Reuters: Crosses vandalized at antiwar mom's Texas camp site (details)

[sabra]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-16T155556Z_01_SCH657034_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-BUSH-PROTESTER-DC.XML

Crosses vandalized at antiwar mom's Texas camp site

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - A pickup truck ran over wooden crosses erected at anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan's campsite on Monday night, in the latest sign of tension over the peace vigil outside vacationing President George W. Bush's Texas ranch.

Larry Northern, 46, of nearby Waco, Texas, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief in connection with the incident, Crawford Police Chief Donnie Tidmore said.

....

The small, white wooden crosses erected at the site are hand-painted with the names of soldiers killed in Iraq.

....

Michelle Mulkey, a spokeswoman for Sheehan, said protesters were still awake on Monday night when a truck dragging a pipe and chains drove over a portion of the area where the crosses were standing.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Ohhhh...we have a name for this asshole now.

Bad move, Larry...bad move.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Thank you, Reuters! Quite different from AP. nt

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Roland99]

11. Good research!

[Spike from MN]

15. His business is listed as

"Northern, Realtors" and he has an aol email address. Hah! What a joke.

[sepia_steel]

27. I left a loverly message on his business page's

feedback/comments area. Feel free to do the same...

I wonder how many people will be interested in going through you for their real estate needs now that the owner has been arrested for mowing down memorial crosses and US flags? Clearly this company's owner does not support the troops. I predict business will suffer - there's no room in America for abominations like this.

[electropop]

37. My message left at http://wacobusiness.com/

"Your client Larry Northern is a disgrace to Waco. It's wackos like him and G W Bush who make America think you're all nuts. You should dump him."

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[movie_girl99]

5. criminal mischief..that's it? eom

[Modem Butterfly]

14. What else do you think he should be charged with?

[hobbit709]

19. Unfortunately

Extreme Stupidity and Terminal Cranial Rectumitis are not chargeable offenses.

[movie_girl99]

45. i don't really know but it just seems kind of slight to me

he mowed over crosses and flags....i don't think he should go away for life or anything but more than likely he'll only be slapped with a fine.:shrug:

[Roland99]

6. Larry Mattlage and Larry Northern. What's with the TexASSholes names?

[matcom]

7. edited because GOPisEVIL is correct

need to be sure

[GOPisEvil]

8. As long as we're SURE this is him...

...that's all. :)

Just...be sure.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. A good idea. nt

[TexasLady]

9. Nothing hurts folks worse

than hitting them where it hurts. Hope lots of people call and email. I did!

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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[matcom]

20. .

[sniffa]

21. in 2000 he supported the repub candidate for sheriff

Larry Northern said he decided to support Lynch because he was 'honest, straight-shooting and moral.' Northern said Lynch's favorite saying was, 'Don't do crime because you're going to do the time.'

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[sniffa]

26. mo guns

http://www.wacoforsale.com/ltd/review.htm

[sniffa]

30. he graduated from richfieLd high schooL in 1964

[Individualist]

33. Couldn't have

He's 46 years old. Do the math.

[sniffa]

maybe his dad/reLative then

[Individualist]

39. Possibility Reuters got age wrong

and 46 was date of birth rather than age. See www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4366624&mesg_id=4366890. No other confirmation yet, but this would explain how he could have graduated in '64.

[sniffa]

41. his picture is beLow - he Looks oLder than 46

but what do i know. :shrug:

[BrotherBuzz]

34. ????... he's 46 years old...

do the math

[sniffa]

36. thanks again

i didn't read that above

[BrotherBuzz]

44. Turns out your info is good...He was born in 1946

I think this retire realtor/businessman is not going to be sleeping well for a period of time! LOL

[understandinglife]

10. Isn't this a hate crime? Civil rights issue? 1st Ammendment violation?

Just asking....


Peace.

[Modem Butterfly]

16. How is this a hate crime? Whose Civil Rights have been violated?

[understandinglife]

23. Desecration of crosses with names of individuals killed in action ...

... in an illegal war, many of whom are members of minorities, ...

Like I said, just wondering and hoping folk who know the law might offer perspectives.

Thanks for asking.

Peace.

[nookiemonster]

29. I don't know about legal ramifications,

but if anything, it speaks volumes about this man's moral fortitude.

[Modem Butterfly]

32. It doesn't work that way

If the crosses were put up by a religious group or for a religious purpose and were driven over to intimidate that group or prevent that purpose, then it might be a hate crime. But the hate crime law does not protect political speech, which these crosses seem to be (having been put in place by a political group). Moreover, the fact that some of the names on the crosses belonged to people of color also has no bearing on whether or not it's a hate crime.

This guy needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but the hate crimes statute simply doesn't apply here.

[understandinglife]

42. Seems that you and "Horse with no name" disagree. And, it will ...

... be interesting to review the various prayer activities that have occurred since the crosses were installed, the fact that designating the site "Arlington Cemetery West" would indicate a tribute beyond politics, the fact that Cindy has repeatedly stated the action is non-partisan, and has welcomed even those who disagreed with her to visit, including family members of soldiers killed in action and memorialized on the crosses. And, that additional memorial prayer services we're being planned, such as the one Cindy invited Bush to attend at noon on Friday, 19 August.

I appreciate your sharing your insights. Thank you.


Peace.

[Horse with no Name]

12. His crime fits the Texas Hate Crime Act

THIS needs to be pursued to stop any other idiot from doing the same or worse.
IT FITS THE STATUTE!

[KarenInMA]

17. The guys a realtor!!

[gatorboy]

24. One thing they left out.

Larry ran over quite a few American flags as well....

[nookiemonster]

25. So tell me Larry,

how's it feel to be a pariah?

Congratulations on your new title:

RW POSTER BOY

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

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[Whoa_Nelly]

35. Self-delete

eom

[tridim]

31. Here's our man..

From left to right: Larry D. Cohen, Executive Officer; Larry W. Ritter, Vice-President; Malcolm Frasier;.Chief Instructor; Larry C. Northern, President; Larry Fobb, Secretary/Treasurer.

Four Larry's. WTF??

http://www.wacoforsale.com/ltd/hall-of-fame.html

[mark11727]

38. Gawd-fearin' Murkins, all.

[KansDem]

40. Self-deleted

[sepia_steel]

43. What an ass

I hope he's proud of himself and the potential harm he's done to his co-workers' pocketbooks.