I don’t know if this guy is an atheist or not, but I imagine many of us would want to hear about how this plays out.
Bradford Campeau-Laurion was kicked out of the old Yankee Stadium last August because “he tried to use the restroom during the playing of ‘God Bless America.'”
“The role of police officers is to enforce the law,” NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said.
“New York’s finest have no business arresting someone for trying to go to the bathroom at a politically incorrect moment,” Lieberman said. “That is an abuse of authority and a violation of the constitutional principles that our country is founded on.”
…
Campeau-Laurion explained that he needed to use the restroom and was not concerned about “God Bless America.” Then he attempted to walk past the officer.
Before Campeau-Laurion could take a step, the police officer grabbed his right arm and twisted it behind his back, the lawsuit claimed.
A second officer twisted Campeau-Laurion’s left arm behind his back, and the two officers marched him down several ramps to the stadium’s exit with his arms pinned behind his back.
The encounter ended with one of the officers telling Campeau-Laurion to leave the country if he didn’t like it.
The New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Yankees today over this incident.
The officers claim Campeau-Laurion was being disorderly.
You can see video of the plaintiff here.
This seems at first glance like a flimsy case.
What would happen if someone walked out during the National Anthem? Would the person be arrested? What if the person was really old and needed to go? Should it really matter if everyone stands up and sing? How is this different from a student refusing to stand up and recite the Pledge of Allegiance?
You can’t force people to be patriotic.
(Maybe the guy just needed Stadium Pal.)
According to The New York Times,
The Yankees do, in fact, have a rule restricting fan movements during the playing of “God Bless America,” a rule enforced by ushers, stadium security guards and the police.
What an awful policy. Can anyone explain how that’s allowed?
(Thanks to b for the link!)
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