Police Thwart Speech Suppressor
Troy Blakely, supporter of Charter Amendment One, took his place on the corner of 8th Av. and NW 34th Street, and someone else tried to take his signs. The extra-large perpetrator, pictured with the police who nabbed him, told Blakely that he was offended by the signs that urged people to vote for Charter Amendment One, the ballot initiative that will roll back Gainesville’s expansive civil rights that include allowing people to self-identify which sex they are for the purpose of choosing a public restroom on private property.
When I arrived on the scene, I was just rounding the corner to head north on 34th Street and I saw that the police had a person handcuffed by the side of the road. I also saw a political sign waver, and since he was the first I have seen this season, I decided to pull over into Westside Park’s parking lot. It was only after talking to Mr. Blakely that I discovered that he had been accosted by the suspect who was only about 40 yards away. I asked him if the man was being charged with any crime, and he said that he thought he should be because the man was trying to deprive him of his rights.
After a few minutes it was apparent that the police were letting the man go, and I asked the police if the man was being charged. They said no, and they left me immediately, but then they stuck around a short distance away.
In some of the discussions I have had on this blog, I have talked about how there is only anecdotal evidence that women are having to put up with men in local restrooms. That is because the men cannot be charged under this current law, and business owners cannot make the men leave. What happened here, too, is only anecdotal. There will probably not be a police report. There was no arrest, although the man was handcuffed for awhile. And Mr. Blakely was not asked if he wanted to press charges. So, other than the fact that I was a witness to the handcuffs, and have a photo of the man with the police, it’s as if this event never happened.
I want to suggest that before you go out to hold political signs in support of Charter One that you make sure you don’t go alone. You might need a witness. You might also want to have a camera and a voice recorder. And you might also want to have your attorney on speed dial.
Good to hear, I am sure things like this happen all the time without being reported. Keep up the good work. And I support Charter Amendment 1
1Do you want to know whether there was a police report filed? If so, I think you have enough information to find out. You have the patrol car id # (2853) and tag # (2299?5), and you know the time. I’ll bet that’s enough information to get a copy of the patrol log of the officer assigned to that car.
2This amendment has nothing to do with bathrooms per se. It does have everything to do with job protection and equal access to housing. As a woman with a transexual history I use the bathroom appropriate to my gender and have for years. As usual the opposition always WANTS to make it a bathroom issue. Please, don’t be taken in by that argument.
And by the way, I fully support the individual who voiced support for Charter Amendment One and condemn the person who tried to stop him from doing so. Just because I don’t agree with someone does not mean I will stop him from voicing his political viewpoint. He definitely has a right to do so.
Sara Law, Washington DC.
3Sara, the city commissioners made it an issue when they decided they would rather call their constituents homophobes and bigots than make any sort of compromise with their opponents. If they had just done something to address the actual fears that had been brought up, this amendment would never have appeared.
There are a lot of dishonest people (in or connected with our city government) saying that the charter one supporters are just looking for a reason to discriminate against people. The fact is, these people seldom participate in our local government at all. Their voting record is an embarrassment. However, they have been fired up and motivated because of a REAL concern, Pretending they are making it up is the same mistake the commissioners made to begin with.
4The Thomas More Law Center *are* homophobes and bigots though. And they’re the ones behind this.
”
TMLC Agrees to Help Citizen’s Group Overturn City Ordinance Criminalizing Religous
July 31, 2008
Homosexual Agenda – Hamtramck City HallANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center today announced that it will act as legal counsel for a coalition of citizens, businesses, and religions in Hamtramck, Michigan seeking to overturn an ordinance enacted by the City Counsel in June, which gives special privileges to homosexuals and so-called “transgendered” individuals.
…
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center stated, “Radical homosexual activists have taken over city councils like Hamtramck all across the nation. These ordinances end up being used to bully and prosecute Christians who faithfully practice their religion.””
That argument won’t play in Gainesville, so they’re using a different one.
But I am getting off-track here, the original post is about freedom of speech, and the oppressors who would stifle it. As someone who is opposed, passionately opposed, to Amendment 1. I call upon all those who feel likewise to make sure that those in favour of Amendment 1 have their rights protected. Having someone nearby with proven anti-Amendment credentials speaking up in favour of the right to Free Speech is more credible than having someone who thinks such rights only apply when it’s their speech being protected. There are people on both sides who are guilty of that, and it’s up to all of us to oppose that pernicious idea, so contrary to our ideals about Freedom.
I’d even say that those who oppose Amendment 1 have a greater responsibility – because we’re supposed to be upholding those ideals. To oppress others is what the other side is supposed to be doing, not us. If we do it just as badly, we’re hypocrites too, worse than they are.
5“ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center today announced that it will act as legal counsel for “Citizens For Good Public Policy,” a coalition of citizens and businesses, in Gainesville, Florida, formed to enact a civil rights amendment to the City’s Charter. The Charter amendment would prevent the addition of special categories to the City’s human rights ordinance not currently included in the State of Florida’s Civil Rights Act.”
and also from their website:
“The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has acted as legal counsel for the coalition and helped draft the Charter Amendment that would prevent the addition of special categories to the City’s “Civil Rights” ordinance not currently included in the State of Florida’s Civil Rights Act.
The proposed Charter Amendment will prevent the addition of a multitude of bizarre special rights categories that are being pushed by radical groups with a national agenda. ”
These are the people who wrote the Amendment. If you can’t see that there is a very obvious homophobic agenda behind this, I don’t know what evidence would convince you. I’m not saying that all, or even a majority, of supporters are homophobes or bigots. I’m certain they’re not. Merely extremely gullible.
6Agreed Zoe. VERY gullible.
Sara Law, Washington DC
7I am saddened that the opponent of Amendment 1 was so moved by his anger that he went over the line. He ought to experience the full consequences of his unfortunate choice. I can understand the source of his anger though. Having someone publicly advocate the repeal of existing legal protections as well as trying to disenfranchise the public in Gainesville using distortions of fact and fear mongering ought to enrage every fair minded citizen there, although I hope they take their anger out at the ballot box and not against a person. I hope the voters clearly see what the radical right wing minority in Gainesville, with the help of the radical right wing Thomas More Law Center, is trying to force on the majority who voted for the current city commission. NO on Amendment One is the right thing to do!
8Just don’t tar all on the Right with the same brush, Ok? I’m a notorious RWDB and neocon, a political pundit who takes great delight in lampooning Moonbat Lefties. This isn’t a struggle between Right and Left, it’s a struggle between Right and Wrong.
I guess it’s why I feel so strongly about hypocrisy and the stifling of Free Speech. Bad enough when my opponents do it, but worse when it’s “my side”.
9“obvious homophobic agenda”
How are you any different than the people you criticize?
All I can tell is that in recent years the pro-gay political movement has been very successful at defining the terms of the debate. Homophobia, a word coined in 1972 by a gay psychologist, is now the dictionary definition of anyone who disagrees with either the homosexual lifestyle or the political goals of homosexuals.
10How about a “reasonable agenda?” (Males use the men’s room, females use the women’s room.
11People from other continents halfway around the world who have way too much time on their hands should let Gainesville decide what is best for Gainesville.)
I am not a “homophobe,” just a mom who wants her children and their friends to be able to grow up in a healthy, normal community that is not obsessed with sexuality.
I agree with Thomas More Law Center (which is NOT a radical group, at all!) that this issue, forced upon our tolerant community by our radical city commission, gone wild, is “bizarre special rights categories that are being pushed by radical groups with a national agenda. ”