didn't see spitting-- but, they arrested our moveon worker

[oldlady]

Friday, after the 5 pm showing, a moveon.org worker was passing out leaflets OUTSIDE the theatre, near the entrance. He was told to leave by a theatre worker (Marcus Theatres) and the moveon fellow said, "yeah, yeah, in a minute" -- so the theatre worker sent out a security guard to hold him while they waited for police to arrive. Odd-- the Red Cross was passing out leaflets INSIDE the theatre for "The Day After Tomorrow"... we asked if they were from moveon.org and they got irritated. We didn't see the arrest, just the guards (another joined) sitting on the curb with the man as we drove out.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

1. Darn!

... and I went hoping to see protesters! and disappointed, not a one! Pretty much white middle to upper class... and other than the poor lady having some type of attack that had to be helped out at the first of the movie...

NOTHING.

[travisleit01]

2. I was almost arrested...

I had a rent-a-cop come up to me Friday night when I was standing outside the theatre passing out flyers with about 6 other people. We were being polite, not blocking any entrances. He told us to leave, that we were on private property. The nearest public sidewalk was across a huge parking lot, and no one even used it. As we were being asked to leave, people were coming up to us asking for flyers. I told one guy, "They're kicking us out," and the guard got pissed, saying he'd call the sheriff for "criminal trespassing."

We managed to hand out more flyers in the theatre and afterwards, when people were so fired up that they were swarming around us asking for the flyers. We also told people in line to go to moveon.org to find out about the house parties.

[NMDemDist2]

3. what city? and the volunteer should have known better

MoveOn was very specific about that.

[oldlady]

4. Madison, WI (nt)

[travisleit01]

6. What pisses me off...

is these theatres that are absolutely HUGE (the one I went to has 24 screens) and they buy the whole block around the theatre for parking. That means that the nearest sidewalks are too far away, and don't have anyone using them because they're outside the parking lot that the theatre owns. So much for the 1st Amendment!

[LTR]

5. The person likely was breaking the law

Many private businesses have anti-soliciting rules. And they specify this. They also reserve the right to tell you to cease doing this, or remove you from the property, or to call law enforcement authorities. The property often extends outside the building. The Red Cross may have gotten permission. Sometimes this works.

We do have a First Amendment, but it does not give people the right to annoy others. People should not be rude when handing out literature. If the theater thinks it is disruptive, then they have the right to tell a person not to do it on their property.

Sorry to disagree with the person who did this, but it is the law. It is not Marcus acting like facists. I'm sure the theater had their hands full with all the activity going on with the movie.

I've done the same thing before (I had my own business and handed out literature at a strip mall, and then told to cease). If they have a 'no soliciting' law, they are within their rights to stop it, so long as they do it in a polite manner. Sounds like they followed procedure.

The key is, if a person wants to distribute literature, do so in a legal manner, and not in a way that will turn patrons off. I often go out of my way to avoid people handing out religious tracts. I'm sure many others are turned off by these tactics.

My idea: Let the movie speak for itself. People will make up their own minds. And from the response I've heard, I'm sure many are doing just that.

Let's not hurt our cause.

[travisleit01]

7. I agree...

However, our group was very respectful of patrons - standing clearly out of the way and politely asking if they would like more info about Fahrenheit 9/11. This movie does speak for itself, but it also fires people up - and we need to channel that energy into action. That's what the house parties tomorrow night will do...

[LTR]

8. You should have gotten permision

If I were a business owner, I would be a bit offended if someone just came on the property and started distributing literature.

There's always a right way to do things, and a wrong way. Unfortunately, many do things the wrong way because they think the First Amendment gives carte blanche. It does not.

You will attract flies more effectively with honey than with vinegar. Tact should always be used in any kind of activism. Otherwise, it does more harm than good.

[travisleit01]

12. I know...

We should have asked first. But they would have said no. So I guess it boiled down to doing what was "legal" or breaking the law for 20 min. and possibly getting a few more people active in defeating Bush.

[ShaneGR]

10. Still private property....

No one asked permission. Someone was asked to leave. They didn't. That's against the law.

[Just Me]

15. When the whole country becomes "private property",....forget "speech".

Is that what's happening?

All media, privately owned, can "can" thought or feelings or opinion?

This country is doing worse than Marxist privatization of property (per the wealthiest), security (per profiteering military), thoughts (via the media and publications), and feelings (advertising "drugs")?

We are fucked!!

[ShaneGR]

9. Private Property... told to leave and didn't

Trespassing.

[mike1963]

11. Was the theater inside a mall, or otherwise segregated from a public space

They can't prevent anybody from electioneering (or similar activity) if it's not on their OWN property. Every public street extends some distance from the curbline as an easement where First Amendment rights apply (well, -should-, I know about the so-called "1st amendment" zones...)

[travisleit01]

13. The theatre I was at

was very segregated from any public space. There was even a bridge crossing over a road that connected the theatre to the parking lot. With 24 screens, the parking lot is absolutely huge, and elevated about the road around it. So no one even used the sidewalks down below near the road.

I guess one way to prevent anyone speaking out near your establishment is to buy the whole block around it and declare it public property.

[shance]

14. Sounds like the moveon volunteer could have been a plant.

I cant imagine that many move on volunteers would balk a request like that. At the very least I think its important to be very skeptical of *liberals* creating unrest, and at this point, I tend to err on the cynical side due to all the patterns of unethical behavior and lies.

Did you watch Farenheit?

Neocons are infiltrating any and all organizations and individuals privacy they deem to be threatening, or whoever they are interested in tracking. Remember the cookie peace protestors and the older man who was being watched at his gym? Thats not an isolated incident. I feel confident that I have been (and probably am being*) monitored and Im sure there have been many others. Why? Because we oppose the policies of the Bush Administration and are being vocal about it.

Dick Cheney asks us to prove how the Patriot Act has been abusing and violating our Civil Liberties.

Of course thats the whole problem, it is BECAUSE of the Patriot Act that makes it almost virtually impossible to prove wrong doing.

So, back to the *moveon* volunteer. Of course it could be legitimate, but considering our current climate and the volatility of this movie, its not wise to stick ones head in the sand of denial.

Implanting a *mole* is a common tactic to infiltrate an progressive organization and try to create a set up so to create negative coverage for that organization. Look at all the set ups ocurring and confusion of the truth taking place. Think thats an accident?

Taking things at face value and accepting the information we get from the media is missing one of the MOST important points of Farenheit 9/11.

[Just Me]

16. Oh, please. Get off.

You must be kidding!!!

Tell me you are.