Photos from West Point "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Protest 4/25

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

This is the one that I managed to get myself arrested at.






The lone counter protester with one of his signs. Yes, he had multiple signs.


Jacob Reitan, in center, leader & co-director of Soulforce. We're discussing an extremely important matter...where to get lunch. We were hungry after a busy morning getting arrested.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. What kind of mark did the counter protester have on his forehead?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. Nothing, aside from the "L" for "Loser." nt

[ThomCat]

3. Awesome!

It's a badge of honor to get arrested for a good cause.
:patriot:
(I've never been arrested.)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

4. It was my fourth. I only appear innocent.

Arrest #1 - Something really stupid. I was really lucky. :smoke::crazy:

Arrest #2 - Two unpaid parking tickets my employer was supposed to take care of. This was the only time I was cuffed and searched. :mad:

Arrest #3 - Missing a court date (never recieved my new date in the mail) pertaining to driving on a suspended license (that I didn't know about because I didn't recieve anything in the mail). God Bless the USPS! Idiots. This was the only time I had a mug shot taken and I had hat hair. My mother was annoyed that I asked the cop if I could get a copy of my mug shot so I could frame it. His answer, "um...well, you can request a copy of your records." :evilgrin:

Arrest #4 - Protesting at West Point. Woohoo! My 1st federal misdemeanor. :hippie::patriot:

[xmas74]

5. I've only been arrested once

and it was for a stupid reason.

Court date was changed for a speeding ticket and I never got the notification. They knew I was planning on fighting the speeding ticket and had made reports about the officer who issued it. (Used to work w/ him when I dispatched in a small town. He made serious sexual advances toward me, I turned him down. He spread rumors about me, I confronted him. Two weeks later he pulled me over and wrote me a ticket when I wasn't speeding, informing me that there would be "more to follow". I reported him, suddenly court was changed and they casually arrested me at home, cuffing me in front of my child, then immediately firing me while booking me.)

At least a protest is a cool reason!

[ThomCat]

7. I hope you had a good lawyer and

kicked thier sorry asses!

[xmas74]

9. Still fighting it.

Most attorneys in my area wouldn't touch it. Called it a case of "He said, She said".

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. Wow that sucks. It's worse than my vengeful cop story.

I was driving to the Rockaway Mall one night to pick up a friend. Really bad thunderstorm with blinding rain (I could barely see a few feet in front of my car). I drive past an open parking spot, so I put the car into reverse and start to back up. The second I start to reverse, an SUV suddenly lays on the horn and flashes it's headlights on. I'm all like, "dude :wtf:." So I pull into the spot and the SUV is still sitting there. I try waiting for the SUV to go away, but it doesn't. The second I get out of my car, it flips it's cop lights on. Again, I'm all like, "dude :wtf:." Local pig jumps out of the SUV and starts screaming, "get back in the car! GET BACK IN THE CAR!" So I get back in my car. He comes over yelling, "didn't you see me behind you?! You could have hit me!" I replied, "Sorry Officer, but I didn't see you because you were tailgating me in a storm with no headlights." He then quietly said, "well, I was going to pull you over anyway for speeding, but I'll let you go this time" and left. I hate driving in heavy rain. It tends to make me a rather slow driver. I was actually going way under the speed limit.

The next morning, I'm driving to work and he pulls me over at the bottom of a very steep hill. I was doing about 30mph in a 25mph, and laying on my breaks heavily. He didn't get me on radar, but said that he was "highly trained in the movement of vehicles" and he estimated I was doing about 50mph (impossible with traffic that time of day). He went off about how he remembered me from the mall, that he was disappointed he could only give me a speeding ticket, etc. He gave me my family PBA card back "as a courtesy, even though you don't deserve it." I tried fighting it in court, even going with my former cop grandfather, and they wouldn't reduce it at all. It was a four point ticket.

[xmas74]

11. Four points-ouch!

But I would have still fought the visual. I know Missouri has to be on radar for them to issue, since they must put down the exact speed.

Don't you hate that small percentage that use their power just to be d*cks?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. I did fight it. The prosecutor (known big d*ck) sided with the cop.

