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Update on the Jefferson Memorial Arrest
There's been lots of action over the last few days on the arrest of a D.C.-area libertarian for dancing at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
There's now a website run by advocates for Brooke Oberwetter, the arrestee (and an occasional reason contributor). The story has made headlines all over the world. There's also amateur video of the event taken by fellow flash-mobbers, as well as information on a legal defense fund, and links to and critiques of other press coverage.
As I understand it, Oberwetter has been advised by her criminal attorney not to speak to the press right now. I believe they're also still waiting for the National Park Service to release its own surveillance video of the arrest.
TallDave|4.17.08 @ 2:32PM|#
This has the symbolism to be a big moment for libertarians. A great chance to write your Congressperson and ask how the hell we lost the liberty to dance in front of the Jefferson Memorial, of all places.
Elemenope|4.17.08 @ 2:34PM|#
The story has made headlines all over the world.
Clearly, journalists suck everywhere. I mean, c'mon! This is mildly
interesting to people in the US who like to lament their eroded
rights at the hands of an oligarchic techno-cryptarchist
regime...but how in the hell is this even on radar screens outside
the US?
|4.17.08 @ 2:41PM|#
I believe they're also still waiting for the National Park
Service to release its own surveillance video of the
arrest.
I've got $5 that says there was a "malfunction" or "accidental
erasure" of this video.
Bob|4.17.08 @ 2:48PM|#
Elemenope, when we start traipsing about the world killing
people so that they can be free, I can see why it would be
interesting to people in other countries to see exactly what it is
we mean when we say "freedom."
Does this deserve the same outrage as other injustices that happen
every day in this country or around the world? Of course not--it
barely even warrants the modest outrage it's stirred up.
But it's because people have stopped being outraged altogether for
the little injustices--and most people just roll over for
them--that the bigger injustices are made possible.
|4.17.08 @ 2:50PM|#
Things are not like they were prior to 9-11. Everything changed after 9-11. The police have a right and in fact an obligation to protect our freedoms by arresting this dancing fool. He could have been a terrorist.
Taktix®|4.17.08 @ 2:53PM|#
Does this deserve the same outrage as other injustices that
happen every day in this country or around the world? Of course
not--it barely even warrants the modest outrage it's stirred
up.
As I've said to friends since this story came out, everyone is
looking at this wrong, as if outrage is a finite commodity.
I have enough outrage to go around. I'm like the fucking Horn of
Plenty for outrage.
TallDave|4.17.08 @ 2:55PM|#
Taktix,
It's our most important renewable source of energy. Way better than
solar or wind power.
|4.17.08 @ 2:59PM|#
Yes, let's not limit our outrage to the big things. It's like First Amendment litigation--you've got to fight for the losers on the fringes so you don't have to fight for something more important to you, personally.
|4.17.08 @ 3:02PM|#
"I'm like the fucking Horn of Plenty for outrage."
This is such a hilariously perfect description. I hope you don't
mind if I start using it (with attribution to "some guy on a
blog").
|4.17.08 @ 3:07PM|#
Juanita shows up and its not a "drug thread?" Wow! Is she
expanding her horizon on troll-ness? (P.S. it was a she, jackass.
RTFA)
I'm with Taktix on this one, there's certianly enough rage and
outrage in me to go around. (Dude, I love the Horn of Plenty
reference, well done)
Anyway, there is a special amount always in reserve for anything
remotely to do with abuse of power (this case) or injustice (e.g.
"Dr." Hayne).
If I may resort to my younger self for a moment: Fuck those Facist
Pigs.
Guy Montag|4.17.08 @ 3:10PM|#
Kool,
She is just reminding us that she is a "journalist," a requirement
for every thread where she appears.
|4.17.08 @ 3:24PM|#
Um, Juanita was being sarcastic and/or ironic...
right?
I really need to do a better job of keeping up with the
complete cast of characters and the parts they play here.
|4.17.08 @ 3:29PM|#
David(nto),
Juanita is always sarcastic. Well, actually she is the perfect
"right wing" strawman. Waste not your time on her as her tune never
changes and the shrillness never abates.
Guy Montag|4.17.08 @ 3:31PM|#
Um, Juanita was being sarcastic and/or ironic...
right?
She might claim that after-the-fact.
|4.17.08 @ 3:32PM|#
It's, you know. It's a incident that shouldn't have happened. But it's hard for me to get too worked up about. I know we should standup for the "fringes" and "minor" erosions of liberty and everything. But I am more moved by the Corey Mayes and Ryan Fredricks than "cool" beltway libertarians who hangout with the "right" crowd of libertarian/conservative hipsters. But as we have seen with the media repeatedly, the cute blonde chick gets the press.
