A Ron Paul supporter campaigned at a library. Within minutes librarians and Sheriffs confronted him. They told him that he should move out 50 yards from the entrance because people were complaining. The guy told them: “People can’t complain away my right to be there on public property.” Read what happened next. You’ll be shocked.
Interesting day at the main library in downtown Tampa yesterday.
I called and let them know I would be there campaigning for Dr. Paul at 5:30. They said they weren’t sure if that was permitted. I assured them it was and asked them to call me back if there was a problem. They called back. They said I couldn’t interfere with anyone coming and going and implied I was not allowed to be there. I said great, I had no intention of impeding the entrance or doing anything of the sort. They said but…..I said thank you for calling.
I arrived at the library at 5 PM. Just me, my handbills and a few Hope For America signs.
Within minutes a librarian came out and asked if I had a permit. I told her I had a first amendment permit. She proceeded to tell me I was not allowed to pass out handbills in front of the entrance. I informed her that unless she could provide library policy in writing saying I was not permitted to be there, she had nothing more to say to me and she should have a nice day.
I proceeded with passing out info as she stood by dumbfounded.
10 minutes later she comes back with a supervisor and two Hillsborough County Sheriffs.
They told me I had to move out to the sidewalk along the street 50 yards from the entrance. I asked why. One Sheriff said people were complaining. I said too bad. People can’t complain away my right to be there on public property.
The other Sheriff said this was County property and I had to move to the public sidewalk. I informed him County property is public property and I had every right to be there as long as I was not interfering with people coming and going.
I informed them that unless they could provide me with library policy in writing they had nothing more to say about me being there.
I continued to try to pass out info to passersby who seemed afraid they would be arrested if they took the handouts.
Eventually the goon squad went back inside and I continued my canvassing right in front of the huge glass double doors in full view of the jack boot wannabes’.
20 minutes later the Sheriffs came back out. They said they talked to the State Attorney and said I was allowed to be there as long as I was not accosting anyone. I asked if it looked like I was accosting anyone and they said no. I thanked them for their service and continued canvassing. I could see the peeved and brainwashed library staff through the doors arguing with the Sheriffs when they returned inside.
Oooohhh SNAP! Like apples? How about them apples.
The Constitution doesn’t defend itself. Get out to a library and have some fun. But don’t get tazed.
Thanks to Andy for backing me up:)))
Kevin Moore
Organizer
Tampa Ron Paul Meetup
RonPaul2008.com
Hope For America
Be A Part Of It
May our efforts in support of Doctor and Congressman Ron Paul’s Campaign to be the next President of these United States of America be blessed with supernatural productivityand success!
Aren’t you shocked? You expected the guy be tased, admit it! Or arrested. Well, this time the State Attorney was in a good mood. Scary. The Sheriffs had to make a phone call to the State Attorney to not arrest the guy. The phone call justice.
This particular time this particular State Attorney made the right decision. Don’t you see a problem here?
16 responses so far ↓
1 buddy // Dec 21, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Someone should go back, pretend to be campaigning for Rudy, and see if they get the same reaction.
Just curious.
2 Al // Dec 21, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Of course there is a HUGE problem? How come the police do not know the law? How come the LIBRARIAN does not know about free speech?!!!
And for something REALLY shocking, read Naomi Wolf’s book, “The End Of America.” Or just Google some of her inteviews.
3 Mike // Dec 21, 2007 at 2:58 pm
The cops not knowing the law would be one thing, ignorant people exist. Although in this situation they didn’t act rashly to work to solve the complaint from another uninformed individual(the librarian.) He was blessed with luck this time around, these sheriffs are simply some of the good officers still trying to resolve issues in a calm manner.
No Attorney General who likes their job is going to lie about the law to an officer who is dealing with an informed individual who acts calmly.
I sure wish all police officials would act this responsibly.
4 Anonymous // Dec 21, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I don’t get one thing: what if they did have library policy to the contrary (which they surely will soon)? Wouldn’t that policy be unconstitutional?
5 Jonathan // Dec 21, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I’d be willing to bet a million dollars that not one single person complained about the handouts. The crazy librarian saw a supporter of the establishment’s #1 enemy and she tried to squash free speech through intimidation. This is the danger we are facing. These people do not have any respect for the Constitution.
6 Joe // Dec 21, 2007 at 4:48 pm
“Aren’t you shocked?” — thats an understatement. this guy is a true patriot. Balls as big as any of the founders of this country. The cops actually should be commended as well.
7 anonymous // Dec 21, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Yup, I see a problem. You acted like a dick when you didn’t need to. If you moved to the sidewalk, there would be no issues.
8 Jud // Dec 21, 2007 at 9:25 pm
why would intentionally try to annoy people?… I don’t think you’re doing Ron Paul any favours.
9 gerald // Dec 21, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Nice work!! Thats all we need the guts to speak out.
Ron Paul is my guy!
10 Bob C // Dec 21, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Thank you for having the balls to hold your ground.
Anonymous - I think you miss the point,
why is it wrong to hold onto your rights and refuse to back down? Police aren’t right just because they are the police. They don’t make laws…he broke no laws…they tried to intimidate him…he showed fortitude…is that illegal now?
11 Ericson // Dec 21, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Unfortunately nowadays there are usually more laws against what you can do than you would believe. We have to start standing up for ourselves if we ever want to be free again, I think what this guy did was amazing! That reminds me, time to buy one of those shirt liners that prevents tazerings! lol
12 jenkinsbrigade // Dec 22, 2007 at 1:10 am
C’mon, Jud! The guy wasn’t annoying anybody — he was practicing his Constitutionally protected right of free speech. And move to the sidewalk? Get serious! If you won’t stand up for your rights when they ask you to move to the sidewalk, when will you stand up? When they load you into the cattle cars? Wake up, people!
13 RonPaulOrFascism // Dec 22, 2007 at 2:26 am
Fuck this kind of rubbish. I was kicked out of a shopping center parking lot for dropping RP flyers on cars but don’t let bullshit like this stop you.
Put big ass RP signs on your cars - not the little pissant ones. Get all your family and friends deeply involved in the campaign, canvass your neighbourhoods and make sure they are all registered as Republican and organised to vote in the primaries.
We know that RP has the message and the momentum so lets take this all the way.
Let’s make this happen people!!
14 ronpaulpatriot // Dec 22, 2007 at 10:51 pm
You would have given people who don’t know about Ron Paul (the librarians and the police maybe for one) a MUCH more positive image of Ron Paul if you would have just complied! Are you more bout being right or more about showing Ron Paul in a positive light. I know how you feel, but do we HAVE to campaign where we’re looked in a negative way? There are lots of ways to campaign out there without upsetting people. I’m more about getting RP elected than I am about being right, and you may have just turned off some future RP supporters?!
15 NCMarc // Dec 22, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Patriot, I don’t agree with you. The only one being a bad mouth was the librarian. He wasn’t bothering anyone. If he was being pushy, that’s one thing but there’s nothing illegal about campaigning for someone you believe it. It’s called picket law.
16 Zak Maymin // Dec 25, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I am very annoyed when people come to me in a public place and ask for something. Whether they push on me their brochures or ask for money, I hate it. I don’t like to be pushed. I hate it when people stick their flyers on my car and it’s hard for me not to pass my negative feelings on their message.
I wish the law protected my right not to get free speech in my face, but I recognize it is the current law, and learned to live with that. So I don’t mind people complaining about somebody else annoying them on public property. I am one of those people, but I will fight for the free speech right, and I certainly don’t want the police to get involved because somebody find it inconvenient.
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