Ok, so you can't dance near a US monument, and you are not allowed to videotape the events either? IMO they made this worse that it should have been, i'm more upset of how they pushed everyone else away, first with the people with cameras, with one officer saying "If you continue to record you will be arrested", Hmmm.

 

And as someone commented on the irony, with this being inscribed on the jefferson monument walls: "Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than these people are to be free."

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/30/jefferson-memorial-dancing-arrests_n_868719.html

Ridiculous.

I saw one officer that physically went over "the line." The others seemed to be fine. The group was there with the intent to cause a rucus. The officers' job is to make sure it doesn't escalate so I'm good with the arrests.

 

My guess is the officer was incorrect about being allowed to film but that's easy to determine.

 

The guy that kept screaming was a problem and he probably got off easy because of the filming. We talk all the time about showing respect to authorities and that guy didn't do it. He could have easily said what was on his mind without making a scene and by being respectful.

 

Seems like a silly law though. At what point does dancing begin? Does it require music?

Another dumb rule for some dumb reason or another.

 

You can solve many problems by taking the time to listen and talk in a respectful manner.

 

I am sure some of you would be glad if it was someone praying that got arrested though, afraid they would be a public distraction on a public place since most on here think you have to pray in secrecy so no one can see or hear.

I am sure some of you would be glad if it was someone praying that got arrested though, afraid they would be a public distraction on a public place since most on here think you have to pray in secrecy so no one can see or hear.

 

This makes zero sense. What does that have to do with anything at all in this thread?

They were there to cause a ruckus? What were they doing to cause a ruckus? I certainly didn't see anything wrong with what they were doing..

They were there to cause a ruckus? What were they doing to cause a ruckus? I certainly didn't see anything wrong with what they were doing..

 

Depends on what you're seeing. If you just see a guy dancing albeit pitifully then it's nothing. If you see a bunch of people dancing with cameras filming ON MEMORIAL DAY then you have a group of people looking to make a point and hoping to cause a ruckus to make it online. I'm all for their right to protest. It's one of the best things about this country. However, be prepared to pay the price for it. The police had a job to do. One of them went too far. The others did what they were trained to do. Stop it before it got out of control.

 

It's a win-win. A seemingly silly law was protested and caught the attention of the public and the police did their job as they are supposed to. They do not get to choose if they like the law. They enforce the laws. No one got hurt. The point was made. Order was restored.

 

Win win.

By the way it didn't get aggressive until the one protester tried to pull another away from an officer as he was being cuffed. It only takes one to get the police on edge.

The police are the ones who cause a "ruckus." The law is stupid and they proved that by getting arrested. What happens if they dance there for an hour and don't get arrested? Would they have proved their point, or would it have been a waste of their time? I'm guessing they would have just stopped and gone home after they weren't getting any attention. Them getting arrested was exactly what they were trying to prove was wrong. I feel like you should just leave those people alone. They weren't harming anyone..

This makes zero sense. What does that have to do with anything at all in this thread?

 

Do any of his/her posts make sense?

The police are the ones who cause a "ruckus." The law is stupid and they proved that by getting arrested. What happens if they dance there for an hour and don't get arrested? Would they have proved their point, or would it have been a waste of their time? I'm guessing they would have just stopped and gone home after they weren't getting any attention. Them getting arrested was exactly what they were trying to prove was wrong. I feel like you should just leave those people alone. They weren't harming anyone..

 

Obviously, I disagree. It's obvious that these people were trying to make a point. If this ploy didn't work , and as you suggest the police simply ignored them, they would have come back with more people. Why? Because they were not there to dance. They were there to get arrested so that they could make their point. How many should the police ignore? Should the police wait until 100 show up and then really be outnumbered? Stop it now while letting them make their point.

 

It doesn't matter that the law is "stupid."

Obviously, I disagree. It's obvious that these people were trying to make a point. If this ploy didn't work , and as you suggest the police simply ignored them, they would have come back with more people. Why? Because they were not there to dance. They were there to get arrested so that they could make their point. How many should the police ignore? Should the police wait until 100 show up and then really be outnumbered? Stop it now while letting them make their point.

 

It doesn't matter that the law is "stupid."

Agreed. Loved the "disobey" shirt the one guy was wearing at this protest.

The police are the ones who cause a "ruckus." The law is stupid and they proved that by getting arrested. What happens if they dance there for an hour and don't get arrested? Would they have proved their point, or would it have been a waste of their time? I'm guessing they would have just stopped and gone home after they weren't getting any attention. Them getting arrested was exactly what they were trying to prove was wrong. I feel like you should just leave those people alone. They weren't harming anyone..

 

So the police should choose which laws to enforce? That's not their job.

Looked to me like they were trying to start trouble. But of course there is always going to be someone who blames the police for someone else's mistakes.

:lol: Just started watching the second video. As the first two were being arrested for breaking this law, others start dancing right in front of the police. They broke the law on purpose after they were told not to do it.

 

Then one started saying, "You hate America". Another one tried to prevent the police from making an arrest...

 

I see plenty of other things these guys could be charged with. Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, Inciting a Riot are a few that I see.

 

Why again are these actions by the US Park Police disturbing?

 

Oberwetter sued on free speech grounds, but the appeals court ruled last week that her conduct was indeed prohibited "because it stands out as a type of performance, creating its own center of attention and distracting from the atmosphere of solemn commemoration" that Park Service regulations are designed to preserve.