Guy Montag|4.17.08 @ 3:34PM|#
JCJ,
Are you blind? She is the Rosa Parks of her generation and of the
Libertarian movement.
Henry Bowman|4.17.08 @ 3:41PM|#
News item:
The National Park Service will be replacing the quote around the
Memorial Dome, which currently reads
I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF ALMIGHTY GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY
AGAINST EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN.
with a new version, which reads:
FREEDOM IS ABOUT AUTHORITY, ABOUT THE WILLINGNESS OF EVERY SINGLE
HUMAN BEING TO CEDE TO LAWFUL AUTHORITY A GREAT DEAL OF DISCRETION
ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT.
The Park Service adds that this will make it necessary to recarve
the statue of Jefferson into the visage of Rudy Guiliani, who they
regret is also white and male, but at least is not dead.
D.A. Ridgely|4.17.08 @ 3:55PM|#
The Park Service adds that this will make it necessary to
recarve the statue of Jefferson into the visage of Rudy Guiliani,
who they regret is also white and male not dead, but
at least is not dead white and male.
Fixed.
Henry Bowman|4.17.08 @ 3:59PM|#
Clearly, you are confusing your regrets with that of our glorious government bureaucracy. Naughty, naughty. Expect a courtesy visit from Lawful Authority.
Ska|4.17.08 @ 4:36PM|#
Guy - if you're referring to Depeche Mode, you're probably
right.
"fucking Horn of Plenty of outrage" is an amazing line. Truly
outstanding.
|4.17.08 @ 4:59PM|#
Yes, let's not limit our outrage to the big things. It's
like First Amendment litigation--you've got to fight for the losers
on the fringes so you don't have to fight for something more
important to you, personally.
One might say, "One must fight merely for one's right to party," to
coin a phrase.
Proposed New Plaque Inscriptio|4.17.08 @ 5:18PM|#
We can go when we want to
The night is young and so am I
And we can dress real neat
from our hats to our feet
And surprise 'em with the victory cry
Say, we can act if want to
If we don't nobody will
And you can act real rude and totally removed
And I can act like an imbecile.
Elemenope|4.17.08 @ 5:25PM|#
Hey look, I'm not saying we should limit our outrage. I'm just expressing shock that this admittedly fringe incident stirred up *international attention*. And with all due respect to Bob, I somehow think anything like this appearing in other country's papers has less to do with monitoring the state of freedom in America, and more to do with just plain laziness.
Jennifer|4.17.08 @ 6:05PM|#
Hey look, I'm not saying we should limit our outrage. I'm
just expressing shock that this admittedly fringe incident stirred
up *international attention*
In the capital city of the alleged land of the free, a few harmless
people quietly gathered at a public place were ordered by police to
disperse for no apparent reason, and one of them was arrested for
merely asking "why." Yes, I'd say that's worthy of attention.
Taktix®|4.17.08 @ 7:39PM|#
I don't find it all that surprising. A relatively minor incident
can outshine more egregious events just because they are
symbolic.
Symbolism goes a long way...
|4.17.08 @ 8:21PM|#
David(nto),
Juanita is always sarcastic. Well, actually she is the perfect
"right wing" strawman. Waste not your time on her as her tune never
changes and the shrillness never abates.
Kwix, lay off Juanita, dammit. I think she wants me.
|4.17.08 @ 10:09PM|#
Stevo,
Isn't that what I said?
I envision a day when crack squads of dancers will control every
monument in America. We'll know they've won when a disco globe is
gently hung over Jefferson's head.
bill|4.17.08 @ 10:11PM|#
Don't talk to the press? That's stupid . Her fifteen minutes will be gone before she even has a chance to enjoy them.
|4.18.08 @ 1:29AM|#
Many points cause this to be a wide-spread and followed
story.
1) The celebration in question was to be held in the Honor of
Thomas Jefferson on his Birthday. Jefferson was very outspoken
concerning authoritative and tyrannical governments; as well as The
Rights of the People, not the rights of the State, being of supreme
importance.
2) As mentioned previously, this is in the capital city of the
United States of America, on at a National Landmark to the
principle Author of the Declaration of Independence (and religious
freedom in the United States).
3) In 2002 (September), the D.C. Metro Police, and the FBI, working
in tandem, illegally detained, arrested, and gathered information
from over 400 people in Pershing Park.
A side note: As a result of litigation brought against the City,
Chief of Police, the F.B.I., and the partridge in the pear tree -
the City passed the bill "First Amendment Rights and Police
Standards Act of 2004." I am unsure if the National Park Police are
required to adhere to the requirements of this bill.
