Homeland Security threatens fed employee over anti-war signs on his truck

[JohnyCanuck]

Red state, meet police state
By Nicholas Collias

SNIP

On February 7, Scarbrough went to his job like any other day. He is a scientist with a federal agency in Boise--one that is part of the executive branch, ironically--and he parked in his usual spot, just outside of the federal Natural Resource Center on Vinnell Way in Boise, kitty corner to a Wal-Mart, a Lowe's Home Improvement Center and a 21-screen Edwards cineplex. Made up of two large, square brick buildings, the complex houses a variety of federal offices including the Social Security Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, among others. But despite the fact that most of the employees in the complex can, at least officially, consider George W. Bush their boss, Scarbrough has taken remarkably little grief for his strident anti-Bush views and props. Even those who don't agree with his message usually tolerate it.

Once, last year, some conservative-minded ladies objected about the "BUSHIT" sticker in Scarbrough's passenger-side window. Scarbrough and his supervisor reviewed all the federal rules concerning bumper stickers on employee vehicles, and discovered that nothing he had displayed could be considered illegal. But for once, Scarbrough simply removed the sticker. Indeed, his current lineup is quite sparse by his standards, he says.

But on this day, apparently it was still too much.

Around 2:15 p.m., Scarbrough says, he answered his office phone and found himself talking to a man who identified himself as Officer R. of the Department of Homeland Security. (I'm withholding the officer's name; you know, what with Plamegate and all.) Scarbrough was told that he was in violation of the Code of Federal Regulations, the set of rules that govern all executive departments and agencies, and that he was in danger of being cited unless he came out to the parking lot or let the officer come up to his office. Scarbrough chose the first option, and took along a co-worker--also a veteran--and, being an experienced peace activist, a tape recorder. Downstairs, they found two armed officers with "Homeland Security" insignia patches on their shoulders, waiting for them in large white SUVs. Scarbrough informed the officers that he would record their conversation, and what follows is the transcript of that recording.

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_515.shtml

[rodeodance]

1. he puts weekly updates of US troops killed/wounded on his truck:

He is my hero.


For instance, when the Iraq War was looking imminent, not long after September 11, Dwight attached a garbage bag to the back of his truck bed. He splattered the bag and the truck with ketchup and added a sign reading, "This veteran knows that our children are worth more than a $6.95 body bag." When he drove down the freeway, the bag would inflate and appear occupied.

"That one was a little in-your-face and on-the-edge," Scarbrough recalls. "It got a lot of response."

Scarbrough wasn't always so anti-military. During the waning years of the Cold War, he even served five years on a nuclear submarine for the U.S. Navy. But now, instead of trying to stop the spread of "red" states like China and the USSR, Dwight lives in a red state--Idaho. He's the founder and head of Boise's local branch of Veterans for Peace, he leads seminars exposing military recruitment practices in schools, and he--and his truck--are fixtures at nearly every Democratic, antiwar or pro-peace event in town.

While no longer smeared with ketchup, his ride is still hard to ignore. On the back, he tapes weekly updates of the number of U.S. soldiers killed and wounded in Iraq. Beneath that, on a large, white (and also taped-on) placard: "Support our returning troops and their families when they need help: Give them this number: GI RIGHTS HOTLINE: [phone]." On both doors, in bold capital letters: "DEATH IN IRAQ IS NOT A CAREER OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG AMERICANS." Taking up nearly half of the back window: "Veterans for Peace Chapter 117, Idaho." On the driver's side wheel well, also in all caps: "PERHAPS GOD BLESSES EVERY NATION, NOT JUST THE USA." And interspersed between them all, he places a variety of purchased bumper stickers and magnetic ribbons reading, among other sentiments, "Support our Troops: Bring them Home Now," "Support Diversity" and "Honor Vets, Wage Peace."

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Great story. Nothing new here, except the federalization

of police officers.

[xchrom]

2. i love scarbrough! and he's right -- it was

harrasment -- either the hatch ruling is still in effect or it's not.

which is it?

we know that there were other stickers on vehicles -- where were those folk?

[earthside]

4. Wow. What a story.

This is the kind of story that takes my breath away. It is scary ... and it is happening.

I put a link to the original Boise Weekly article on my web site: www.Earthside.com.

This story should serve as yet another warning: this country is moving into fascism; our liberty is in danger!

[JohnyCanuck]

6. Yet many still think, No way it could never happen here.

The Nazification of America

[mike_c]

5. one of the worst aspects of this story is the "secret police" secrecy....

