Man kicked out of town meeting for refusingto stand for Pledge

[rightwinger]

CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

A first amendment activist was escorted from a public meeting in Winter Garden FL for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Forces Man To Leave Public Meeting Because He Won t Stand During Prayer ThinkProgress

A Florida mayor ejected one of his constituents from a City Commission meeting on Thursday because he declined to stand during the invocation and pledge to the flag at the beginning of the meeting.
Winter Garden Mayor John Rees, a nonpartisan official leading an Orlando suburb of about 37,000, was caught on video demanding that an audience member stand for a prayer, which thanked God for “allowing us to live in a country where we’re free to believe, think, and pray.”
The audience member responded, “I don’t believe I have to do that, thank you.” After the prayer, Rees again instructed the constituent, identified by the Orlando Sentinel as Joseph Richardson, to stand for the pledge to the flag as “children have to in school.” Richardson again politely declined.
“Okay. I asked him to either stand or please be escorted out as we do the Pledge,” Rees says in the video. “It’s just not fair to our troops and people overseas, sir.”
City police then enforced the mayor’s demand and Richardson left.

 

[Pennywise]

Part of living in a civilized society is not being an obstinate ass just because. If you aren't crippled, stand up and be quiet.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Good, get the fuck out.

The Dem Party should have had a similar policy with this scumbag. Had Richardson kicked Obama in the ass, I would have voted for him

 

[blackhawk]

I don't really consider that breaking news.

 

[SmarterThanTheAverageBear]

CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

A first amendment activist was escorted from a public meeting in Winter Garden FL for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

This country would be a lot better off if people realized that just b/c they CAN do something, doesn't mean they SHOULD do it.

I'll compare it to open carrying in cities.

Hey fuck heads knock it off, you're scaring people. DUH

 

[The Rabbi]

At least they didnt arrest him fpr speaking up or taze him.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Sieg Florida!!! Sieg!!!

Yoo Vill Stänt für zhe Pledge aahf Allegianz!!!

 

[The Rabbi]

CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

A first amendment activist was escorted from a public meeting in Winter Garden FL for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

This country would be a lot better off if people realized that just b/c they CAN do something, doesn't mean they SHOULD do it.

I'll compare it to open carrying in cities.

Hey fuck heads knock it off, you're scaring people. DUH

Ya know I gotta agree with you here. Smart and legal arent the same thing. People have every right to open carry But they ought to exercise some restraint.
It's what comes of a society that focuses on rights and ignores responsibilities.

 

[R.D.]

Littte big man got his fifteen minutes

 

[Statistikhengst]

Oh, I think the 1st amendment activist was a dick for doing what he did.

Only, he has a right to do it.

Gunnutz should be defending this guy to the hilt.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Littte big man got his fifteen minutes

Jealous, what? Now, go back to your knitting.

 

[Statistikhengst]

At least they didnt arrest him fpr speaking up or taze him.

I suppose we could consider that to be progress.

 

[rightwinger]

What good is a pledge if you are forced to give it?

Any pledge should by definition, be voluntary

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Oh, I think the 1st amendment activist was a dick for doing what he did.

Only, he has a right to do it.

Gunnutz should be defending this guy to the hilt.

The Mayor had the right to have him escorted out too.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Oh, I think the 1st amendment activist was a dick for doing what he did.

Only, he has a right to do it.

Gunnutz should be defending this guy to the hilt.

The Mayor had the right to have him escorted out too.

Only if it is expressly written in that town's ordinances, and then, it could be easily challenged in court and would surely lose.

 

[SmarterThanTheAverageBear]

CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

A first amendment activist was escorted from a public meeting in Winter Garden FL for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

This country would be a lot better off if people realized that just b/c they CAN do something, doesn't mean they SHOULD do it.

I'll compare it to open carrying in cities.

Hey fuck heads knock it off, you're scaring people. DUH

Ya know I gotta agree with you here. Smart and legal arent the same thing. People have every right to open carry But they ought to exercise some restraint.
It's what comes of a society that focuses on rights and ignores responsibilities.

I just don't see the point in actively antagonizing each other to prove some "point"

Re: open carry. They just make all gun owners look stupid and uncaring when they needlessly scare folks.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Oh, I think the 1st amendment activist was a dick for doing what he did.

Only, he has a right to do it.

Gunnutz should be defending this guy to the hilt.

The Mayor had the right to have him escorted out too.

Only if it is expressly written in that town's ordinances, and then, it could be easily challenged in court and would surely lose.

There has to be a "Town ordinance" before the Mayor can act?

The protester was being disruptive. Personally I would have had the family of active service members escort the guy out

 

[R.D.]

What good is a pledge if you are forced to give it?

Any pledge should by definition, be voluntary

He was asked to stand, not recite it.

 

[rightwinger]

Oh, I think the 1st amendment activist was a dick for doing what he did.

Only, he has a right to do it.

Gunnutz should be defending this guy to the hilt.

The Mayor had the right to have him escorted out too.

We shall see

 

[Statistikhengst]

Oh, I think the 1st amendment activist was a dick for doing what he did.

Only, he has a right to do it.

Gunnutz should be defending this guy to the hilt.

The Mayor had the right to have him escorted out too.

Only if it is expressly written in that town's ordinances, and then, it could be easily challenged in court and would surely lose.

There has to be a "Town ordinance" before the Mayor can act?

The protester was being disruptive. Personally I would have had the family of active service members escort the guy out

No, he was not being disruptive. The mayor could just have easily ignored him and proceeded with the pledge of allegiance. Sometimes it is just that simple.