MN's Burnsville's PD try to silence Free Speech on the Corner. (thought the RNC was over)

[annm4peace]

The series of weekly anti-war vigils on the southwest corner of Burnsville Parkway and Nicollet Avenue continued Tuesday, but without “Honk 4 Peace” signs. At left is local peace activist and former congressional candidate Coleen Rowley. Photo by Rick Orndorf
(Coleen is also the ret. FBI agent, Time Woman of the Year, and Whistle blower on the the FBI)

http://www.thisweeklive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10338&Itemid=29

by John Gessner
Thisweek Newspapers

Burnsville police and the American Civil Liberties Union may be headed for a second showdown over horn honking at the scene of weekly peace vigils.

The vigils, held by sign-carrying war protesters, have been a weekly event on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. since August 2007, according to frequent participant Coleen Rowley of Apple Valley.
Protesters gather on the southwest corner of the busy Nicollet Avenue-Burnsville Parkway intersection in the Heart of the City.

Sometimes the protesters, whom Rowley said may number from five to 20, have hoisted “Honk 4 Peace” signs.

Drivers who oblige are exercising free-speech rights, police and the ACLU agree. But police say it sometimes goes too far, in violation of a Minnesota statute that allows horn honking only as a traffic warning.

Edited to conform to DU's fair use policy for copyrighted material - Lithos, DU Moderator

John Gessner is at [e-mail].

[northzax]

1. sorry, seems reasonable

horns on automobiles serve a specific function, as a warning of imminent traffic issues. If you choose to abuse it, and use it 52 times in a block, then you should expect a citation. after all, what's civil disobedience without a potential penalty? the signs have been shown to create a potential hazard, so stop them. seems reasonable to me.

[vadawg]

2. yup nothing worse than when some jackass toots his horn for no reason

you automatically go into fight or flight mode not knowing whats happening, seems that 52 times is excessive and the popo have a good point.

[annm4peace]

5. ahhhh yeah.... but no one has honked it 52 times.

and there are dozens of vigils every single week in MN and there is always honking. I would say about 5-10 honks.. and it is pretty obvious it is for the huge banners on the corner.

these cops are jerks and it is only cause it is near Rep. John Kline's office.

[vadawg]

8. guess you missed this part of the story

Chief Bob Hawkins said this week police intend to mail a ticket to a driver who was recorded on video honking 52 times during the June 30 vigil.

[gratuitous]

3. A violation that creates a public safety situation?

Yeah, right.

[lindisfarne]

4. Democrats speaking out for their views in Burnsville is considered a public safety situation. Very

red-neck, conservative area.

[annm4peace]

6. Good reply.

the police ticketing people started just before the RNC in ST.Paul which is just across the river.

It is the Neo-cons trying to be bully's to dissent.

so will the cops ticket people honking after a Twins game, or a high school football game ?

[lindisfarne]

7. Too far from Twins games for honking. Not sure about football. Burnsville is

at least 15 miles from downtown St. Paul. It's south of the Minnesota River. Minnesota meets up with Mississippi by airport. DT St. Paul is miles downstream on the Mississippi.