Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Constitution Day fracas chronology

Updated Wed. am.

Initial "Free speech abrogated at Constitution Day Parade" summary (with links to news stories) was posted yesterday.

Here's the chronology, as I understand it:
(2nd draft; please send corrections of any inaccurate part(s) of this account)
(Does anyone know if the episode was videotaped, e.g. for NCTV?)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

In Sunday's Constitution Day Parade in downtown Nevada City, the Billionaires for Bush group was followed by Americans for Constitutional Integrity (the "impeach Bush" group), which was followed by KVMR.
[This differed from the planned "parade list" order, which was BfB - KVMR - ACI.]

The standard practice is that when a parade group reaches the announcer's stand, it stops and spends about 2 minutes in the limelight, while the announcer reads the group's name and description (if the group has provided one).

Americans for Constitutional Integrity approached the announcers' booth.

They had provided this statement:
"Americans for Constitutional Integrity - dedicated to protecting the Constitution of the United States; activating the impeachment process defined in the Constitution, and impeaching President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney for high crimes against the Constitution and the Bill of Rights."

Announcer Paul Matson announced the group: "KVMR".

The group said "no, we're not KVMR, we're Americans for Constitutional Integrity - read our statement".

Paul Matson again announced "KVMR".
The group again denied the appellation, milled around and waited, called for Paul to announce the group, for a period of one to two minutes.

Paul then announced
"Americans for Constitutional Integrity - dedicated to protecting the Constitution of the United States"
but did not read the remaining
"...activating the impeachment process defined in the Constitution, and impeaching President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney for high crimes against the Constitution and the Bill of Rights."


ACI did not move forward, and continued to chant "Read Our Statement" (and"Free Speech"?).
This continued for several more minutes.

The watching crowd grew restless, started booing and shouting at the group, and throwing things at them.

A policeman - Dan, a Nevada City sergeant according to The Union, stepped off the curb toward the group, which was directed to move on (but not threatened with arrest) if they didn't), full announced statement or no.

They moved on.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(Announcer and parade president have since apologized for the incident.)
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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous9/13/2006 9:48 AM

    While waiting in line for the parade to start on Sunday afternoon, ACI (#71) and Billionaires for Bush (#69) came up with a plan to stage a mock "class war" in front of the Grandstand involving "attacking" each other with our signs. We wanted a bit of street theater to entertain the spectators. To accomplish this, we needed to be next to each other in the parade line. When it came time to march, ACI immediately followed BfB and therefore "jumped" 1 space in the official line up. We take responsibility for this action, which led to some confusion by the announcers later.

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