Is it free speech to hold up an anti-Obama sign in a public venue?
At about 5pm Alaska Time, Thursday, August 26, 2010, security personnel approach Sidney Hill, a lone man peacefully displaying an impeach Obama sign near Pioneer Plaza on the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. Minutes later, a crowd assembles, additional security forces arrive, and they physically assault the man holding the sign. He’s taken to the ground with force and detained.
An unidentified Alaska State Trooper arrives to physically disperse the crowd, and at several points during the conflict, crowd members yell in support of the demonstrator’s right to speak his message. The demonstrator’s personal firearm is confiscated by fair security, and he is held captive until Palmer police arrive to escort the man away in cuffs.
Sidney Hill was in jail awaiting a pre-trial at 1:00pm on August 27, 2010 at the Palmer Courthouse. He has been charged with Assault 4-Cause Fear Of Injury, Disorderly Conduct-Challenge To Fight, and Criminal Trespass 2- Upon Premises. However, according to the Valley Frontiersman newspaper, “Assistant District Attorney Trina Sears said her office decided not to prosecute Hill on the assault charge.” The Alaska State Fair, Inc. contracted security and traffic control to StarPlex, a firm located in the Northwest Lower 48.
If Mr. Hill’s demonstration was peaceful, then his free speech rights seem to have been violated, though we are not completely clear on Alaskan, county and city laws in regards to what is deemed a public venue. If, however, security personnel took Mr. Hill’s sign, by force, should they have not also removed the t-shirts of any fairground visitors who were displaying messages supporting political candidates or ideas deemed to be controversial by an arbitrary party?
Mr. Hill made calls for the media. But no one showed up – at least not from the mainstream.
Luckily, video cameras were present, otherwise it is likely that Mr. Hill’s assault charges would be pursued to the full extent of the law. In a perfect world, exactly the opposite would happen, and those who were responsible for the assault, detainment, arrest and falsification of charges against Mr. Hill would be the ones facing charges.
Hat tip Golden Foxx
It’s also obvious based on the non- response of the onlookers we are screwed as a nation.   There should have been a hundred others to pick up his sign and continue the cause. As it was they watched the abuse of one of their own like a herd of wilder beast.
Aye to that Boo. I share that sentiment and the same thoughts crossed my mind.
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
-Pastor Martin Niemöller about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power
Did you notice how all the sheeple stood around and did not help this guy? America is doomed. We are all fat, dumb, lazy and fearful.
The crowd behaved properly. It was not their place to intervene physically. Obviously, the man’s rights were violated and he was assaulted. Now, a lawyer and a patriot needs to step up and provide the legal assistance he needs. IÂ would be surprised if that happened because every lawyer I know is a parasite on the body politic.
Everyone who sees this video should call or email the media in Palmer and ask: ‘What’s Up with that?”
If a real patriot and officer of the court can be found to represent this guy, the security company AND the individual guards should be looking at some serious fines, legal fees, and a little community service, too, when it is all said and done. Not to mention a serious award to the guy for a violation of his rights.
These security guys need to be looking for new employment as they are not suited for security work; so lets hope a felony charge can be brought to bear against them.
One of the saddest and sickest things I have ever seen in America. Our rights are just about gone. We have no rights now.
He’s on private property wouldn’t he need permission to peacefully protest from the owners? Also if he had his gun while possibly trying to insight a riot would not that be a little say premeditated. The cursing in front of children is also a crime in some part’s. He should have stayed at home.
That’s pretty horrible.Â
DK – I’d say the state trooper needs new work as well, you can tell he’s feeling pretty important there. Altho I’ve not met may troopers who weren’t drunk on power. Most of the ones I know from my home town were the worst thugs imaginable in school. Frightening they have a badge.
OSK – it was public property. And he has a right to bear arms, assuming he’s complied with any local law. It’s the second amendment .. the one right after the first amendment that is so clearly well respected in the video?Â
Comments….. From what I have been reading, the State Fair property is carried on the books by a railroad company.  Check out here under “auditing.” But that doesn’t mean anything. However, the fairgrounds receives grants from the State and federal grants and from HUD. But this matters not. You can stand on a street corner and protest. What happened to this man was pure police thuggery! It’s happening people, in a little old state fair in Alaska. I wear a T-shirt around town that says:
One Big Ass Mistake America (Obama).
