[parm104]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkHg3M6eUB8

Apparently the law in the U.S. forbids "dancing at the Jefferson Memorial "“because it stands out as a type of performance, creating its own center of attention and distracting from the atmosphere of solemn commemoration.”

I understand the need for respect for iconic figures/heroes of our nations, but the couple in the video barely appeared to be dancing.

Based on the law, I would say the incident that unfolded drew MORE attention and distracted from the atmosphere than did the subtle "dancing" by the couple. Odd that enforcing this particular law actually ended up causing most of the turmoil that the law was originally intended to prevent...

Additional Information: The actions that took place in the video above were staged by certain people in response to an earlier event. These people were in a sense "demonstrators" who decided to take stand against the law that had caused a girl to be arrested in 2008. The girl and her friends decided to go to the Jefferson Memorial at the strike of midnight the day of his birthday to celebrate and commemorate his "spirit." They began dancing and listening to music using their headphones. Shortly after, the Park Authority (the governing body of Police for the Memorial Site) came and told the group to cease from dancing. When girl was approached by an officer, she took out her headphones and asked why she was being told to leave. She was told that she has to stop dancing and leave the premise immediately. She asked the officer why she was being ordered to leave and what law she was breaking. The officer refused to respond and simply arrested her. She was charged with demonstrating without a permit and interfering with an agency function...

Hope this isn't a re-post!

[Vansterdam]

stupid law

[El Bastardo]

"Stop resisting"

*guy starts struggling and rolling into a ball*

"I'M NOT RESISTING" *tries to pry his arm away from the police officer*



People who put on public displays like this, disturbing the public, exaggerating the "oppression" exerted by the police... pathetic

Yeah, its a stupid law and I don't agree with it, but the police clearly informed that couple that dancing at the memorial could lead to their arrest. They continued. There was obviously some shit that happened before the video (why else would they be filming?) but the police didn't start cuffing anyone until they decided to start thumbing their nose at them.
Hell, there was more than one camera out and filming this so obviously this was staged to make the police look like oppressors. Even the title of the video is hyperbole.

Ugh

[rsx]

fucking terrorists

[nns]

Haha, that's awesome.

I sympathize with the first couple, but the others who were fully aware it was illegal, but decided to disregard their better judgement got what was coming to them.

I could only assume that the video could have been made better if the fellow wearing the mirror shades did the robot dance, and right before getting taken down, the cops yell, "NO ONE likes the robot dance!".

[Prolowtone]

Hahaha, you would think that these cops would have something better to do. I guess they got jealous about not being able to 2 step :P

[Gridlock]

It was posted on another forum, and someone there mentioned that it was basically an act to bring attention. They notified the park service that they were going to be doing this there.

Basically a bunch of hipsters looking to get arrested.

Not sure if thats true or not. I didn't care enough to read further.

I hate hipsters.

[The_AK]

should have tazed him

[StylinRed]

"Stop resisting"

*guy starts struggling and rolling into a ball*

"I'M NOT RESISTING" *tries to pry his arm away from the police officer*

Ugh

he was also saying that he had a broken shoulder though




but obviously they went there to stir trouble.. but that's the whole point of this.. they were there to display how this rule/law is retarded and they got their job done



they should have started a Flash Mob there that would have been hilarious

[nns]

Looks like they were warned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jUU3yCy3uI

BTW, the guy who gets body slammed arranged this ahead of time, and even uploaded a video of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5RXqqf9ivc

Yea, that'll really turn the tides in your favor in court.

[Redlines_Daily]

"Stop resisting"

*guy starts struggling and rolling into a ball*

"I'M NOT RESISTING" *tries to pry his arm away from the police officer*



People who put on public displays like this, disturbing the public, exaggerating the "oppression" exerted by the police... pathetic

Yeah, its a stupid law and I don't agree with it, but the police clearly informed that couple that dancing at the memorial could lead to their arrest. They continued. There was obviously some shit that happened before the video (why else would they be filming?) but the police didn't start cuffing anyone until they decided to start thumbing their nose at them.
Hell, there was more than one camera out and filming this so obviously this was staged to make the police look like oppressors. Even the title of the video is hyperbole.

Ugh

It was a peacful protest, actions of police are unjustified in my opinion. The poilce using an opportunity like this to exercise their authority = pathetic. Authorty figures like police have an obligation to use good judgement when enforcing laws, not follow them blindly. I think Some cops(not all) have control issues, so they use their job as an outlet to vent their insecurities..these people should not be police officers.

