Post by codeyjordann on Mar 20, 2014 18:12:11 GMT -6
This evening at around 3:30, I took to the streets. Wearing a Guy Fawkes mask sporting all black dress clothes with a tie while carrying a sign that reads, "CHANGE IS COMING APRIL 4TH 2014 - waveofaction.org"
Simple as that. No offensive or controversial issues being shared, just trying to bring a little attention to the cause coming up. I live fairly close to downtown so I walked down and back up Main Street on both sides of the street. I then decided that Crosstown would be ideal to stand. 15 minutes passed and I seemed to have been gaining a good deal of attention totally unmolested by police. (I was standing on the northeast corner piece at crosstown in front of CVS)
I was approached by a fellow from the local newspaper. Asked if I was with anonymous. I told him that we are all anonymous, but I do not partake in the hacktivism. We chatted for a moment, he got my information, info on the rally, and a few pictures. Very nice guy. So hopefully we will see some coverage on our cause in the paper.
Somewhere around 10 minutes after that, I saw an officer standing behind me on the opposite side of the yield (I was standing in the triangular aread between the yield and the intersection) in front of CVS. I made him approach me. (I don't remember his name). The conversation went something like this...
"Hi there, would you mind removing your mask for me?"
"No sir, not unless it's necessary"
"Well for my safety and yours, I would feel better if you removed it."
"Officer, I'm not here for violence. I'm not planning on harming anyone, just spreading a message."
"Do you have any form of identification on you?"
"No sir, I left everything at home"
"Well would you mind if I asked your name?"
"Unless it's necessary, sir. I choose to remain anonymous."
I could tell he was getting frustrated and wanted something out of me
"Well could you at least tell me where you're from or do you not want to tell me that, either?"
"I'm from Iuka, officer."
"Alright. Well what exactly is it that you're doing here"
I went to reach in my pocket to hand him an information sheet that I had made to hand out. He told me not to reach in my pockets again and would not even bother to read my sheet.... so I proceeded to explain to him what the Wave of Action was about.
Afterwards he asked if I was yelling at cars, which I wasn't...just simply holding the sign.
He then told me "Well you do have a right to protest and you aren't harrassing traffic, so I guess I'll leave you alone now."
I told him to enjoy the rest of his day.
He then walked back to CVS parking lot where I noticed he was talking to an unmarked Dodge Charger. 10 more minutes or so passed by and the officer approached once more.
"Do you have a permit to protest?"
"No sir. But I'm not protesting anything so why would I need one."
"Well what you're doing is classified as a protest/parade and you have to get a permit to do so. I'm not sure how much they cost, but you can get one at the courthouse."
"Well sir, like I said, I'm not protesting any cause. My sign is just promoting a website and a date."
"That's just the law in Tupelo and if you don't have a permit, I'm going to have to ask you to disperse or I'll be forced to remove you from the location."
I didn't bother to talk to him any longer, I just walked off. He yelled to ask if I knew where the courthouse was (of course he'd wait until after the courthouse was closed to tell me)...but I continued to walk back to my apartment half a mile away. But what he said didn't stop me from wearing my mask and holding my sign up the whole way back home.
What happened to our civil rights?