If one person dares tells me that they are offended, my come back will be “I’m offended that you are offended.”
I hope this man sues them and wins! I think I’ll e-mail that utube to the ACLU and ask what they plan to do about it.
Here’s the info on the audit Page 4 IIRC.:
http://wordsworthwriting.net/PDF%20Files/Alaska%20State%20Fair%2012-06%20Newsletter%20FOR%20WEB%2011-27-06.pdf
I cannot see anything he did that they can charge him for. However if the fairground do not allow fairgoers to carry signs or conduct political demonstrations I think the security guards were right. The only thing I didn’t hear but might have happened is the security guards should have clearly stated what he was doing wrong and their reason for asking him to leave.
Having lived in Alaska I know everyone has a gun. Of course everyone doesn’t take one to the state fair but they pretty much take them everywhere. I carried one openly when I was out of the city and pretty much assumed ev eryone else had one too. He would have had to brandish the gun or threaten someone with it and he didn’t.Â
State property is public property. Signs, banners, t-shirts, or other expressions of dissent are guaranteed under the 1st Amendment unless that expression is deemed pornographic in the community.
Stan, get some backbone. Quit whining about not having any rights and demonstrate yours. One guy gets arrested by a couple of private security thugs and all of a sudden, “we have no rights now”. How pathetic!
Instead, recognise the blessing that this mistake by these security guys will be. They were clearly in the wrong and it a will be another victory for American rights. When it goes to court and they are busted and our rights are again affirmed, it is one more nail and legal precedent in the coffin of the NWO wanting to strip Americans of their rights and values.
Get a grip Stan. The sky is not yet falling.
These bastards stole their power from the victims of the Us v. Them years,
Wrecking all things virtuous and true.
The undermining social democratic downhill slide into abysmal
Lost lamb off the precipice into the trickle down runoff pool.
They hypnotized the summer, Two Thousand Nine.
Obama marched into the capital brooding duplicitous, wicked and able, media-ready,
Heartless, and labeled. Super U.S. traitor, super deciever,
Mega ultra power dosing.
Call to arms, call to arms call to arms. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.Â
The information nation took their clues from all the sound-bite gluttons.
Two Thousand Eight.
How to be what you can be, jump jam junking your energies.
How to walk in dignity with throw-up on your shoes
They amplified the autumn, Two Thousand Nine.
Calculate the capital, up the republic up his skinny ass.
Obama tells a million lies. The paper’s terrified to report
Anything that isn’t handed on a presidential spoon,
I’m just profoundly frustrated by all this. So, fuck you. (Fuck ‘m)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.Â
If they weren’t there we would have created them. Maybe, it’s true,
But I’m resentful all the same. Someone’s got to take the blame.
I know that this is vitriol. No solution, spleen-venting,
But I feel better having screamed. Don’t you?
He desecrated summer, Two Thousand Ten.
Capital collateral. Brooding duplicitous, wicked and able, media-ready,
Heartless, and labeled. Super U.S. traitor citizen, super deciever,
Mega ultra power dosing.
Call to arms, call to arms, call to arms. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Some people never learn! Did any of the impeach bush protesters get their way? And where is bush today? Where is all the internet ranting and raving about Him today. It’s gone of course because the “shrub” as some called him, is no longer on the televison screen.
Now we have to go through years and years of the obama rants, until he is off the television screen and forgotton from public memory. Is anyone awake out there? Does anyone think overt protests of any kind will ever achieve anything?
Well they wont. And millions of americans will never take up arms and reclaim the country either. The culture will not allow it, there is no precident in history of it happening unless the people are starving and the internal military side with them, as in the french revolution and TPTB have certainly learned from that experience. That is why you have elections now, and a choice of A and B candidates.
It is only when you throw away your television sets and ignore the bushes and the obamas that you will find freedom and live life by your rules. Focus on them and you play their game their way, by their rules. You lose by their rules, every time.
Comments….. Here’s the deal with the ACLU, many hoops to jump through, but the man who was offended has to apply, not just someone like me. I hope he jumps through the hoops and “git’er done.”Â
Comments….. Sent it to Drudge… Let’s get this going viral!
