See Barbara!!
Just got back from crawford late last night. I am a regular at smirkingchimp but met alot of camp casey frequenters who post here, so I "reactivated" my membership here.
Last year no one knew, when Cindy sat down in that ditch and declared she would wait there for the faux-potus till the end of his vacation, that there would be people driving from Maine, the Olympic Peninsula, Florida and LA to sit with her. The small area became smaller when the landowner said she would assert her property rights and enforce trespass against anyone on the little triangle of land created where a road angled off the main road. It became more dangerouse as the local yahoos sped down the normally lightly traveled roads, honking and swerving.
One night a real estate broker under cover of the night and the haze of alcohol, took it upon himself to try to destroy the symbolic field of crosses and flags, three deep, along the main road. He dragged a bar on chains behind his pickup the length of a football field, ripping out and breaking up about 100 or so of these crosses, some with Crescents or Star of David, which represented specific us casualties. Unlucky for him there was a sheriff traveling toward Crawford, too, who had been alerted by a sheriff called by camp security volunteer. The sheriff pulled over to check on a pickup with a flat, and, low and behold the undercarriage held the evidence, a cross.... The flat was caused by the nails used to anchor the crosses in the ground. Busted!
That incident and the shots fired one evening by a rancher nearby ('dove hunting season starts soon') increased the need for a larger spot, as people kept coming in droves. Complainants were meeting in town to try to get us out, when a relative of the 'dove hunter' offered an acre closer to the bush pig farm. Some folks moved there from camp I, but the sturdy 'sons of ditches' and 'ditch witches' stayed for the remainder of the time, till the faux-potus left the building...
After camp broke up the county passed the ordinance now challenged by 12 'prairie dogs' in November, and the same plus two last Friday. This action was deemed necessary for there to be a legal challenge leading to a perhaps constitutionality issue, as they didn't make it illegal on all the county roads, just the ones around the pig farm.
The arresting officers were courteous, as their past experience with us has been non-violent and even friendly. A few of the sheriffs are really quite supportive and understanding. I am not a cop lover by nature but Sid and John are cool....
After the arrests on Friday, a number of other campers, who were not being arrested, went with signs to support them in front of the jail. At one point an over zealous sheriff thought he could arrest them! A few quick lawyer calls and the situation was sorted out. There were lots of friendly horn honks from cars and semis traveling down Hwy.6. The semi drivers particularly seemed supportive, maybe SIRIUS radio is getting other viewpoints in the mix, or it could be fuel prices.
The Prairie Dog 14 were released after searches, showers, and jail underwear. They got an exuberant reception that night. Some dinner was brought out for them as the food du jour in jail was balogna on wonderbread. I guess the water was bad, for they all were grateful for the water given them by the vigilers outside upon release. They were in high spirits, and had tales to tell. Some of the tales they won't tell!
If these latest arrests don't lead to a challenge, then there will be more, I am sure. So you still have a chance perhaps to be a Camp Casey Prairie Dog.
One story few know is that on the last day, the 'dove hunter,' who by necessity drove frequently by Camp I, told my husband, the usual traffic guy in a reflective vest all day, that he would miss his smiling greeting and that he had to admit that we all had conducted ourselves with dignity. (that is only referring to the camp casey residents, not the media or the counter demonstrators)
I encourage all to try to come there in August. There is a nice camping place in town, too, so plenty of room. Shuttles run from the Peace House frequently.
Hannah Johns
Moline, KS
not afraid of your lyin' eyes, W
more pics and news story:
LoneStarIconoclast-Little Protest On The Prairie