18 arrested in antiwar protest by veterans

[Agent Smith]

Unbelievable

By Tania deLuzuriaga and Charles M. Sennott
Globe Staff / November 12, 2007

More than a dozen members of an antiwar veterans group were arrested yesterday as they protested the exclusion of their message from Boston's Veterans Day parade.

more stories like thisMembers of Veterans for Peace lined up in front of a podium at City Hall Plaza holding antiwar placards, as color guards from Massachusetts military units and JROTC bands from across the state filed into Government Center for a ceremony, sponsored by the American Legion, to honor veterans after the parade. Some protesters wore gags, which they later said symbolized the fact that, while they were permitted to march in the parade, they were prevented from carrying signs opposing the war in Iraq.

"We were exercising our First Amendment rights," said Winston Warfield of Dorchester, a member of the group. "The First Amendment protects free speech, even when you don't agree with what's being said."

When Boston police asked the demonstrators to move from the front of the podium so that the Veterans Day services could continue, they refused. As the Boston Firemen's Band played The Marine Hymn, several protesters were placed in plastic handcuffs and led away.

"Our free speech and civil rights are being abridged here," said Nate Goldschlag, a Vietnam-era veteran who was among those standing in front of the podium. "We are veterans, too, and we should be allowed to express our opposition to this war."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...t_by_veterans/

[jsb889]

I'm not familiar with parade laws, but I can't see why they wern't permitted to carry their signs. I can see moving them from the podium if they were blocking the parade or something like that, but why were they not allowed to be in it with their signs in the first place?

There was a case like this that the Supreme court tried. A city didn't permit some Nazis to make a demonstration in a Jewish community...they fought it, went to the supreme court and won. That court ruling would apply to this case, wouldn't it?

[MOUNTAINORACLE]

Why do you find this unbelieveable--
The same was done in the late '60s and early '70s.


oracle

[DaveM55]

They fought for our rights, they are entitled to exercise them in a lawful manner. Apparently they forgot the latter.

Give war a chance.

[LastManOut]

Give war a chance.

When did you serve?

[DaveM55]

When did you serve?

Jan 13, 1975 - May ?, 1984
U.S. Navy Retired (Medical) or I'd still be in.
Life Member; Disabled American Veterans (Not combat injury)