Wooba; Check your history books. American colonists took up arms long before the French Revolution. Americans have the power of numbers and the vote now. We will create new political structures as we have in the past when we have been dissatisfied with the status quo.
America, like the DNA of the Americans who live here now, will survive these challenges as we have all others. That is what makes us a great nation of good people. We will rise to this occasion as we have all others.
Don’t take the message that a few whiners, naysayers, and pukes offer up here. They couldn’t find their way out of a wet paper bag open at both ends.
Americans will survive and thrive; because that is what we are all about: a fierce independent spirit that refuses to take “no” for answer. We can and we will. and we will be stronger and better for the experience!
I hear ya Durango,
but that was a war against the British empire and there was no internal US miltary to overcome. You have the most powerful armed forces on the planet and legislation has been passed in America for that force to be used internally.
Unless the armed forces desert their posts, most unlikely given your strong patriotism, any civilian uprising will be crushed by them.
That’s how it looks from where I’m sitting anyway.
I hear ya Durango kidd
Don’t forget though, that was a war, a war against the british, you had no internal armed forces to overcome. Now you have the most powerful armed forces on the planet, and laws have been passed to use those forces against the American public.
Unless the US armed forces desert their posts, unlikely given your strong patriotism, any civilian uprising will be crushed by them.
At least that is how it looks from where I sit.
But you are right, many will survive, and overcome to rebuild.
Good luck to you and yours, in the long emergency, (as James Kuntsler calls it)
this was done by a security guard/ company..??
thaey do not have arrest powers, they have no more power to enfoce anything any more than you or I..I hope this guy sues the pants off these individuals, and the company they represent..this better happen, i hope he ends up owning that comapny and firing anyone who thinks they can violate anyones rights like this..
We the people need to start pushing back..these were not cops, these were wanna bees, that need to be un-employed with a hell of a legal bill headded their way..
ALCU..get off your ass and represent this man..NOW! or be viewed as part of the problem..
what if that disabled man had a heart attack?
people this is soooo wrong..
Assistant District Attorney Trina Sears said her office decided not to prosecute Hill on the assault charge..yeah,,thats because they cant, due to the video..Who ever kept the tape rolling on that ..kudo’s to you..
now lets prosecute everyone involved..and people..back this mans right to freedom of speach and his rights..dont back down or were all done
there’s going to be a lot more of that in the future.
say goodbye to your rights.
This sends shivers down my spine. I agree with the other commentors on this one. The fact that everyone knew this was not a legitimate reason for arrest, and all they did was stand around and say sheepishly, “Hey this is wrong,” and then back away the moment the security guards flexed their power.Â
This is a sombering moment seeing this man’s rights violated  – it is just one of the many reasons this country is going down the tubes – brute police force, violations of rights, onlookers unwilling to see that this is an example of how this country is lead. It just makes it all the more real to me. Animal Farm anyone?
I wish that the people in the crowd would step to this and not allow them to handcuff that guy .If that means that the security people get a beat down, then so be it . The problem is nobody wants to get involved.I know if a group of people came to his aid and said and your not going to do one thing to him and if you touch him,then we are going to rough you up and put you in choke holds and put you to sleep  . The outcome would be differant on this . But the day is coming to which people wont put up with this crap anymore. Because if your down and out and lost everything ,You have no fear of being arrested  and you wont take anybody BS ! Â
By this wintertime,Millions will be added to the rank of down and out !
kudos to the tape worm.
now let’s see what happens…
Put a fork in it, we are done.
google: dailyjobcuts
That will pretty much sum it up
Wooba:Â My point is that it isn’t going to come to a clash between Americans and their armed forces over political or economic issues.Â
In April of 1775 the power of the vote was limited. Sure we had representatives in the House of Burgessess, but any action taken was granted with the consent and approval of the King. We did not have a real right of self determination.
We do today.
The PTB have gone too far, too fast (to our advantage), Americans are awake to the danger that the PTB now pose to their liberties, and Americans are organizing and developing new political structures to deal with the threat. They are demanding those in office conform to the wishes of the people because; they only derive their power from the consent of the people. If not they are history!
