ACLU offers help to performance artist who was arrested
Published: May 20, 2009
ROANOKE — The Virginia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union is offering to help a woman arrested during a public art performance in downtown Roanoke.
Katherine Gwaltney, 27, was one of about 60 people who sat in front of blank televisions in the city’s market district last week. She was arrested and charged with impeding foot traffic and obstruction of justice.
Virginia ACLU Executive Director Kent Willis says video of the incident appears to show she wasn’t blocking pedestrians.
Willis says the group is willing to argue Gwaltney’s free speech rights were violated, but hasn’t spoken directly with her yet.
Roanoke Police Chief Joe Gaskins says he stands by the officer who arrested Gwaltney.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
aclu, aclu, aclu, aclu…I wish someone would just step on them like the bug that they are.
To be honest, I would appreciate the NRA taken up the causes of other amendments. For example: The Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth.
However, they’re like any larger political organization. It’s all about the DOLLAR!
Upon seeing the video, the kid is a moron for sure, but it sure seems that a mountain was made of a molehill. I see where the cop was coming from with the girl sitting in the middle of the sidewalk (and the fools standing right in front of the “no loitering, no trespassing” sign), but the whole thing does beg the question as to what constitutes an unlawful assembly otherwise.
Standing on a public sidewalk holding a tv? What if you’re by yourself? Would 2 people holding tvs be okay? What if they were not tvs, but paintings, or pictures of aborted fetuses? One person or five? Or what if they were gathered around reading a flier? Just playing devil’s advocate to the slippery slope argument, but you get my drift…
Agreed 100%, but that’s what the NRA is for, right? I don’t blame them for not getting caught up in 1st Amendment causes, either.
Also, this:
PS: look at the video. People had to step over and around these people. All of them cooperated with the officer except this one girl. She first ignored him. Then she made smart remarks and refused to show ID -several times. Next while continuing to refuse to show Id she ran away from him and stepped off the curb into the traffic area. She fought with him and finally resisted arrest. All of this after he repeatedly told her she would be arrested if she did not move. At the very least she was a jerk and at most she endangered others. I hope they use the video to add assault on an officer to the charges.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/204821
It goes to cause, if you can prevent civil liberties from being lost by the support of a right to self defense, it goes to the ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
I’ve always wondered why the American Cancer Association doesn’t help with “gateway” diseases. You could prevent quite a few cases of cancer with that process.
It’s up to the police, not the ACLU, to determine what impedes foot traffic and what doesn’t. Also, there were 60 “artists” and only one was charged -clearly she was in the way and refused to move (obstruction). Her arrest was justified - period. And the fact that the ACLU contacted her and not the other way around, over such an insignificant incident, proves yet again that they are seeking publicity in order to validate their existnence. The ACLU is an outdated organization that is no longer relevant.
She was arrested and charged with impeding foot traffic…
Such injustice! How brazen of a performance artist to interfere with commerce at Dollar General, Wal-Mart, and the like.
I don’t know, Rev… isn’t that kind of like blaming the American Cancer Society for failing to tackle diabetes?
Then that’s where I’m going to disagree with the ACLU.
It may see it as a difference between a civil and political right, but we need to ask those around the world, whom cannot speak, nor live, freely because of the tyranny they’re unable to break free due to disarmament.
The right to defend oneself should be included. For no other reason than it guarantees the other rights against oppression.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement