Deplorable. 80 yr old man arrested for walking: "I walk for dreamers and all immigrants''

[Soph0571]

Land of the free. Not so much

Alan Dornan was just arrested on Friday. Alan walks 2.2 miles every day in support of all immigrants in this country, documented or not. Today, the anniversary of the death of his only son, he organised a protest of the horrific actions in the establishment of concentration camps where they separate children from their parents- parents coming to seek asylum in this country. He and his friends Dennis and John, almost 80 and 80 years old, were arrested by a hostile Homeland Security officer for "disturbing the peace."

Link to tweet

https://www.liker.com/public/posts/26357

Outrageous. First Amendment?

[femmedem]

1. He wasn't arrested for walking; he was arrested for blocking a federal courthouse in Hartford.

Last edited Sun Jun 30, 2019, 08:09 AM - Edit history (1)

It was his first act of civil disobedience, committed with the intention of being arrested on the 21st anniversary of his son's death.
I hope you will edit the thread title, which both minimizes what he actually did and shifts outrage to fake first amendment violations instead of to atrocities committed against immigrants.

Thank you, though, for bringing this to our attention. It prompted me to google his inspiring story.

Link to tweet

[nuxvomica]

2. Profile of Alan Dornan from last year:

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2018/07/23/connecticut-alan-dornan-walking-two-miles-every-day-for-undocumented-immigrants

“My time has passed,” he said. “Now my life is to give these people the opportunity to realize their dreams. I know what that felt like.”

[Farmer-Rick]

3. That was disturbing the peace?

More like disturbing the conscious of non-psychopathic Trump lovers.

Trump is the epitome of our American capitalism. Thank your favorite multi-millionaire for these concentration camps. They either enabled or supported Trump so that Trump could let lose American racism and fascism.

Look what this poor elderly man is doing. If just 5 of the capitalist kings would stand up and put their money to work against Trump, Trump would be Gone. But they don't because they want more and more loot.

[George II]

4. WTF? He's been walking for a year and a half, every day, in rain, snow, sleet.....

....I don't think he's missed a day. He says he'll walk until he can't anymore. I'd like to see some of the trump administration or family be so dedicated to ANYTHING! He's a hero, not a criminal.

BTW, he's originally from Somerville MA, he lives in Wethersfield, CT, a few miles from me. I first found out about him in the spring of 2018, We drove down his street one Sunday morning after church, and saw him and a friend out walking. We slowed down, waved at him, and he raised his sign to us:



The Hartford Courant did a story about him last year.

https://www.courant.com/hometown-heroes/hc-hh-hometown-hero-al-dornan-wethersfield-20180607-story.html

Al Dornan, 78, began walking through his Wethersfield neighborhood carrying a homemade sign to show support for dreamers and immigrants on January 25. He walks 2 1/2 miles every day, rain, snow or shine and just logged his 132 consecutive day. After becoming frustrated with inaction in Congress he was inspired to start walking after hearing a voice in his head telling him it was time to act. Dornan lives with back pain due to scoliosis and spinal stenosis, but he remains undeterred and plans to continue "until I physically can't walk anymore."

[femmedem]

5. He's an amazing man. But he was not arrested for walking. He planned to be arrested.

He and several other protesters blocked a federal courthouse in Hartford on the 21st anniversary of his son's death fully expecting to be arrested. He talks about it on his twitter account.

Edited to add: See my reply #1 to the OP.

[smirkymonkey]

6. What a wonderful man!

He was arrested for blocking the entrance to a courthouse, but still, doesn't homeland security have bigger fish to fry than harmless old men who are protesting the government's treatment of dreamers and immigrants?

I am impressed by his stamina! 2.2 miles per day in any kind of weather. I wish I had that kind of dedication! Keep going Mr. Dornan! I wish you all the best!

[hughee99]

7. It's ironic that they ask people to share his story while intentionally

Not telling people the story of why he was arrested. I was under the impression that he was arrested by homeland security in Somerville, MA for walking down the street with this sign.

[renate]

8. Stories like this are so beautiful and inspiring in these cruel times

He is a shining light.

[malaise]

9. K & R

Wish I could hug him

[George II]

10. I just went to his twitter account to see if there is any further information....

I found this:

Link to tweet

And also saw this, which is most likely a result of the arrest.

"I follow back those who follow me. My followers went from 14.1k last night to 46.3k right now" - he gained 32 THOUSAND followers in one day!!!

Link to tweet