So we will adapt, adjust, and empower ourselves once again, as the price of freedom is forever vigilence. Even we have in our past. A new burst of freedom is coming to America, is here, with a vigorous new energy for personal freedom everywhere! Those who are not part of that solution are part of the problem and they will experience the wrath of the people.
Do I think that eventually, there will be armed clashes between the military and citizens? Yes, but I agree with SHTF America (Food, Weapons pages), and believe that these clashes will be limited to the inner cities in an attempt to restore order after an EMP or major earth change: both of which I believe are coming in the not too distant future. The majority of America will be free and peaceful; particularly in the West where I am and where most preppers will reside safely.
But before then, Americans will reclaim their heritage because down deep, the majority of US are rebels at heart, free thinkers, and independent to the core.
From our cold dead hands.
I saw a sign yesterday that read simply:
“State Property, No Trespassing”
That clearly indicates the State owns the property, and the public is differentiated as Not allowed on it unless they’ve been given permission, a permission which can be revoked at any time the true owners – the State – see fit for whatever reason they decide.
The public just gets to pay for it all, it’s kind of like being a renter?
It’s sad really, I half expected the cop to defend the guy from the security guards or at least to ask what was the cause, that sure was a half silly thought, wasn’t it? Especially because the decision of what to do was already made up by someone who was somewhere else. Funny how that works.
And now that fellow in the U.K. on the recent video seems correct when he says scurity guards today act like the police and often Are like the police.
And to think, the U.S.A. thrived for hundreds of years without a police force of any kind, how did they do it?
Steel and carved wood.
I like the idea of the “many” puting up signs stating their opinion. Signs, signs don’t you know its enough to be breaken my mind do this don’t do that, can’t you read the sign… So I got a pen and made my own sign….
While I agree that the actions of the security guards were inappropriate in the video and they should have called for uniformed officers to eject the man from the fair, no one has the right to access privately held property to protest. Would you defend his free speech if his group’s anti-Semitic message and crazy conspiritism were being spewed on your front lawn peppered with F-bombs for your kids to listen to? No, you would call the cops and rightly so. perhaps the folks in Alaska are unfamiliar with the LaRouche Cult.Â
As a property owner the state fare grounds regardless of who holds the deed has the right to enforce terms of use. Had the man paid for a booth at the fair and abided by the terms of a booth lease he would have been allowed to say any crazy thing he wanted as long as it was not inappropriate in nature. The fair is not a public access venue, you pay to get in and if you want to exhibit something of a commercial or political nature you pay for the privilege of doing so.
The constitution does not give anyone the right to invade a fair grounds to shout lame political slogans. Now to the assault charges. Nothing this man did could possibly be considered assault. He was manhandled he tried to pull away end of story. So with that in mind the security guards that did so deserve a civil case against them they do not have any legal authority to initiate physical contact in that way. The legal protection that any security guard enjoys in a confrontation like this is only present in regards to self defense and defense of another innocent. If they go tackling a person just standing there they are certainly in the wrong. This is not the same story if you are facing down a police officer, they have the legal authority to physically detain you.  Â
I’m having a hard time with this one. In my mind the guy was stupid to be there. Alaska or not, especially with a weapon.  I suppose he’s so use to wearing it that it’s just common to strap it on. I’m sure he wasn’t looking for trouble but did he expect it?  All the screaming and such seemed a bit theatrical to me. I realize he was trying to make a point but……..   I also totally agree that the dumbass “security guards” are a f*cking joke. How embarrassing to be one of those clowns. They probably sat together at the bar that night talking how they save the world and how powerful they are. They all look like a bunch of fat armchair dudes that landed the big job. Wow! Love the way the other cop stepped in with his badge to show who’s the boss.  He’ll get the big pat on the back from his “brothers”. I hope this goes all over the internet to help make a point.  Maybe it was his point in the first place. Maybe he’s smarter than he looks.
I want a job as a security guard. Some tough guys, that’s for sure.
Comments….. As I viewed that video again, I couldn’t help but laugh at those fat cops. Fat and out of shape. Two big bruts taking down a disabled man. Reminds me of comedy skit about eating at a chinese buffet, but in their case eating too many doughnuts.
