I was in middle of writing a post regarding the outrageous decision to allow the right-winged tea baggers to fly the Gadsden Flag at the State Capitol, but common sense finally prevailed.
State Capitol police today reversed an earlier decision to allow the bright yellow "Don't Tread On Me" banner to flutter from the highly visible flagpole after learning that activists had planned a political rally following the flag-raising ceremony.
"It went from being a flag-raising ceremony to a political event," Capitol police Chief Walter Lee said. "They are using it as a launching pad for [candidates for] public office."
Well, no shit Sherlock! Of course the tea baggers were using this flag-raising as a political event...they stated this from the very start!
Although the flag is a symbol of the U.S. Marine Corps, it's been adopted by the right-winged band of misfits and their flag raising had nothing to do with honoring the military...which was obvious with their planned press conference and rally with candidates they've endorsed.
UPDATE: State tea bagger coordinator Tanya Bachand's response is utter nonsense.
Bachand said her group still hopes to work out a compromise. It has agreed to scrap the political rally and press conference if Capitol police permit the flag to hang. "They still said no,'' she said.
But even if the flag cannot be officially flown from a Capitol flagpole, the tea party group plans to have a flag-raising of its own. The group will bring another Gadsden Flag and a small flagpole to the Capitol tomorrow morning and hold the ceremony as planned.
"Since when did liberty become a controversial topic?" Bachand asked. "The important thing is the flag-raising, not the press conference."
Lets get something straight. This sham of an event had nothing to do with Patriots Day or honoring the Marines. If it did, then there would be no need for Bachand to have scheduled her elaborate press conference/political rally complete with her group's endorsed candidates. This entire event had to do with a flag that's been hijacked by The Tea Party movement being raised at the State Capitol.
From the desk of Tanya Bachand, State Coordinator, CT Tea Party Patriots:
I am honored to announce that the Gadsden Flag, better known as the yellow "Don't Tread On Me!" flag, will be raised above the Connecticut State Capitol in honor of the Connecticut Tea Party Patriots on Friday, April 9 at 9 AM. There will be a flag-raising ceremony, followed by a short press conference where tea party candidates will announce that they are running for office in 2010. The flag will remain raised until April 15th. Please join us at the flag-raising ceremony on the South Lawn (front) of the State Capitol in Hartford. Thank you!
Note how Bachand didn't mention ANYTHING about the Marines or Patriots Day in her original press release...
The flag raising had less to do with being patriotic, or the military, and more to do with an attempt by a far right band of misfits to get more exposure for their cause. For anyone to say otherwise is simply dishonest.
Tanya Bachand, state coordinator for the CT Tea Party Patriots said in a phone interview Thursday evening that she was surprised by the controversy the historical military flag has caused.
“I don’t know when liberty and personal freedom became so controversial,” Bachand said.
Again, as Bachand's ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE stated, this had nothing to do with the flag, the Marines, and Patriots Day but rather using the State Capitol to promote her band of misfits.
I am honored to announce that the Gadsden Flag, better known as the yellow "Don't Tread On Me!" flag, will be raised above the Connecticut State Capitol in honor of the Connecticut Tea Party Patriots on Friday, April 9 at 9 AM.
04.25.22 (RADIO): WSHU Latino group call on Connecticut lawmakers to open a Danbury charter school
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
