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Arrests in NC

Someone please tell me this isn't happening.


Local activists Mark and Deborah Kuhn say a Buncombe County sheriff’s deputy invaded their home and used excessive force in responding to a complaint that the couple was desecrating an American flag. The flag, which they’d hung upside down on their porch as a protest, had several statements pinned to it, including a photo of President Bush with the words “Out Now” on it and an explanation that the upside-down flag is a traditional distress signal. (link)

A picture of George W. Bush was also pinned to the flag with the text “Out Now” printed underneath. The Kuhns apparently desecrated the flag by pinning signs to it, not by flying it upside down. (link)

Jonas Phillips is the third resident of Asheville, North Carolina to be arrested in recent weeks for displaying a pro-impeachment sign. (link)

YouTube of the local news

What's going on????

Bruce Elmore, an Asheville lawyer and state president of the ACLU, is representing the Kuhns on the criminal charges. Deborah Kuhn said they do not plan to take civil action against the Sheriff’s Office.
Elmore said his clients were simply practicing expressive conduct protected by the U.S. Constitution and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The First Amendment is meant to protect unpopular speech, not popular speech, he said.
“I’m surprised that a National Guard officer and deputies with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department are not aware that the Supreme Court has declared statutes which criminalize desecration of the flag unconstitutional when the act is involved in expressing a belief, which this clearly was,” Elmore said. (link)

Posted on 08/24/2007 6:55 PM Visits: 88
boz48730: 08/24/2007 7:15 PM
It's weird, I had a friend when I was in the air force that had an american flag patch sewn on the back pocket of his jeans, and it wasn't as a form of protest, and believe me, back then there was a lot of protest, he did it because he was proud to be an american. Anyway, he took all kinds of shit from the powers that be over it, and it's just dumb, DUMB I tell you!
bennbell: 08/24/2007 7:19 PM
There is no right we Americans have that is anymore precious than the freedom of speech. Guard it well!
pixeltopia: 08/24/2007 11:53 PM
this is outrageous. Asheville is one of my fave places on the planet, but that mentality is there, especially with the "good ole boys" Asheville does have the reputation of actually being a very progressive place but obviously the actions of the redneck officers and others involved will cast a shadow over the south once again...
hulahulagirl: 08/25/2007 7:21 AM
more bad news:
Navy veteran blows whistle on illegal gun sales in Iraq (to insurgents, etc.) so he's sent to US military prison for 97 dyas and subjected to "harsh interrogation methods" (forbes.com)
cueballsphotos: 08/25/2007 10:50 AM
These things always crack me up.........while both sides are doing and saying what they feel it is no more then an ego pissing contest and where people stand on flying a flag upside down will not be changed one bit. The Kuhns will be encouraged by people who think like them and so will the sheriff with his friends.
The end of the day nothing has changed and it was far from being national news.
hulahulagirl: 08/25/2007 1:07 PM
oh wow. i couldn't disagree more.
it's ok to arrest people for no reason? because you disagree with them?
hulahulagirl: 08/25/2007 2:49 PM
just to remind everyone: what you do with a flag is protected under the 1st amendment (so far)
the supreme court has ruled on it more than once
cueballsphotos: 08/25/2007 7:09 PM
not talking about the arrest since all I know about it is what the lawyer wrote ......if that happened the way he says then for sure that is not right....I also am not buying what Mr Kuhn has to say about not
hanging the flag in disrespect......he hung it that way to get attention...but again at the end of the day nothing has changed
hulahulagirl: 08/25/2007 7:58 PM
people have the right to protest their government that way and should be able to without having to worry if they'll be arrested
hulahulagirl: 08/25/2007 7:59 PM
he hung it that way to get attention
maybe because so few people seem to be paying attention to what's going on
johnhildreth: 12/06/2007 6:25 PM
it will get worse before it gets any better.
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