Unfortunately, in Morris County, NJ, it's the large percentage that use their power just to be d*cks. I know there's at least one other person on DU that has agreed with me on Morris County cops before. Other than Rockaway Boro (not the Township), Dover (if you're white) or Morristown (if you're white), they all appear to be d*cks. Oh yeah, and they're really big d*cks in Hackettstown, even though that's Warren county.

I've never had a bad experience with a state trooper though. In fact, I did have this one really hilarious experience with a state trooper.

I'm driving down Route 80 late at night somewhere between Hackettstown (college) and Rockaway (home). I'm doing about 80mph, which is speeding, but on par with most of the other drivers. However, I'm one of the few cars on the highway. I get pulled over. So, here I am, young, short-haired lesbian with a baseball cap pulled down low. State trooper comes up to the side of the car, "now where do you think you're going so fast, young man?" I reply, "I'm really sorry, sir. I'm just heading back from school." The second he hears my voice (obviously not a boy), "M'am, I am very sorry. You just slow down and have a good night, m'am." He didn't even ask to check out any of my stuff. A "thank you, sir" and I was back on my way.

[xmas74]

15. Some troopers are really nice.

I've worked in various police departments and I can tell you that most officers really aren't bad people but they do get suspicious and tend to get worn out w/ the job.

I can also verify that some are total d*cks who don't care. I always thought it took some major b*lls for that officer to write me a ticket and threaten me. I was his main dispatcher-the person who took all his info and made sure that he received any help that he needed.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

22. Like I said...

I've never had a problem with a state trooper, but the local cops around here suck. I seriously think we need more crime or something. Give them something to do and to realize what real criminals are.

[xmas74]

26. Small town officers can be like that.

It's the Barney Fife syndrome. They have nothing to do and want to make themselves big.

Let those officers have only one bullet.

[liontamer]

13. hi!

i missed you on saturday. I had to come late because I was apt hunting. :(

[ThomCat]

19. I'm sorry you couldn't be there.

That would have been great. How is the apartment hunting going?
:hug:

[liontamer]

20. kind of crazy

I'm going through cycles of pickiness and utter desperation.

[ThomCat]

21. I can't imagine the market is good right now.

Especially if you are looking to stay in Manhattan. :(

[liontamer]

6. oddly enough the counter protester picked a really liberal quote

it could just as easily have been yours.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Well, one of his other signs said we were all going to hell. No scripture.

Of course, usually people like him have very little understanding of the Bible.

BTW, it was very nice meeting you on Saturday.

[liontamer]

16. it was nice to meet you too.

I hope I see you around next time you're in the city.

[Squatch]

14. Ummm...how are 4000 cadets going to change federal law?

BTW...I support your cause, just wonder why West Point?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

23. Soulforce did a cross-country protest.

It was of assorted colleges that don't allow gay students and of the military academies (protesting "don't ask, don't tell"). They did get a good media turnout and of the local townspeople (who were supportive of us). Basically, it's a getting our view out kind of thing. The organization is expanding and next year the college tour is going to be twice the size and nationwide sit-ins are planned for 2007 for gay marriage rights and "don't ask, don't tell."

Equality Ride is the current version of the Freedom rides that went through the south to protest segregation. It's based off the principles of MLK and Gandhi. You can check out more info at www.soulforce.org

Also, for what it's worth, West Point was the only military academy that would not allow the group onto the campus to talk to people. A few West Point professors came outside to show their support of us. In fact, the only campus that was so closed-off was Falwell's Liberty University. It wasn't just West Point. It was 18 or so colleges. I went to West Point because it was relatively close to me.

[terrya]

17. You did a good thing. Thank you.

Gay and lesbian people should be able to serve their country openly. "DADT" is horrible policy.

Thanks for making your voices heard against this blatantly discriminatory policy.

:thumbsup:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

24. Not only that but it's expensive.

Since it went into effect, the government has spent $365 million to replace soldiers discharged under that policy. And I believe that currently, the only other UN nation that doesn't allow openly gay soldiers to serve is Turkey.

[6000eliot]

18. Good on ya

for fighting the good fight.
:yourock:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

25. No prob.

It was pretty fun actually.