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| Off Topic...Need Advice |
| 2005-08-27 |
| (Thanks Fred for the soapbox) Lyndon LaRouche goons are handing out materials, accepting money, and advocating against the President at my Post Office. I just went up to my local Post Office to send out some packages. Two LaRouche goons had a table just outside the entrance to the P.O. with homemade signs and lots of professionally printed literature . They asked me if I wanted to "send Bush back to the zoo, he escaped." I walked on by, but other patrons were giving them cash and accepting their handouts. I asked one of the employees if these guys had a permit or permission to be there. He waffled and said that the goons didn't have any documentation, but they claimed they were "allowed" (or maybe "had the right") to be there. I'm angry. I do not want any advocacy at the Post Office. If the LaRouchies can be there, so can PETA, so can MoveOn, so can Stormfront. Can you imagine the carnival at EVERY Post Office? So...what's my next step? Call the cops, call the USPS, call the mayor, call the Washington Post? I'm open for ideas... P.S. If I stood next to them with a sign that says "I (heart) President Bush and I support the War in Iraq," how long would it be before I got shut down? (Thanks again Fred for the soapbox) |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #15 remind them tha Lyndon is a Trotskyite and one really doesn't want to see ice picks appearing in post offices. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2005-08-27 23:33 |
| #14 I got a dog that farts alot. |
| Posted by: Red jr. 2005-08-27 21:59 |
| #13 If your PO is typical, there are random dysfunctional carriers, possibly carying. Time to sequester arms, set up scapegoats...oh, shit, nevermind. We're on the good |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-08-27 21:30 |
| #12 Can you borrow a car with big boom base and with the 4th of July rendition of Stars and Strips playing pull up and park to where the bumper just nudges against the table legs ... as you are going in for A stamp. |
| Posted by: RG 2005-08-27 20:56 |
| #11 So...what's my next step? Call the cops, call the USPS, call the mayor, call the Washington Post? I'm open for ideas... Napalm. |
| Posted by: Colt 2005-08-27 19:50 |
| #10 Thanks, all. The PO is now closed for the day, so my ire has receded. Will ponder what to do for next weekend... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-08-27 14:01 |
| #9 ref #8 the Appelate Court weighed in on the suit mentioned above. Link to their findings are here. |
| Posted by: GK 2005-08-27 13:30 |
| #8 Sea, when you talk with the postmaster, or postal inspector, cite Subsection 232.1 (h)(1) of Title 39 of the Code of Federal Regulations. There was a suit against the post office about five years ago on approximately the same grounds. The plaintiffs lost. Read USPS regulations prohibiting this activity on page 2 at the link. |
| Posted by: GK 2005-08-27 13:22 |
| #7 I agree with the advice to see if you can get a group to back you and work with you on this. The VFW or American Legion may have a friendly lawyer who would do a little footwork and file complaints in the right format, citing this or that code. My experience with the LaRouchites is that they're nasty bullies when they think you're weak, but are pretty cowardly when confronted headon by a group willing to play the legal games. |
| Posted by: lotp 2005-08-27 13:21 |
| #6 How close to the doorway are they? Maybe they're breaking some city ordinance concerning fire safety. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2005-08-27 13:16 |
| #5 You should first talk to the Postmaster, Seafarious, and then go up the food chain if you run into an appeaser. If they are on a sidewalk, then it may be a City problem. In which case, you will have to deal with their law enforcement folks. Success will depend on how they enforce the laws on the books. We are getting into a free speech issue here, so it could be a sticky wicket. Lyndon LaRouche, eh? That guy and his groupies, have been around bugging everyone since Hector was a pup. The perpetual candidate. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-08-27 13:07 |
| #4 They used to be in downtown Boston all the time. I used to always ask them if Lydon was out of the can yet and back to working the credit card scams. I used to say it when there were a lot of people hanging around and I used to say it loud.. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-08-27 13:05 |
| #3 To my astonishment, this seems to be legal. Check this out: The regulations do not prohibit members of the public from engaging in other forms of expressive activities on the exterior areas of Postal Service property that are open to the public. For example, leafleting, distributing literature, picketing, and demonstrating by members of the public are prohibited only in lobbies and other interior areas of Postal Service property that are open to the public. These activities are not prohibited on exterior areas of Postal Service property, such as Postal Service sidewalks and parking lots. More at the link. If I stood next to them with a sign that says "I (heart) President Bush and I support the War in Iraq," how long would it be before I got shut down? Try it and see. Report back. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2005-08-27 12:58 |
| #2 Well the point is I don't want ANY advocacy groups soliciting at the PO. I don't want to run a gauntlet of earnest true believers every time I buy stamps... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-08-27 12:52 |
| #1 Give a call to the local American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars post, perhaps they can find some supporters to offset the nuts. |
| Posted by: DanNY 2005-08-27 12:45 |