4) The person arrested in a known and declared Libertarian. And
only during the times of McCarthy and the current Administration,
does the title "Libertarian" get twisted into something that is the
antithesis of Patriotic.
5) The Media is obviously tired of reporting on McCain said this
about Obama, and Obama says this, and Clinton says this - and they
all agree not to agree, blah, blah, blah.
6) The U.S., and several countries in Europe are grilling China
concerning their Human Rights Abuse records - and here it appears
as though more rights are being sucked from the barren husk that
was once the full and ripe Constitution.
7) The Supreme Court is currently working the 2nd Amendment and its
implied meaning by the Founding Fathers. So, with Second Amendment
viewed as in Jeopardy, the Fourth and Sixth Amendment already
dispatched by the Current Administration (under the guise of "Its
better for the American People," and "In the name of National
Security"), and the Eighth ignored completely (Cruel and Unusual
punishment - see GTMO and Abu Ghraib) - people are a bit learly of
loosing what few they have left.
8) Youtube... Need I say more?
*deposits two cents*
The Democratic Republican|4.18.08 @ 9:33AM|#
Guile: I love the general spirit of outrage, but I would like to
correct a few minor things:
1) Anti-war dissenters have almost always been subjected to harsh
treatment from American society. I reference you to Royalists in
the Revolution; the backlash against the Whigs because of Lincoln
and others who opposed the Mexican-American War; and the lynchings
and official suppression by Wilson of those who opposed WWI.
Things are probably better now than they have ever been in terms of
freedom to protest.
2) The 8th Amendment does not extend to the treatment of
international prisoners of war. Those individuals are covered under
international law, not the Bill of Rights.
I agree with those who see this as a case of something so absurdly
small and insignificant that the true tragedy is that the
authorities would ever cause it to be on the radar at all.
|4.18.08 @ 2:32PM|#
(Originally posted somewhere else. Partly revised.)
INT. JEFFERSON MEMORIAL
Princess Brooke Organawetter is led down a low-ceilinged
hallway by a squad of armored stormtroopers. Her hands are bound
and she is brutally shoved when she is unable to keep up with the
briskly marching troops. They stop in a smoky hallway as Park
Policer emerges from the shadows. The sinister Park Lord of the
Sith stares hard at the frail young libertarian, but she doesn't
quaver.
BROOKE
Lord Policer, I should have known. Only you could be so bold. The
American people will not sit for this! When they hear you've
attacked a celebratory --
POLICER
Don't play games with me, Your Freeness. You weren't on any dancing
mission this time. You passed directly through a restricted public
monument. Several video transmissions were beamed from this
monument by Libertarian hipsters. I want to know what happened to
the videos they sent out.
BROOKE
I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a member of the
American public on a celebratory dance mission to the Jefferson
Memor --
POLICER
You're a part of the Libertarian Alliance and a traitor! Take her
away!
Brooke is marched away down the hallway and into the smoldering
hole the police blasted in the side of the Memorial. An Imperial
Commander turns to Policer.
COMMANDER
Holding her is dangerous. If word of this gets out, it could
generate sympathy for the Libertarians among the public.
POLICER
I have traced the Libertarian hipsters to her. Now she is my only
link to finding their secret base!
COMMANDER
She'll die before she tells you anything.
POLICER
Leave that to me.
Meanwhile, the libertarian droids Free-Threepio and R2-P2
escape to the surface of the planet Reasontooine. R2-P2 plays a
holographic message for a young farmer, Luke Shyblogger.
BROOKE (HOLOGRAM)
Help me, Radleywan Balkonobi! You're my only hope!
Luke and the droids cross the desert to deliver the message to
Balkonobi.
RADLEYWAN
You must learn the ways of PayPal online donation if you're to
contribute
to the princess's defense fund, Luke.
LUKE
Donation? I'm not going to make a donation. I've got to go home.
It's late, I'm in for it as it is.
RADLEYWAN
I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I'm getting
too old for this sort of thing.
LUKE
I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like the
Police Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it
right now. It's such a long way from here.
RADLEYWAN
That's your uncle talking.
LUKE
Oh, God, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain this?
BEN: Learn about the ways of PayPal, Luke.
LUKE: Look, I can post comments on the Internet. I can support you
that way, and maybe someone else will help with the defense fund or
whatever.
RADLEYWAN
You must do what you feel is right, of course.
-----------------------------
SAVE THE PRINCESS, SHYBLOGGER!
|4.18.08 @ 2:35PM|#
Oops -- that one "BEN" is supposed to be "RADLEYWAN," of course. The server hiccupped the first time I tried to "preview" this and I panicked.
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