Rally today in VA. Beach. Corner of Princess Anne and Nimmo for arrested friend

[rainy]

Our good friend and war vet was arrested outside of Thelma Drake's office trying to deliver some signatures. Her office is on private property and the owner came and asked all of the people to leave, about 10 people. The police were called because my friend refused to leave and stated he had a right to petition his representative.

This was a month ago and his court day is today. We are having a rally first at 12:45 and the case will be heard at 2:00pm.

[unhappycamper]

1. Good luck in court today.

Please post the results after the hearing. TIA

[rainy]

2. Thanks I will post later. What is TIA? Are you Truth is All?

[unhappycamper]

3. Sorry - that's shorthand for "Thanks In Advance"

And nope, I'm unhappycamper.

[kaygore]

4. Thank you for the reminder

It was great seeing you there. Too bad that Tom didn't really get his day in court.

Did you write a LTTE?

Mine:

During a peaceful attempt by a small group of Thelma Drake’s constituents on February 22 to present her with letters and petitions at her Virginia Beach office, requesting that she vote against the troop surge in Iraq, the owner of the property called the police and had Tom Palumbo arrested when he refused to relinquish his right as a citizen to present his petition to his representative.

Drake’s office had already locked the doors, refusing to meet with her constituents or to accept the letters and petitions.

Today, March 26, Tom Palumbo appeared to present his case for freedom of speech and assembly—two rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the U.S. and upheld by the Supreme Court. The landlord failed to appear and had provided a false address. The landlord’s calling the police and his threats were hollow ones, so Tom did not get his day in court. The case was dismissed.


But there is a larger issue here: The persistence of Thelma Drake and those who represent her at her Virginia Beach office to respect those of her constituents whose values and perspectives differ from hers.

Accompanied by the media, Tom and a group of supporters again went to Drake’s office with the petitions and letters. This time, the doors were not locked against them but the attitude of those in her office continued to be negative and confrontational and a policeman had been called to provide intimidation.