couple arrested for wearing anti-bush t-shirts
nicole, 30, and jeff rank, 28, of corpus christi, texas, were removed from the president's 04 july rally at the west virginia capitol in restraints after revealing t-shirts with bush's name crossed out on the front and the words «love america, hate bush» on the back. pardon?! i did not know that in the new, kinder, gentler america (ugh!) the peaceful exercise of one's right of free speech and expression as guranteed by the constitution was a criminal offence.well, it isn't, but somebody forgot to tell the white house, the secret service and remind local authorities. the couple was arrested and charged with tresspassing yet a judge determined that city ordinances do not apply to statehouse grounds and the charges were dropped. the city council later passed a resolution, which appeared to have bipartisan support, apologising to nicole and jeff.
ms rank told the charleston gazette that she really appreciated the apology from the city which along with the outpouring of support from residents contributed to a decision to move from texas to charleston. she'd been performing environmental work for the federal emergency management agency in the wake of memorial day flooding in the state and was released from her position after her arrest without getting another assignment. jeff, an unemployed oceanographer, was in west virginia to be with her.
note that the arrest of the ranks' drew protest from the american civil liberties union, labour unions and others who saw it as a clear violation of the couple's First Amendment rights
via seanw. sources: the associated press, charleston daily mail and the carolina channel.
