THE COPS UP IN CRAWFORD, TX

[Keseys Ghost]

THE COPS UP IN CRAWFORD, TX

We loaded up the car Thursday after work and drove ten hours to Waco, TX where we had booked a room. After three weeks in the ditch last August, followed by a few months of camping at home courtesy of Hurricane Katrina, we still aren’t yet willing to voluntarily sleep in a tent. After a few hours sleep, we were off down the road to Crawford to reunite with our friends from the Summer of ’05.

We got to the Triangle, the site of Camp Casey I, just as the fourteen volunteer arrestees began the non-violent civil disobedience. Our daughter and part time paralegal memorialized the event:



The deputies were pleasant, and, no kidding, even friendly towards the arrestees, many of whom they knew from last summer’s uprising and the Thanksgiving arrests. It was almost serene. Everyone arrested was home for dinner.

There were several arrests of Bush supporters over the weekend, but only three in which we were directly involved. The first was an alleged Marine veteran who appeared on a Harley upon Crawford Peace House property Easter morning using foul language in front of our children and threatening a blind veteran who dared protest the war. The other two were seventeen year old girls who circled the house repeatedly showering people arriving for the Easter service with profane language and obscene gestures.

A couple of quick calls to our friends from last summer who wear badges and all went to the slammer on Easter Sunday. We had promised one another that we weren’t going to work on this visit to Camp Casey, but the knuckleheads make it too much fun; it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Law enforcement friends advised that there were other Hitler Youth arrests on charges of obstructing a public highway and drug possession. Good Americans, every one.

The police and sheriff’s deputies continue to act with kindness, tolerance and professionalism. They didn’t ask Bush to come to their community and attract all of this weirdness, but they have always been about the coolest cops with whom I’ve ever had the pleasure of working.

Who would have thought?



“Anita Garcia” with Crawford Police Officer David Fulford
Crawford Peace House
Easter Sunday, 2006



That’s me with my buddy, Lt. Sid Franklin of the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office
Camp Casey II
Easter Sunday, 2006

It was a great weekend.

ONWARD!

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Great pics and post. Thanks!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Kudos to the cops!

They have shown that professionals can be friendly. I think a lot of the attitude is attributable to the respect they were given last year by the peace activists.

[unhappycamper]

3. Excellent pics!

Thanks for posting. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Mythsaje]

4. Sound like good people...

Glad they're the cops involved in all of this.

[Keseys Ghost]

13. No kidding

Last August could have been very ugly. In fact, I'm still amazed that it wasn't.

The cops had a lot to do with the Peaceful Occupation of Crawford, Texas.

Perhaps unwittingly, they were, in many ways, the true heros of the uprising.

[Mythsaje]

32. It's good to know that some still take the title

of Peace Officer seriously.

[SeattleGirl]

5. Great story (and pictures!)

:thumbsup:

[uppityperson]

6. Thanks for the pictures, glad all worked out well, Sid still there

Greetings to the group of you too.

[lonestarnot]

7. Thoroughly enjoyed your post!

[NoPasaran]

8. Thanks for posting!

Last night I was talking with a young friend of mine who was up there last week and got to meet Daniel Ellsburg... or as he now calls him, "Dan". I am soooo jealous!

[Keseys Ghost]

9. "Dan" and others prior to arrest

"Dan" is in the blue shirt

[NoPasaran]

11. Thanks again!

:hi:

[Keseys Ghost]

10. Back in the ditch with Ann Wright

[understandinglife]

12. Elegant. Recommended. Congratulations.

Peace.

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. Would e-mail to the police and sheriff's departments

be in order, thanking them for their respect and civility?

[Keseys Ghost]

15. Post your messages to them here

I sent Sid Franklin a link to this thread - I'm sure he'll pass it around

[DancingBear]

17. Hi'ya KG

I remember speaking with Sid when I was on "parking detail" at the Peace House last summer. Please tell him how much I appreciate the way he and his fellow officers handled EVERYTHING - they are some of the most honorable police officers I have ever met (and I've met my fair share). :)

Hi to Annie, and I'll hope to see you in the ditches this August, unless America comes to its senses first.

DB

[Keseys Ghost]

20. Onward!

See you in August!

[uppityperson]

16. Hey Sid, thank you very much for being decent and civil

appreciate that you and your buddies are so.

[DancingBear]

18. Hi uppity!

If we go back in August are you gonna bring the massage chair??

(If you do, I'll bring money) :)

[uppityperson]

19. Hi DB.Could be possible, but busy getting UppityJr off to college

At least TX was hot and DRY, vs hot and humid.

[katinmn]

21. I recognize the second cop from a photo I now consider a classic!

What a nice and patient looking guy.:)

You took this last August, I believe.

I wish I could have gone back this past weekend but at least I get to read all the reports and pictures.

[Keseys Ghost]

22. I wish I could take credit for that photo, but I didn't take it

The little girl is Ella. I'm betting that her mom, Alex, got that great shot. Or maybe Anita Garcia gets the credit. I can't remember.

It is a classic.

Thanks for bringing it out of the archives.

Great memories of a great action.

[Keseys Ghost]

23. Excellent Coverage Here:

http://lonestaricon.com/2006/CurrentIssue/16/news03.htm

[Keseys Ghost]

24. Proud2Blib's photos:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x952579

[EFerrari]

25. Thank you both. Let's all be safe and grateful.

Much love to KG and AG,

Beth

[Fleshdancer]

26. I really feel for the Crawford Police

They have been respectful, nice and very fair throughout this entire ordeal but now their hands are tied because they have to enforce the ridiculous laws that were passed for the sole purpose of giving protesters a hard time.

One of my most fondest memories of last August was watching the Crawford police turn their backs on the protesters in order to give their full attention to the counter protesters on the other side of the road.

I hope everyone here on DU takes a moment and think about these officers the next time they bash my state. ;)

[Keseys Ghost]

27. Amen!

Speak truth to power!

Speak truth to people!

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. Damn I didn't know your screen name!

Now I know who Kesey's ghost is!

Your pics are awesome!!!!

Loved hearing about those proud Amurcans who were disrupting Easter. Was that loudmouthed blonde on the horse back on Sunday? How about her buddy the angry cowboy? He was scary. What kind of a twit paints stupid things on a horse's ass?
Don't answer that . . .

[Hissyspit]

33. Totally cool.

Thinks for the report and photos.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. Whoa! Some guy was threatening Tom?

I like Tom. I hope they threw the book at that guy. What kind of a coward goes after a blind guy?
Don't answer that either. . .

[Keseys Ghost]

30. Tom was sitting with my daughter at the moment

He was safe. We were watching.

I oppose the war, but now that redneck knows I ain't no pacifist.

Protect the soul at all costs.

We move...

ONWARD!

[0007]

31. Great photos!