Occupy Protester has been in jail for the last three weeks for writing on the sidewalk with chalk

[Bjorn Against]

ORLANDO, FLA. (CBS Tampa) - A South Carolina man associated with the Occupy Orlando movement was arrested late last year for writing on the ground with sidewalk chalk, and has been in jail ever since.

According to an arrest affidavit provided by the Orlando Police Department to CBS Tampa, Timothy Michael Osmar was found by authorities on Dec. 15 writing on the sidewalks with chalk.

Officer Phil Scaglione and Sgt. Ernest Payne approached Osmar, at which point Payne explained that it is "unlawful for any person to write, print, mark, paint, stamp or paste any sign, notice of advertisement upon the surface of any sidewalk or paved street in the city."

http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/231613/19/Occupy-protester-arrested-for-writing-on-ground-with-chalk

Parents beware! If the law is applied consistently your five year old could face serious jail time for playing hop scotch!

Update: It looks like he was released yesterday and charges have been dropped:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/chalk-wielding-occupy-protester-freed-874312

Now I hope he sues the hell out of the city of Orlando, losing three weeks of his life in jail for a "crime" that is regularly taught to our children is absurd. I hope he gets a great attorney and wins a huge settlement.

[burrowowl]

1. Scandelous!

Shame on Orlando!

[T S Justly]

2. They can detain people, but they can't detain Occupy. K&R (nt)

[EFerrari]

3. Shameful.

[woo me with science]

4. Outrageous.

There is no excuse for this. None. These abuses need to be publicized to the hilltops and slammed down in court. We have to let our government know we are watching closely as a nation and that we will not tolerate it. We must shame and chasten and alarm them, and remind them that they answer to us and the Constitution of the United States, not the other way around.

K&R