[StylinRed]

oh it was the other guy who said he had a bad shoulder.. the guy who was complying when he was getting arrested but his retarded buddy had to pull him away ;)

[The7even]

I have to disagree with anyone defending the police on this one. I usually tell the "fukz da police" crowd to fuck off, but what happened in the video is bullshit.

They had no right arresting the couple for just swaying back and forth (or left to right, whatever).

[parm104]

I have to disagree with anyone defending the police on this one. I usually tell the "fukz da police" crowd to fuck off, but what happened in the video is bullshit.

They had no right arresting the couple for just swaying back and forth (or left to right, whatever).

That was my original issue pertaining to THIS video. If I'm walking on the sidewalk where running is outlawed and you tell me "running will get you arrested" so I continue to WALK, and then you arrest me saying "well I told you running was breaking the law," well that to me is simply an abuse of the system.

[nns]

Are we watching the same video? Because to me, any illusion to their unjustified arrest were quickly squashed when I watched the 2nd video I posted. Start watching from the half-way point, and you'll see a lot of what happened in the beginning.

They were warned, they ignored it. The cops didn't make the law, they just enforced it. There were cameras around. Do you think the police thought to themselves "Hey, there's going to be millions of people watching this, I think think this is a great opportunity to make fools of ourselves!". I feel they begrudgingly arrested those people. They didn't want to, and they gave all those people ample warning. Are those the actions of someone who wants to look like a big-shot, power-hungry cop?

What did those protestors accomplish? The great opportunity to have an arrest on their record haunting them for the rest of their lives? No employer is going to give a shit if you did it for "The greater good", an arrest is an arrest. These people are adults? What sort of message are they giving? It's ok to do stupid things if you feel all self-empowered by it?

[TheKingdom2000]

@2:02 was the best. Was not expecting the guy to be body slammed!

I know it's a stupid law, but people should still respect it anyways.
Just don't fucking dance. These guys knew full well what they were doing was "illegal" yet they did it anyways.
I don't feel any compassion for these guys. Especially the big white guy in the white shirt.

[dangonay]

Kokesh is an idiot. He's always stirring up shit protesting and has been arrested/detained numerous times for his "peaceful" protests. He's always careful to pick situations like this to promote his ideals.

He's even stated that protests "should" be civil, but a time may come when civility won't work and "blood may need to be spilled". WTF is that? And people want to defend this asshole?

Now he's planning on going back with an even larger mob. So who's the instigator here?

[kkttsang]

whats consider as dancing? some of the guys in that video were dancing so horribly that if you ask a dance expert (the judges from dancing with the stars) they wouldnt consider that dancing, so pretty much people got arrested for jerking their body in a awkward motion. So if anyone has a uncontrollable muscle problem, they should stay clear of the memorial or they may confuse you for dancing and get yourself arrested.

[Redlines_Daily]

After watching the second video, the situation becomes a bit fuzzy. The older cop seems reluctant to arrest, and I can sympathize with his situation. However, I still believe their actions are unjustified...there is really no reason to breakup this peacful protest..just let the people dance, protest ends, everyone goes home happy.

[vancitylove]

If that wasn't a memorial I would say the cops were unjustified. But because that was a memorial, those people should have shown some respect and took their protest outside.

[parm104]

After watching the second video, the situation becomes a bit fuzzy. The older cop seems reluctant to arrest, and I can sympathize with his situation. However, I still believe their actions are unjustified...there is really no reason to breakup this peacful protest..just let the people dance, protest ends, everyone goes home happy.

I too can sympathize with the officer. You can tell from his facial expression and his calm voice tone that he preferred not to have a conflict. Of course, that may be because he was being filmed, maybe not, who knows.

As for the comment about the protestor's potential for getting a good job in the future, I don't think these are the kind of people who really care about that...At least one of them makes a living off going to these protests/demonstrations...

[GabAlmighty]

Lol, "Park Police". They just mad they're in between rent-a-cop and "real" cop.

[Greenstoner]

like the guy's shirt "disobey" lol

[dangonay]

I imagine these people getting up in the morning and deciding what they're going to protest today.

Kokesh: "What should we protest today?"
Johnny: "How about un-employment?"
Kokesh: "Not bad, any other ideas?"
Jimmy: "Oh, Oh, I've got a really good one - the war in Afghanistan."
Kokesh: "Now that's more like it! Anyone else?"
Sarah: "They don't allow dancing at the Jefferson Memorial."
Kokesh: "Are you fucking kidding me? How dare they step on my God-given constitutional right to dance where I want and when I want!"
Kokesh: "Let's roll boys, we've got an injustice to bring to the worlds attention!"

What a bunch of fucking losers.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[TheNewGirl]

I think the point of this is that this is a memorial to freedom. In fact it says ON THE WALL several statements damning those who remove personal freedoms from others arbitrarily.