They cover name badges, refuse to give their names or numbers, refuse to publicize their office location or phone, hide behind locked doors, etc. This is rapidly becoming "through-the-looking-glass" Amerika.

[Mr_Spock]

7. Government "by/for the people" my ass. Asshats all of them

Son of a bitching ass holes - not that a Dem administration would like this sort of protesting any better.

[Wheezy]

8. excellent article.

The ACLU is certainly keeping busy these days.

[LiberalEsto]

9. Last week it was DHS vs. library patron

The Washington Post reported last week that two DHS guys hassled a patron at a Bethesda, MD library about what was on his computer screen - possibly porn.

They had no right to do this. The librarian intervened and called police. The DHS were reprimanded, reassigned and sent for retraining, and the Montgomery County Executive raised hell about what they did.

Today it's what you're viewing at the library, or what bumper stickers are pasted on your car. Heaven only knows what they will do next, but this is starting to scare the daylights out of me.

[Gregorian]

10. Trickle down fascism.

Everyone wants a piece of the power. Power to control somebody else. This is as old as history.

But we can be certain of a couple of things- We're broke. The ice caps are melting.

Fuck Bush.

[Roland99]

11. I'd have let them cite me and then gone to court and have it dismissed

No way that could stick.

[rucky]

12. Slightly off-topic: Why do we have Government-issued SUVs?

Gas guzzlers on our tax dollar? Pissah!

[Oilwellian]

13. I wrote to Mr. Scarbrough and he answered me

This article was posted a few days ago so I decided to Google Mr. Scarbrough's name and see if I could find his email address. Indeed I found it and this is what I wrote:

I just read your story posted on a website called Democratic Underground and I wanted to let you know you're a hero with us. I found your email address by googling your name and found your VFP Chapter page.

I just love any man that has a passion for fighting the fascism that's consuming our country. I hope you realize groups like yours are being wiretapped and monitored very closely. I recently read a minute by minute FBI report of a peace group out of Balitmore that was monitored while attending a peace rally in D.C. The description of their cars were given, how many and who were in each car that went to the rally, what their signs said, minute details of their every move. I'm racking my brain trying to remember where I read it...if I remember, I'll be sure to forward it on to you.

Please be careful Mr. Scarbrough and I'm so glad to see you have the ACLU working with you. Best wishes and let's go get those Bush bastards!

Sincerely,
XXX

NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice, and certainly without probable cause. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President.

Here's his response:

Hi Kathryn:

Just wanted to thank you for your support and advice to be cautious. I am, an will continue to be careful. This is a time of fear and doubt for many and I am very fearful for my nation and our citizens that do actually care about real freedom as laid out in the constitution. I hope they are tracking my every move and words because then they are wasting their time on me and not some other poor American.

I am a Navy Submarine veteran and quite fearless in what I am doing to defend our right to FREE SPEECH. As is the case for all veterans, we served for whatever personal reasons to defend the constituition of the United States and it's citizens, not the President (especially a fascist on like GWB) or Congress.

I do have an excellent attorney and law firm that are representing me as needed on a pro bono basis. They all loved this case and are great defenders of the people against BIG BROTHER.

I also liked your statement at the bottom of your message. It is great and very reflective of our times with this fascist regime currently in power. Hopefully we can vote them out of power before they totally ruin our country and relationships with nations and others around the world. We must demand that our foreighn policy related to economic and military abuses be changed.

Anyway, thanks again for your support.

Dwight Scarbrough
President, Chapter 117
Veterans for Peace
Boise, Idaho

I'm not sure if I should post his email address here...it was easy to find it though if you Google his name.

[Az_lefty]

14. I'm in the Nat'l Guard...

and this is why I'm very careful what bumper stickers are on the car I drive to the armory. You never know when there's some over zealous freeper lurking about.
:hide:

[Tsiyu]

15. Finally

I am truly in love.

This man's spirit needs to become infectious.

:headbang:

[JohnyCanuck]

16. kick n/t

[PA Democrat]

17. DHS: Protecting America from... bumper stickers!!!

Glad to see that DHS has wrapped up the terrorist threat, wrapped up all of the cleanup of Hurricane Katrina and can now move on to the critical business of protecting us from bumper stickers.

[Stockholm]

18. GWB's HS troops in action

"Bottom line: My rights are very dear to me. I served my country to defend them," he says. "And one of the things I was defending was free speech. It's the First Amendment for a reason--not the last, not the middle. The first."

Dwight Scarbrough :patriot: