....
Sunday May 6
We arrived at the Supreme Court Building at approximately 9:30 am. I
introduced myself to the people who were already setting up the posters and
podium. One dedicated group had brought a utility van completely
outfitted for the maintenance and assembly of demonstration equipment. At
precisely 9:45am, President Bush and his motorcade drove past
approximately 15-20 feet away from our demonstration site. If he
looked our way, he saw people assembling signs and meeting each
other. ....
At around ...1:00
p.m. ...demonstrators were
gathering in large numbers and starting to march at random along 2nd Street,
the road that separates the Supreme Court Building from the Capitol
Building.
At this time, I took partial control of
the marchers and using a bullhorn, began to shout slogans and messages to
all who would hear. Within a very short time, the chant "JAIL for
Judges" became the rallying cry. I pointed the bullhorn at the
Capitol Building and implored visitors and tourists to join our
demonstration. Instantly, crowds of people were drawn to the street, and
many crossed over and picked up a sign.
Several foreign tourists asked me about
our demonstration. They seemed very impressed about what we were doing. I
personally made the acquaintance of one Russian and one Nicaraguan, and
there were many others. A Japanese reporter took a J4J card and asked
if she and her crew could film us. Naturally, I said yes.
As the chanting became more aggressive,
more D.C. policemen arrived and positioned themselves on the steps of
the court house. I counted ten policemen in the front, but more were
probably guarding the sides and rear of the building. Later, there
would be threats of arrest from these policemen and verbal
confrontations about our J4J T-shirts. All during this one hour
period prior to the speeches, tour buses and bands of foot tourists paraded
by us, taking thousands of photos. At least one high school tour group
received a lecture from their teachers on the right to demonstrate, and
several students asked me about our cause. I simply told them that if
we do not act now, then they will inherit our failures.
At 2:00pm, rally organizer David Grossack
addressed the crowd of approximately 115 demonstrators. He made
several comments in addition to a general introduction. One of
David's most important points was the mention that he and his group are
fighting corruption in the courts by taking up the causes of those who have
been bankrupted by attorneys and then left to finish their cases without
representation when the money ran out. He got a good reception from
the crowd. He then introduced me as the first speechmaker and plugged
J4J as one of the fastest growing anti-immunity organizations in the nation.
I had a distinct advantage by being the first to speak as I had the
attention of the crowd. ...
I presented my prepared speech (See Part II for
the full speech).... After the speech, I was complimented on it's
content and I and the other JAILers began to pass out J4J cards in large
quantities. ...
At this point, at approximately 3:00 p.m., I
attempted to sit on the steps of the court house, as I was weary of my
crutches (I had to have surgery on my leg) and was greatly
fatigued in my legs. I gently lowered myself onto the bottom
step. I was there approximately 15 seconds when one of the police
guards walked up behind me and told me I could not sit there, and that I
would be arrested if I did not get up.
Indignantly, I asked the officer to explain
just why it was that I, as a U.S. Citizen was not allowed to sit upon the
steps of a building that belongs to the Citizens of the United States.
He answered that he didn't make the rules only enforced them (I was reminded
of that same defense used by the Nazis at the Nuremberg war crimes
trials). I asked who it was that made this rule because I wanted to protest
it. The officer didn't know. I then stated that I was a Federal
Officer of this government, one who has fought for, and protected the
Constitution of this country, and that I was damned if I would be told I
could not sit on the steps of a building that belonged to All the
People.
After several minutes of this type of exchange,
during which many photos were taken, another officer (age mid twenties)
approached me. In his most commanding and intimidating voice demanded
to know my name. I stated my rank and name. Then I asked him what branch of
the military he served in. When he told me he hadn't served in the
military, I replied that freedom has a flavor which those who have
never defended it can never know. I deliberately
pulled out a J4J card, wrote my full name and rank on the back and handed it
to him saying, "I want you to be sure to get my name right."
He took it! The officer took a J4J card. I
was bursting inside with glee that I had managed to get the enemy to
take my card!
The officer explained
that I couldn't be on the steps because of my J.A.I.L. t-shirt. ... I said
to him, "This doesn't pass the common sense test. People who wear
t-shirts with every conceivable obscenity can walk on these steps under
the protection of freedom of speech, yet I wear one with 4 initials on the
back and exercise my constitutional right, but I'm to be
arrested?" I pointed to the engraved portico which states: "EQUAL JUSTICE
UNDER THE LAW." "That's
why we are protesting, because you just denied me equal justice."
The young officer clearly saw my point and shook his head in embarrassment,
but stuck to his guns: I would be arrested if I did not stay off the
steps.
Finally I said to him, "Have you ever
heard of Senator Max Cleland of Georgia? He lost both legs and an arm
defending that slogan (I pointed to the portico). Are you telling
me that if he were here today, you'd arrest him, too?" The cop
said nothing. My last words to him
were, "We'll just have to see, won't we? I will let Senator
Cleland know what happened here today." Several pictures were
taken during this confrontation which I have to share. ...
So many people wanted J4J t-shirts I could have
sold all 30, I'm sure, but I was prohibited from selling them there without
a vendor's permit. ....
I can be contacted at (770) 682-6220 for a
telephonic discussion of this report.
Dennis M. Hatcher
Georgia JAILer
(Be sure to read Part II for the
text of the speech given by Hatcher)