This was protesting someone who was arrested for quietly dancing at the memorial at midnight when it was pretty much empty. And the courts upheld this arrest even though the police still have yet to cite an actual violation or law that is being broken in this case.

I get what's going on here. In America, and here in Canada, we've sold our liberty and freedom because our politicians have sold us some bullshit fear and it's lead to some fucked up shit that needs to be brought to light. Too many people on both sides of the boarder aren't even aware what their charter protected rights are any more to be able to see when they're being violated. :(

This kind of crap, while it seems small and unimportant when you look at it in an isolated incident, really isn't. It's telling of the direction our countries are going in and this is the kind of stuff that happened in other countries on their road to strict, authoritarian regimes.

Someone can't dance at a memorial to personal freedom, because apparently it's a distraction from the somber contemplation of the site (despite the fact that this is a public place and not illegal). Someone tell me how that's different and less arbitrary then women being told they have to cover their flesh because it's also a distraction from somber contemplation?

Scary shit is happening in our world. Pay attention, don't brush it off or there will be no one around to protest when it's YOUR freedom being stripped away.

From the Jefferson Memorial:


Almighty God hath created the mind free...All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens...are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion.


[We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men.

Maybe with that in mind you can see why so many American people would find this particularly offensive?

[gdoh]

why cant they just listen to the cop in the first place maybe strike up a conversation why they cant dance in the memorial and im sure the cop agrees with them but they have to make a big scene and then the cops have to their job....why would you dance at a memorial any ways of all the places?

[dangonay]

@TheNewGirl:

You sound exactly like the typical protestor. I'm surprised you didn't mention the "slippery slope" we're on as well.

If I were to believe your BS, then I should expect that in 10 years I'm going to be living under a more oppressive government with hardly any rights at all.

Problem is, protestors have been saying this since the 60's. Always talking about how bad things are and where they're going, and here we are today and we're not living under some police state that was predicted we would be.

So why should I take anything you say any more seriously than someone from the 60's, who also predicted that the "slippery slope" we're on would result in me losing all my personal freedoms? What makes your prediction any more accurate than the countless other predictions over the last 50 years?

[rexsomnii]

if theres a law, then your bound to break it.

if theres no law then they wont do it

[TheNewGirl]

dangonay>

You think it's BS?

The lay down and take it "my government knows what's best for me" mentality is the same shit that lead to Nazi Germany and the Authoritarian regimes in the middle east.

It is a slippery slope. And I think it's completely ignorant to dismiss people who are both exercising their democratic rights and holding their governments accountable.

That's our job in a democracy.

If you wanna be a passive sheep that's fine with me but don't bitch when the world is not the way you want it.

[Gridlock]

The key is, there is a proper way to change laws and an improper way.

The proper way is to elect and lobby your elected representatives that you believe the country is going to become Nazi Germany if you can't do the robot in front of TJ.

The improper way gets a bunch of hooligans in jail.

Let's see how many we can name without wikipedia:

1) Riots downtown during Olympics
2) Marc Emery wanting to change pot laws by breaking them

Ok, I was hoping for a bigger list.

Yes, civil disobedience brings change. Reference the civil rights movement. Berkeley.

IF THE BIGGEST PROBLEM REGARDING OPPRESSIVE GOV'T REGIMES IS THAT YOU CAN'T DO THE ROBOT IN TJ'S HOUSE, THEN THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.

I doubt you'll have people singing "let my people go" on that one.

[TheNewGirl]

But these weren't hooligans. They didn't damage anything. They didn't hurt anyone. They launched an entirely peaceful protest that's done it's job.

We're here talking about it. THAT was the point. :)

But this wasn't just about dancing. Just like the shitty shitty internet laws that Harper is talking about aren't about the internet really.

We can never allow our government to take away Charter protected rights. Because as soon as we do. We've lost them all. That's the way law works. Precedent is everything.

[Gridlock]

Yes, I agree with you.

And, like all good freedom fighters and civil disobedients, they were arrested for the laws that they were knowingly breaking in attempt to bring notice to the issue.

Thus, the media brings attention to the issue. And they go through the court process and reach out to their elected officials for assistance. Then the ACLU or can. equivalent sends lawyers to take their case.

And soon, we can have an awesome version of Journey's Don't Stop Believing sung by the cast of Glee danced to in front of Thomas Jefferson and Naziism will be stopped in its tracks.

[dangonay]

dangonay>

You think it's BS?

The lay down and take it "my government knows what's best for me" mentality is the same shit that lead to Nazi Germany and the Authoritarian regimes in the middle east.

