Feds pay $80,000 over anti-Bush T-shirts

Here sum justice:thumbsup:
i'll bet it makes the neocons blood boil....

A couple arrested at a rally after refusing to cover T-shirts that bore anti-President Bush slogans settled their lawsuit against the federal government for $80,000, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Thursday.

Nicole and Jeffery Rank of Corpus Christi, Texas, were handcuffed and removed from the July 4, 2004, rally at the state Capitol, where Bush gave a speech. A judge dismissed trespassing charges against them, and an order closing the case was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Charleston.

"This settlement is a real victory not only for our clients but for the First Amendment," said Andrew Schneider, executive director of the ACLU of West Virginia. "As a result of the Ranks' courageous stand, public officials will think twice before they eject peaceful protesters from public events for exercising their right to dissent."

White House spokesman Blair Jones said the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing.

"The parties understand that this settlement is a compromise of disputed claims to avoid the expenses and risks of litigation and is not an admission of fault, liability, or wrongful conduct," Jones said.

The front of the Ranks' homemade T-shirts bore the international symbol for "no" superimposed over the word "Bush." The back of Nicole Rank's T-shirt said "Love America, Hate Bush." On the back of Jeffery Rank's T-shirt was the message "Regime Change Starts at Home."

The ACLU said in a statement that a presidential advance manual makes it clear that the government tries to exclude dissenters from the president's appearances. "As a last resort," the manual says, "security should remove the demonstrators from the event."
Print Story: Feds pay $80,000 over anti-Bush T-shirts on Yahoo! News

Bush thinks he can arrest whoever he wants but he cant,not yet anyway.Just by having those 2 thrown in jail says alot of what bush thinks of your constition.

HA HA HA HA!! eg420ne, You have made my night. Im gonna blaze in honor of you later on tonight! ^_^

Wow, my city is mentioned...and wait, I KNOW THOSE PEOPLE! :O

holy shit. XD


haven't heard from them in awhile though. but it does seem kinda stupid, telling people that are just wearing t-shirts to leave >.>

bush going for the touchdown!!! .......DENIED!!!

Perfect: Now I can wear my "Impeach Bush-Cheney" T shirts to all the Bush rallies and hope I get arrested, I could use a little cash. I've worn them everywhere and haven't got a negative comment yet, I've gotten some looks, but no-one has spoken up. I've gotten many positive comments.

god i can't wait to see what fucker is next in office...

Another victory for justice! rock on