Army veteran arrested in Beach anti-war protest

[roody]

Army veteran arrested in Beach anti-war protest

By STEVE STONE, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 23, 2007 | Last updated 11:12 PM Feb. 22

VIRGINIA BEACH - An anti-war protester was arrested Thursday after refusing to leave private property.

Army veteran Tom Palumbo, a member of Veterans for Peace, and seven other people went to the office of Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd District, about noon.

Palumbo said he and the others had planned to deliver letters “asking her to take a stand against the escalation of the war” in Iraq. Instead, they found that staff members inside had locked the doors.

--snip--


Palumbo said he was charged with criminal trespass and was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court March 26 and said he plans to fight the charge.

“It shouldn’t be trespassing to petition a member of Congress,” he said.


http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=120001&ran=72057

[babylonsister]

1. Lovely way to deal with her constituents. nt

[Tuesday_Morning]

2. “It shouldn’t be trespassing to petition a member of Congress”

said Palumbo, a vet.

[Monkeyman]

3. I love the staffs comments they scared us

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Now isn't that 'supporting the troops'! Wonder what they would have done if the

vets had been in their best uniforms?

[gratuitous]

8. Maybe it's good for elected officials to be scared once in a while

But calling the cops on citizens who are trying to petition their elected governmental representatives for redress? Why, some dastardly challenger might just make a campaign issue out of this!

[Dr.Phool]

4. We visited our Repukes office yesterday too.

They allowed all of us (about 20) inside the office. He wasn't there but his staffer gave us plenty of time, heard us out, and accepted letters and petitions.

[Monkeyman]

5. Hastert's staff locked the office

[tabasco]

12. That's obviously the way to deal with it.

And if the rep were present a quick grip and grin to hear the grievances. Typical lack of leadership from a "conservative."

You get more bees with honey than vinegar.

But like gratuitous said, this would look good in a campaign commercial.

[Truthseeker013]

6. Army veteran arrested in Beach anti-war protest

Lovely way to treat your vets, too. You can fight, lose pieces of your body and/or soul, possibly even make the ultimate sacrifice, but you can't exercise your Constitutional right to free speech.

[shance]

9. Is anyone keeping up with all the groups meeting at Congressmans offices?

If someone is, would you let me know?

Thanks.

[Dr.Phool]

10. I got an e-mail from move-on.

At the same time, some other people I know were there for Net Neutrality.

[tblue37]

11. During the Shogunate period in medieval Japan,

peasants not only had no right to petition their rulers, but they would be horrifically executed if they did--often along with their entire families. There are stories of brave men who would deliver a petition for a desperate group, knowing that the result would be torture and execution.

Every time I read about people being arrested for complaining to Dick Cheney when he appears in public, wearing a T-shirt with a slogan, or trying to deliver a petition to a public official or elected representative, that's what it makes me think of.

[noamnety]

13. Congressman Knollenberg's aides locked us out

In michigan. They stood in the hall outside their locked door, two of them, very clearly denying access.

I asked how we get an appointment. He said write a letter requesting one. I asked if I request one in writing, can I have an appointment? He said they'd have to see.

[SoCalDem]

14. "Rep. Thelma Drake" has a BEACH office? How much do we PAY her?n/t