It is a slippery slope. And I think it's completely ignorant to dismiss people who are both exercising their democratic rights and holding their governments accountable.

That's our job in a democracy.

If you wanna be a passive sheep that's fine with me but don't bitch when the world is not the way you want it.

Wow. Just like protestors you make some pretty big assumptions.

First off, I don't "lay down and take it" when I see something I don't like. And I'm not some passive sheep.

That's the other problem with the protestor mentality. They assume that the average citizen doesn't care about issues or is too "un-educated" to understand them. They feel it's their "responsibility" to hold the government accountable.

Please keep up the good work, because I'm too fucking stupid to bring about change or voice my opinion on something I don't like happeneing. ThanK God I've got some protestors willing to do it for me, because without them I'm going to end up living in "Nazi Germany".

[NSX]

Cop was respectful and professional.
Its not as peaceful as you think. Those people were all verbally, and passively resisting, which is sometimes, more annoying than anything.


No comment on the demonstrating issue....but...
I guess you gotta bring awareness somehow.

[Redlines_Daily]

...Its not as peaceful as you think. Those people were... passively resisting, which is sometimes, more annoying than anything.



:speechless: Wut...

[TheKingdom2000]

The key is, there is a proper way to change laws and an improper way.

The proper way is to elect and lobby your elected representatives that you believe the country is going to become Nazi Germany if you can't do the robot in front of TJ.

The improper way gets a bunch of hooligans in jail.

Let's see how many we can name without wikipedia:

1) Riots downtown during Olympics
2) Marc Emery wanting to change pot laws by breaking them


I'm pretty sure Marc Emery didn't break any laws in Canada. Correct me if i'm wrong.
And it is pretty bad that our own government sold Marc out. That was a bitch ass move right there.

[darkfroggy]

It's not only a law... but also an issue of respect.

You don't dance at memorials, just as you don't wear bright, flashy clothing at funerals. Would you spit on someone's grave, just because you can?

What the protestors did was inexcusable, their actions are totally inappropriate for what is expected in a MEMORIAL. They were making life harder for the officers, who were only just doing their job. They were KINDLY asked to stop making a commotion, at which point they decided to IGNORE them and proceed to be dicks.

Freedom =/ Ability to be stupid where you please

[TheNewGirl]

I wanna see a Glee Episode at the Jefferson Memorial. Because that would be full of awesome.

Dragonay>

I don't think you're stupid at all. I think you have well thought out arguments that make sense from your perspective. I just really think there's a different way to look at it that you're not seeing.


What if it was the particular make and model of car you drive. Some police officer didn't like it and pulled someone over and arrested them. Then they challenged it in court going 'hey I didn't brake any laws' but the courts, with out making a law banning the car, decided 'it's a distraction on the road the officer is right'. And declared that anyone driving that car would now be arrested (despite the fact that there's no on the books law against this).

So... what do you do?

Do you drive the car any way cause that's just a stupid and ridiculous ruling?

Do you put a sheet over your car and suck up the loss of your right do drive your own vehicle and go by a bus pass or a new car because it's the law?

Do you try and legally challenge the rule because it's not fair and frankly makes absolutely no sense?

Do you hope other people who don't drive the type of car you do will see that this is stupid and do something about it?

[rsx]

Are we all forgetting that this is a fucking Memorial?

These are just fucking idiots who just want to have a few moments of internet fame decide to 'peacefully' dance...what's next? tap dance at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

[NSX]

:speechless: Wut...


What dont you understand? Passive Resistance?

[darkfroggy]

I wanna see a Glee Episode at the Jefferson Memorial. Because that would be full of awesome.

Dragonay>

I don't think you're stupid at all. I think you have well thought out arguments that make sense from your perspective. I just really think there's a different way to look at it that you're not seeing.


What if it was the particular make and model of car you drive. Some police officer didn't like it and pulled someone over and arrested them. Then they challenged it in court going 'hey I didn't brake any laws' but the courts, with out making a law banning the car, decided 'it's a distraction on the road the officer is right'. And declared that anyone driving that car would now be arrested (despite the fact that there's no on the books law against this).

So... what do you do?

Do you drive the car any way cause that's just a stupid and ridiculous ruling?

Do you put a sheet over your car and suck up the loss of your right do drive your own vehicle and go by a bus pass or a new car because it's the law?

Do you try and legally challenge the rule because it's not fair and frankly makes absolutely no sense?

Do you hope other people who don't drive the type of car you do will see that this is stupid and do something about it?

That makes no sense at all.

