Posted on Oct 14, 2015
Is driving through neighborhoods displaying a confederate flag an act of terrorism or guaranteed by 1st amendment rights?
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This much is not in dispute: numerous pickup trucks, adorned with several large American and Confederate flags, formed a caravan and drove into a neighborhood where a birthday party was being held for a child. Levi Bush, who was part of the procession, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in July that the motorcade was making its way back from a nearby event when it drove through the area. Kayla Norton, another member of the group, told FOX5 that party-goers began throwing objects at the trucks and making threats.
People from the birthday party contend that “Respect the Flag” participants yelled racial slurs and flashed guns. Police were eventually called to the scene, though no one was arrested at the time. “Officers on scene were given conflicting statements as to what led up to the confrontation,” the Douglasville Police Department said in a statement. “We do not have any evidence of any shots fired nor were there any reports of a physical altercation taking place.” The indictment says the group threatened “to commit a crime of violence to persons attending a party” with the “purpose of terrorizing those individuals and in reckless disregard for the risk of causing such terror.” The indictment does not specify what “Respect the Flag” participants did or said to that end.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/13/confederate-flag-supporters-indicted-under-georgia-terrorism-law/
People from the birthday party contend that “Respect the Flag” participants yelled racial slurs and flashed guns. Police were eventually called to the scene, though no one was arrested at the time. “Officers on scene were given conflicting statements as to what led up to the confrontation,” the Douglasville Police Department said in a statement. “We do not have any evidence of any shots fired nor were there any reports of a physical altercation taking place.” The indictment says the group threatened “to commit a crime of violence to persons attending a party” with the “purpose of terrorizing those individuals and in reckless disregard for the risk of causing such terror.” The indictment does not specify what “Respect the Flag” participants did or said to that end.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/13/confederate-flag-supporters-indicted-under-georgia-terrorism-law/
Freedom of Speech
Terrorism
Law
Confederate Flag
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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seems that we have become the United States of the Offended. GROW UP. Seems like everyone is looking for a lawsuit lotto.
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My personal opinion is that that flag Heritage and Hate. I don't look down on folks who fly it, I honestly don't care when they do. There's a garrison sized confederate flag displayed on someone's land on 95 south just after Spotsylvania VA. I look at it and see no problem with it. When I would begin to GAF is the moment someone stops and starts using racial slurs or begins talking about how the South did this and that 150 years ago. You have freedom of speech and I get it, but once you cross over into hateful speech, you stand a very good chance of making a debt with your mouth that your a** can't cash. Just fly the rag and be done with it already. "Members of “Respect the Flag” told the Washington Post the group drives around with its flags flying in order to raise money to donate American flags to people who can’t afford them" The hell sense does that make? Fly the confederate flag to raise money to buy the American flag...sounds like a lot of BS to me. I'm going to fly an ISIS flag to raise money so folks who cannot afford to buy the American flag can get one? That just sounds stupid as hell. I'm not sold on the terrorism charge. The article as written leaves quite a few holes in the story and seems to want to inflame the readers. If there was an incident beforehand then we have a legitimate problem. If they purposely drove through a neighborhood knowing that there were going to be a large concentration of minorities with an agenda of "stirring the pot", then they get what they give, and should be happy that's all that happened. Brandishing weapons on the locals? I applaud the locals for just calling the cops and not matching ignorance with ignorance.
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This is why I like going to the local news source - better and more details:
"Melissa Alford, who was hosting the July 25 party, said at the time a convoy of Confederate flag-bearing pickup trucks and their passengers interrupted the celebration with threats and racial epithets.
Cellphone video posted on social media showed Douglasville officers holding back a group of black men and women as at least seven pickup trucks drive off. The trucks’ white passengers were seen riding with Confederate, American and military flags flapping on poles mounted on their vehicles.
Another video showed trucks gathered on a grassy area, and at least one racial slur can be heard. Alford said the trucks drove by several times before parking in the field next to her house."
http://m.ajc.com/news/news/local/confederate-flag-backers-indicted-in-clash-with-bl/nnz2Q/
Big difference between just driving by and parking next to the house.
"Melissa Alford, who was hosting the July 25 party, said at the time a convoy of Confederate flag-bearing pickup trucks and their passengers interrupted the celebration with threats and racial epithets.
Cellphone video posted on social media showed Douglasville officers holding back a group of black men and women as at least seven pickup trucks drive off. The trucks’ white passengers were seen riding with Confederate, American and military flags flapping on poles mounted on their vehicles.
Another video showed trucks gathered on a grassy area, and at least one racial slur can be heard. Alford said the trucks drove by several times before parking in the field next to her house."
http://m.ajc.com/news/news/local/confederate-flag-backers-indicted-in-clash-with-bl/nnz2Q/
Big difference between just driving by and parking next to the house.
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