Is there something we as the Iowa DU community can do?

[CornField]

http://progressive.org/mag_mc071906

Arrest, Death Threat, for Farmer with Upside Down Flag

Dale Klyn raises beef cows in Corydon, Iowa. For the past six years, he has been flying an American flag on his property. But since May 21, that flag has been upside down. He gives two reasons.

First, he’s angry at a judge for allowing a debtor of his to declare bankruptcy. The debtor, who had bought a business from Klyn on a contract and still owed him $282,000, now only has to “pay me six cents on the dollar,” says Klyn. “The judge approved that on the 18th of May. I was pretty upset about that.”

Second, he wants to show solidarity for Terri Jones.

She’s the Iowa mom who has been flying her flag upside down after her son returned from the Iraq War and committed suicide. (Klyn had never met her before.)

The news item goes on to add that he is now being represented by the ACLU because he was charged with disorderly conduct. There were also death threats posted on the internet (message board for Marine veterans).

It makes me sad to hear of anyone exercising their right to free speech being treated this way. Is there something we can do?

[Bluzmann57]

1. Has Mr. Klyn called the police?

If not, he should. Death threats, while mostly chickenshit people just sitting behind a keyboard, should still be taken seriously. It may be 1 in 1000 who would actually carry something like that out, but who knows when that one may show up?

[IA_Seth]

2. I don't know all the particulars....

But I would assume if the gentelman has been charged with disorderly conduct then the cops are involved already!

[rurallib]

3. I see no defense fund listed or any way to contact Klyn

which is probably for the best. So I would say give a contribution to the ACLU at a minimum.
I looked for local newspapers to write an LTTE to and came up empty. No doubt a letter to the DMR or CRG might trigger a story.
Couple other things: I see his postal carrier dropped a note to Klyn. I hope the carrier's been reported. Also hope the clown at the implement dealer was reported.

[CornField]

4. I told my mother-in-law about that

As a former postal carrier, she was miffed. I guess there are only certain circumstances where the carrier is to leave a personal note and a difference of personal opinion isn't one of them.

From reading the article, it seems the DMR has already ran an article about it. Still, LTTE might just stir him up more trouble than he already has.