[dangonay]

So they wanted to protest to show solidarity for the woman arrested back in 2008. Well, here's how I'd go about it:

- Show up to dance at the memorial.
- When the police show up, and tell you that you could be arrested, leave quietly.
- Post up your Youtube video showing you were about to be arrested, but complied with the police to avoid making a scene. The point is that if you dandced then you would be arrested. You don't need to get arrested - an officer telling you will if you don't leave is good enough.
- At the end of the video, ask the viewer if they're upset with the idea of getting arrested for dancing, and mention the details of the case of the young woman from 2008,
- Have a fund set up for a lawyer for the young woman where viewers can send donations to help cover her legal expenses from this "outrageous" incident.

If you get donations, then the young woman is helped immensely by having a lawyer go to bat for her in court.

If you don't get any donations, then that means nobody gives a fuck about your stupid little cause, and you wasted time trying to protest it in the first place.



What they did accomplished nothing useful for this young woman. Did they raise money for her case? Are they helping her out with something tangible? No, they got arrested just like she did and this little protest will be forgotten when the next Youtube sensational video gets posted up tomorrow.

[Gridlock]

I'm pretty sure Marc Emery didn't break any laws in Canada. Correct me if i'm wrong.
And it is pretty bad that our own government sold Marc out. That was a bitch ass move right there.

I don't know about Canada, but when it comes to drugs and the US, I would have suggested that he not ship those seeds.

Our gov't sells out anyone that has a warrant in the US, as we have a long standing extradition treaty with them.

They ship our folks here too.

Ole Marc should have done some research before becoming a revolutionary.

[parm104]

I wanna see a Glee Episode at the Jefferson Memorial. Because that would be full of awesome.

Dragonay>

I don't think you're stupid at all. I think you have well thought out arguments that make sense from your perspective. I just really think there's a different way to look at it that you're not seeing.


What if it was the particular make and model of car you drive. Some police officer didn't like it and pulled someone over and arrested them. Then they challenged it in court going 'hey I didn't brake any laws' but the courts, with out making a law banning the car, decided 'it's a distraction on the road the officer is right'. And declared that anyone driving that car would now be arrested (despite the fact that there's no on the books law against this).

So... what do you do?

Do you drive the car any way cause that's just a stupid and ridiculous ruling?

Do you put a sheet over your car and suck up the loss of your right do drive your own vehicle and go by a bus pass or a new car because it's the law?

Do you try and legally challenge the rule because it's not fair and frankly makes absolutely no sense?

Do you hope other people who don't drive the type of car you do will see that this is stupid and do something about it?

As much as I want to agree with you, I think you are either mistaken on the facts on the incident, OR you aren't able to coherently make your point here...

Your analogy with the car does not make sense at all. There is a KEY difference between your analogy and the actual case involving the girl in 2008. The difference being that there IS a law in place, banning distractions from the memorial whereas you're saying in your car analogy, no such law exists, the officer simply made a decision and enforced it as if it were a law.

In the case of 2008, there was a law in place, the officers attempted to enforce it but didn't go about the MOST EFFICIENT way of doing so. They acknowledged that there were people at the Memorial who were breaking a law, a law that may not be known to the reasonable person. (Don't bring up an ignorance is not an excuse to breaking the law argument here.) That being said, the Officers approached the girl and told her to leave...At that point she said she would leave, only if she was enforced to do so by the law and if she was, she wanted to know which law she was breaking...Instead of providing an explanation or a reasoning for her removal, the Park Police simply arrested her...THAT is the wrongdoing on their part...

So again, your analogy makes no sense to this case because nothing along the lines of your analogy occurred in this particular case.

[rsx]

I wanna see a Glee Episode at the Jefferson Memorial. Because that would be full of awesome.

Dragonay>

I don't think you're stupid at all. I think you have well thought out arguments that make sense from your perspective. I just really think there's a different way to look at it that you're not seeing.


What if it was the particular make and model of car you drive. Some police officer didn't like it and pulled someone over and arrested them. Then they challenged it in court going 'hey I didn't brake any laws' but the courts, with out making a law banning the car, decided 'it's a distraction on the road the officer is right'. And declared that anyone driving that car would now be arrested (despite the fact that there's no on the books law against this).

So... what do you do?

Do you drive the car any way cause that's just a stupid and ridiculous ruling?

Do you put a sheet over your car and suck up the loss of your right do drive your own vehicle and go by a bus pass or a new car because it's the law?

Do you try and legally challenge the rule because it's not fair and frankly makes absolutely no sense?

Do you hope other people who don't drive the type of car you do will see that this is stupid and do something about it?


I had to reread your stupid car analogy. I fucking hate it. It doesn't make sense at all!! Damn it.