
201 East La Habra Boulevard
P.O. Box 337
La Habra, CA 90631
General Information Tel. #: (562) 905-9700
City Talk: 24-hour voicemail: (562) 905-9743
Home Page
Posted by: Chuck   2003-03-11 14:16:54  

#2  Names, I want names.
It's not that long a drive to La Habra, and I might want to exercise my freedom of speech by relieving my bladder on the feet of the perps.
Posted by: Dishman   2003-03-11 13:27:21  

#1  Do we expect less from the People's Republic of Kalifornia?
Posted by: Dar Steckelberg   2003-03-11 13:20:21  

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