“You go home now, you eat too many doughnut, not good. You been here for four hour eating dougnut, you go now!” LOL!
Comments….. BTW, those security guards were off duty state troopers. It’s legal to open carry a firearm in Alaska.
Don’t know if this is true or not but would a cop have a different attitude if the guy didn’t have a weapon? Are the cops use to being around others with weapons? Why were they so aggravated by this guy?  Is this the only way they can get a hard-on?
This was VERY unsetting to watch..
In short, find out WHO the Security was and the off duty cop (sic) and protest at their homes… Publicly expost them for the fascist bastards that they were. I may not agree with Mr. hill OR Larouche…but hey We have free speech and these dangerous characters need exposure.
Better yet…let’s put WANTED POSTERS USING THESE GUYS PHOTOS IN ANY AND EVERY BUILDING IN ALASKA AND EXPOSE THEM.
I will do so today…
ANYONE ELSE. IT IS EASY TO POST WANTED POSTERS OF THESE SO CALLED COPS AND SECUIRTY. IF WE DO IT IN EVERY Alaskan post Office and every place else. They will be exposed!
You must be a resident & age 14 to open carry in Alaska. You must be a resident & age 21 to have a CWL. Freedom comes with responsibility.
Everyone please contact the mayor of Palmer and ask him how they justify this kind of violations to the Constitution. His email address is [email protected].
@ Goldenfoxx
You might want to watch the video again. The lazy possibly hung over man in the video is not disabled he is using a crutch to hold the sign up. The security guards in the video also make another point someone hired them to make sure people on their property abide by the rules they make. I hope when I go to the range next time it isn’t filled up with anti gun protesters with free speech on the brain.
Comments….. getting justice for the demonstrator is the same as any other case. it’s just a matter of money. if the man wants to spend some money on a lawyer, he will win in court. The authorities in this case need to be taken down a notch. what a bunch of brown shirt nazis. I surprised they didn’t use night sticks and pepper spray, as the protestor was obviously a threat to the hundreds of bystanders. what a joke
Comments…..The police acted stupidly.
I live in Palmer AK where this happened. This man has stood on the corner of the Glenn hwy and the Palmer-Wasilla hwy for nearly a year without any incident. The difference is, on the street corner in AK you are allowed to say what ever you want AND carry a gun. The fair is on private property and it is posted on large signs at every entrance NO GUNS! IF this man wants to have a political display at the fair then he can pay the fee like everyone else that has a political display! I agree that Obamanation should be run out of office and jailed but this guy should have given his protest more thought and he should have followed the rules that every body has to follow. I don’t like what the troopers did any more any of you but this guy should have had more tact. NO GUNS AT THE STATE FAIR!
Comments…..oneshotkill
August 30th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
@ Goldenfoxx
You might want to watch the video again. The lazy possibly hung over man in the video is not disabled he is using a crutch to hold the sign up. The security guards in the video also make another point someone hired them to make sure people on their property abide by the rules they make. I hope when I go to the range next time it isn’t filled up with anti gun protesters with free speech on the brain.
———————————-
Â
I’m not sure I follow your post. The man did not hold the sign up with his crutch, because he is disabled and uses a crutch. He was leaning on his crutch throughout the video. He’s not a lazy man, disabled yes. Also, read the article, he’s been shown to be out on the street with the same message.
Â
When you go the range the next time you might be surrounded with thugs that have been portrayed in the video aka Pillsbury Dough cops.
C
The shirt Cindy was arrested for wearing. This photo was taken earlier in the day at the People’s State of the Union with Congress Members Conyers and Woolsey.
Â
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A couple arrested for wearing anti-Bush T-shirts to the president’s July 4 appearance at the West Virginia Capitol filed a federal lawsuit yesterday alleging their First Amendment rights were violated.
Nicole and Jeff Rank were removed from the event in handcuffs after revealing T-shirts with President Bush’s name crossed out on the front. Nicole Rank’s shirt had the words “Love America, Hate Bush” on the back and Jeff Rank’s had “Regime change starts at home” on the back.
Â
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — When school was canceled to accommodate a campaign visit by President Bush, the two 55-year-old teachers reckoned the time was ripe to voice their simmering discontent with the administration’s policies.
