gemini 0 #1 March 11, 2003 Antiwar protesters trash 9/11 memorial American flags burned and slashed By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer LA HABRA -- Antiwar protesters burned and ripped up flags, flowers and patriotic signs at a Sept. 11 memorial that residents erected on a fence along Whittier Boulevard days after the terrorist attacks in 2001 and have maintained ever since. However, although officers witnessed the vandalism Saturday afternoon, police did not arrest three people seen damaging the display because they were "exercising the same freedom of speech that the people who put up the flags were,' La Habra Police Capt. John Rees said Monday. "For this to be vandalism, there had to be an ill-will intent,' he said. Rees said in order for police to take any action, the owner of the fence would have to file a complaint. Jeff Collison, owner of The RV Center in La Habra, who has allowed residents to add patriotic symbols to the fence on his property, said he just might do that. "Their free speech stops at destruction of private property. If they are allowed to come on my property and burn flags, does that mean I can go to City Hall or the police station and light their flags on fire because that is freedom of speech? To me, this is vandalism,' Collison said. Some residents Monday hung signs criticizing those who destroyed the display. Tracey Chandler, a Whittier mother of four who has maintained the spontaneous memorial since it was created by other area residents soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said she was shocked by the destruction. "They trashed 87 flags, ripped 11 memorial tiles made by myself and my children out of the ground and glued the Bob Dylan song to a sign that said, 'America, land of the brave, home of the free,' ' she said. The Bob Dylan song she referred to is "With God on Our Side,' an antiwar anthem of the 1960s. "It's unbelievable, because there were absolutely no political messages on this fence. It was all about supporting our troops, which could mean bringing them home, and about remembering 9-11.' Blue skies, Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slim 0 #2 March 11, 2003 yeah lets piss on the people that die so we have the right to piss on them! they ought to be tried for treason!!!! >>> A good friend will bail you outta jail... A true friend will be sitting next to you saying "That was fucking awesome!!!' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charliezulu 0 #3 March 11, 2003 That ain't right. Obviously the officers in question didn't know any of the many police and rescue personnel killed on 9-11. P.S. - Where is La Habra? CZ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #4 March 11, 2003 >That ain't right. Obviously the officers in question didn't know any of > the many police and rescue personnel killed on 9-11. On the plus side, the world now knows what assholes these people were. >P.S. - Where is La Habra? About 2 miles north of Disneyland in LA. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #5 March 11, 2003 QuoteP.S. - Where is La Habra? Southern California, near Brea and about 20 miles east, southeast of Los Angeles. La Habra is in Orange County. La Habra Heights is in Los Angeles County. As for the vandals...they'll get theirs. What comes around, goes around.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gemini 0 #6 March 11, 2003 Bill's right! Obviously not all anti-war protesters are like these few. I personally respect your right to your beliefs and will defend your/our rights! But we have to be careful to draw the line so that my rights do not infringe on another person's or cause another person injury. I guess it's called respect with a little humility and consideration. Blue skies, Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MC208B 0 #7 March 11, 2003 Ah, those wacky Californians, gotta love them Of course, we have our own share of whackos up here in OR and WA, but I think they're from CA Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #8 March 11, 2003 That is just terrible......no excuses for behaviour like that.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #9 March 11, 2003 Quote Ah, those wacky Californians, gotta love them Of course, we have our own share of whackos up here in OR and WA, but I think they're from CA Dude...no way! The PacNW has its own home-grown coffee enhance version... I saw many of them when I used to live in Portland. So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slim 0 #10 March 11, 2003 I have lived in both WA and currently in CA either way, I have always been a whack job!it's the people not the place >>> A good friend will bail you outta jail... A true friend will be sitting next to you saying "That was fucking awesome!!!' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MC208B 0 #11 March 11, 2003 Yeah, you're probably right, now I have to go get some goffee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
