As reported on the Raging Chicken Press last night, a dozen uninsured health care activists staged a sit-in inside the state capitol for medicaid expansion. If Governor Tom Corbett does not expand medicaid, his actions will leave over 700,000 Pennsylvania citizens uninsured and will cause the state economy to lose billions in economic windfalls.
Late last night, the demonstrators were escorted out of the capitol, and afterwards some of the demonstrators went back to governor’s mansion to continue their demonstration. However, while at the Governor’s mansion, a health care activist – AJ Marin – was arrested for “chalking” on a public sidewalk. According to his citation, he was arrested for writing a “derogatory remark about the governor on the sidewalk.” The “derogatory” comment that AJ was arrested for stated: “Governor Corbett has health insurance, we should too.”
To check out the group who is pushing for Medicaid expansion in Pennsylvania, please check out PA Health Access Network
Well, since there is no ordinance about chalking sidewalks in the city, I cannot imagine why they were arrested for that. As for the derogatory statement, that could mean that reports and citizens of all ilk can be arrested, because how many have made derogatory statements about the governor since he has been in office. They better start building bigger jails to house them all, including me.
Sorry, correction “reports” is reporters, and that includes you Mr. Kitchen.
They are building bigger jails. We are speeding downhill, without any brakes.
This, exactly. We live in a corporate/police state, now. Laws mean whatever those with the most money say they mean. What needs to happen is we need to hijack our country and take back what was stolen from us.
freedom of speech is against the law? well toto, we sure ain’t in kansas….
We keep hearing how government show be smaller and we shouldn’t be wasting money. Arresting someone over using chalk on a sidewalk is ludicrous government overreach. Are we going to start arresting kids?
With the referenced to the content of speech, this will not stand up in court. That this constitutionally sworn officer would use his authority to act as a brute suppressor of speech is sickening. He should be ashamed of themselves!
What did the whole chalked message say, not just the part shown?
Looks like a contempt of cop charge.
To address the arrest issue; obviously, this seems to be a clear violation of the activist’s first amendment rights. I would defend a person’s rights to stand up a spew vitriol even if I am philosophically opposed; because, the Constitution of the United States of America has given citizens the right to do so, and those kinds of freedoms should always be protected.
To address the sidewalk chalk message; well, the Governor has a job, do you?! I am all for providing affordable healthcare, and I all for having government regulate/manipulate pricing to make it affordable. And, that is not because I hate capitalism. I don’t. I just think that we as a country have already set precedents that allows for this kind of manipulation (see the agricultural industry) when it can provide a better life for the citizens of this country. However, I don’t agree with free government paid healthcare. If you start giving away free healthcare then you have to put in certain guidelines to control costs and insure that the system is not abused. If we were to give away true free healthcare, then I think it should come with mandatory wellness, dietary, and exercise guidelines to qualify unless you have a condition that is degenerative and prevents it. In my mind, those who abuse their bodies intentionally through the repetitive use of controlled substances should also be disqualified from an free type of health care. No offense, but I don’t want my money going to assist those that are not willing to assist themselves. (Please note that I said “not willing” and I did not say “not able” which is a totally different thing.) If you don’t meet the criteria, then you pay your own way. Some people may think I am evil, but I work for hard my money and I would like to keep it when possible.