Christine Nelson showed up at the Cedar Rapids rally with a Kerry-Edwards button pinned on her T-shirt; Alice McCabe clutched a small, paper sign stating “No More War.” What could be more American, they thought, than mixing a little dissent with the bunting and buzz of a get-out-the-vote rally headlined by the president?
Their reward: a pair of handcuffs and a strip search at the county jail.
Authorities say they were arrested because they refused to obey reasonable security restrictions, but the women disagree: “Because I had a dissenting opinion, they did what they needed to do to get me out of the way,” said Nelson, who teaches history and government at one of this city’s middle schools.
Getting Busted for Wearing a Peace T-Shirt
By MIKE FERNER
Yesterday afternoon, drinking a cup of coffee while sitting in the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center on Chicago’s south side, a Veterans Administration cop walked up to me and said, “OK, you’ve had your 15 minutes, it’s time to go.”
“Huh?”, I asked intelligently, not quite sure what he was talking about.
“You can’t be in here protesting,” Officer Adkins said, pointing to my Veterans For Peace shirt.
“Well, I’m not protesting, I’m having a cup of coffee,” I returned, thinking that logic would convince Adkins to go back to his earlier duties of guarding against serious terrorists.
Flipping his badge open, he said, “No, not with that shirt. You’re protesting and you have to go.”
Beginning to get his drift, I said firmly, “Not before I finish my coffee.”
He insisted that I leave, but still not quite believing my ears, I tried one more approach to reason.
“Hey, listen. I’m a veteran. This is a V.A. facility. I’m sitting here not talking to anybody, having a cup of coffee. I’m not protesting and you can’t kick me out.”
“You’ll either go or we’ll arrest you,” Adkins threatened
omments…..
Comments….. I don’t care what side anyone is on politically, I am against cop thugs arresting people for what they are wearing and for what they are saying. As long as they are not violent and throwing punches at people, they have a right to say whatever.Â
Granted, if signs are posted no guns allowed, then the protester should have respected that. But the cops should have taken his gun away and left him alone to protest. It doesn’t look like the DA is going to prosecute him, and even reduced his bail. The guy is just passionate about wanting Obumma impeached. I see no harm in that, I agree with him.
Our rush to “get tough” on criminals over the last few decades has led us straight into a police state. Â As citizens, we no longer have any “rights”. Â We have the “privileges” that the police allow us to have.
Any cop can commit any level of violence against you, and do it with impunity. Â The cops know that even if they kill you and it was totally unjustified, they won’t even lose one day’s pay over it, much less be prosecuted. Â Don’t bring up the cop in Oakland either……That was the first time a cop had been found guilty in California in 15 years. Â The exception proves the rule.
As long as they are allowed to conduct military style operations and we have laws like the patriot act to strip our rights away, this will be our fate.
RE: Durango Kidd 8-30-10 1:23 Post
DK-
Love your passion & patriotism. However, reality is being cloaked by your idealism. I’m not sure which “America” you are referring to when you say, “Americans are awake.” “Americans are organizing.” “we will adapt, adjust, and empower ourselves,” “Americans will reclaim their heritage…”
I have no doubts that every pull quote above describes you to a Tee. But make no mistake about it, it doesn’t represent the majority of citizens in this country. The country is bankrupt (Federal, State, Municipal levels), 45 Million are on food stamps, the moral backbone of our citizens has been replaced with liberalism & political correctness, the citizens have traded freedoms for “security” (i.e. Patriot Act, TSA, etc), 40% pay taxes to support the other 60%…etc…etc…etc
Hardly a scenario that would inspire our founding fathers. Certainly not a scenario that aligns with the vim & vigor of your post above. You claim their will be an uprising against TPTB, I’m not so sure I agree. The majority of this country are sheeple who won’t get involved when a bully is kicking around the defenseless (the video in this post confirms that), but rather have become desensatized (or worse brain washed) to believe the State is correct and never to be crossed. Â
I see a much more grim scenario where dissenters (i.e. Patriots like you & I) will become the enemies of the sheeple, and there will be an uprising…just not against TPTB, but against you & me.
Feel free to show me where I’m wrong. But be sure to give examples of this massive, patriotic force you’re referring to…
Dad
 Â