New at Reason

Julian Sanchez | November 30, 2005

Jacob Sullum identifies a heroine of the fight not to be identified.

Comments

|11.30.05 @ 10:05AM|#

The Denver H&R folks should invite her to their next gathering! I'm sure you can find her contact info somewhere, and that this champion for privacy won't be at all upset that a bunch of strangers were able to get in touch with her and invite her to consume alcohol! :)

|11.30.05 @ 10:10AM|#

Rosa Parks for the 21st century.

|11.30.05 @ 10:32AM|#

I was really praying that nobody would use a Rosa Parks analogy. Ah well, life is full of disappointments.

|11.30.05 @ 10:34AM|#

Rosa Parks, eh? My hyperbole meter is now pegged.

|11.30.05 @ 11:12AM|#

Number 6,
Adjust your peg.

|11.30.05 @ 11:16AM|#

What are the circumstances on entering the compound? Is there a gate? Is it surrounded by a fence? Does the bus stop and let people off inside? The guards are probably using the id check to look for suspicious activity. If they get on the bus and see a young arab guy with a knapsack, sweating bullets and fidgeting in the middle of winter maybe he's up to no good.

|11.30.05 @ 11:33AM|#

it looks like a suburban office park. and i don't see any gates. http://tinyurl.com/8tdhz

The Wine Commonsewer|11.30.05 @ 12:08PM|#

Enough is enough says Davis. Our rights are being taken away a little piece at a time, and people are letting it happen.

True enough, but it didn't begin at 09-11, it began decades ago and we frogs are just beginning to notice that the water in the pot is getting a little warm.

|11.30.05 @ 12:11PM|#

If they get on the bus and see a young arab guy with a knapsack, sweating bullets and fidgeting in the middle of winter maybe he's up to no good.

I don't think anyone's saying they don't need security. One of the questions is: What useful function does "checking papers" serve? Another is: If I'm not getting off the bus to do business with the feds in one of the buildings, what business of yours is it who the fuck I am?

True enough, but it didn't begin at 09-11, it began decades ago and we frogs are just beginning to notice that the water in the pot is getting a little warm.

Well said, TWC.

|11.30.05 @ 12:25PM|#

Thoreau, she posted here the other day. Sounds like it could be her, anyway.

|11.30.05 @ 2:12PM|#

Don't get me wrong I think the whole "war on Terror" thing is stupid. The only real security comes from not doing things that make us a target (support dictators (Saddam), invade their countries (Iraq) etc.). It does look like there might be a fence around the compound though. Maybe some one in Denver can clarify.

|11.30.05 @ 2:15PM|#

I was really praying that nobody would use a Rosa Parks analogy.

Hey, why not? Besides, Deborah Davis is deliberately trying to stand up for everyone's freedom. Rosa Parks said she was just too damn tired to stand up.

Maybe history books of the future will say, "Rosa Parks was the 'Deborah Davis' of her time."

Anyway, a big "You go, girl!" to DD.

|11.30.05 @ 2:30PM|#

Thoreau, she posted here the other day. Sounds like it could be her, anyway.

Specifically, her probable comment is near the end of the thread. See: "Comment by: Deb Davis at November 25, 2005 04:50 AM"

|11.30.05 @ 3:24PM|#

According to this page http://www.lakewood-colorado.org/business_parks/denverfedcenter.asp
it is a "secured" site. That doesn't mean she should have been arrested though. What were the officers? Denver police, federal marshalls, private security? If the bus was not "on premises" they my not have had the authority to take her into custody. Why didn't they just deny her entry or tell the bus driver he could not proceed until the matter was cleared up.

|11.30.05 @ 5:31PM|#

Although the General Services Administration says the Denver Federal Center is "open to the public," it also asks that visitors "please be prepared to present a valid drivers license and current vehicle registration at the gate." That pretty plainly applies to motorists visiting the complex, as opposed to bus passengers passing through, but I suppose the government would say it constitutes fair warning. See http://rmrpbs.gsa.gov/internet/PBSWebNew.nsf/0/614d81804f6ede5c87256a15006620c2?OpenDocument.

|11.30.05 @ 8:01PM|#

So if I pull up in my car and they ask for id and registration and I say no would they arrest me or tell me to turn around and go away? I can tell you how this is going to end. The charges will be dropped because the cops didn't have probable cause to believe she was involved in a crime and therefore demand her id, but the center will be allowed to continue to check ids at the gate. Maybe have to put up a sign saying so.

|12.1.05 @ 9:05AM|#

Stevo Darkly, Rosa Parks actually planned her disobedience, too. To me that's a plus for both of them.