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Our protest as dead bodies outside the Modern Living Building on the Fairgrounds on Saturday (15th), speaking out against the NO Background Check gun show, went over well, and we came close to being toted off in handcuffs had we resisted the police directive to abandon our actions.
Police were not demanding, but after 30 minutes of phone calls, while we continued to lay dead, culminated in being told that we were on private property, which we doubted, and that continued occupation would result in something, although “arrest” was never mentioned.
To orient, we were laying on the grass, under a nice shade tree opposite the entrance to the Modern Living Building, beyond the sidewalk that runs in front of the MLB. We had mock bullet holes in our Tshirts, and were smeared with ketchup, red spray-pint. At first, the security guy told us to leave, that we were on private property and were not allowed to be there, and we poo-pooed that idea, then after minutes of discussion we heard him call police and request we be ousted. We declined his invitation to leave. At length, two police cars showed up and after two officers watched us for awhile, they summoned me for a conversation. “What are you doing?” “We are protesting the NO BACKGROUND gun show, by posing as dead and wounded.” A third police car arrived (I was told it was the shift supervisor). After several minutes of cell calls, she informed us that we were on private property, and that we should disperse. Several in our party of eight, questioned that determination, but departed peacefully. Our statement had been expressed–that NO BACKGROUND CHECK sales are illegal by state and federal law. We intend to keep protesting in one form or another, but peacefully, until the gun show loophole is closed, if it takes decades. I wish to express gratitude to the eight who showed in support of this demonstration. If you are interested in supporting future protests, just let me know. In all fairness, you may wish to counter demonstrate or post your thought here. You are democratically welcome to express, but be nice. Whoop
Wow this is news to me. I thought the fairgrounds were public property with a good dose of tax money to maintain, tax breaks on the activities and property, etc. Is it private? Who owns it? Who supports it? if private then keep my tax money out of their pocket and let the “owners” maintain all costs.
Private property? Maybe. I am wanting to be enlightened
This is news to me. I thought the fairgrounds were public property with a good dose of tax money to maintain, tax breaks on the activities and property, etc. Is it private? Who owns it? Who supports it? if private then keep my tax money out of their pocket and let the “owners” maintain all costs.
Private property? Maybe. I am wanting to be enlightened
We felt the same way, Gizmo, but had no legal grounds to contest the direction of the authorities. As the YHR stated on Sunday, the shift supervisor requested the city to give a legal opinion. I am suggesting the the police acted correctly, but that whoever they called came up with a makeshift method of ending the standoff. WE had signs the gun people did not like and, of course, our “dead” bodies lying around was a strong message. In addition, if we had created a weakening result for the gun show, they would have made less money, and the fairgrounds (whoever they may be–read the paper for details) would have also been effected by that weakness. Read–Money was threatened. Nobody threatened us physically, but the security guy did keep moving between me and another person who were peacefully discussing the situation across a fence. His point was that the people inside were sports people and that we were making them look like killers. Our point continues to be that neither we nor they know for sure who is inside purchasing guns and ammunition. Whatever they are doing with these gun shows, they are unwittingly (how else could it be without BG checks?) violating Public Law 104-208. When I pointed this out to the city council–they began hiding behind immunity clauses which protects them from responsibility for the actions of others. I really expected them to do something to protect the citizens from the gun brutality that is sweeping Yakima, rather than running for cover.
I don’t want to keep raving on about our protest, but I do want to say we received a strong affirmation from the east coast today. Apparently Dr. Abigail Spangler, who was protesting at the NRA national convention on Saturday (15th), and who participated in a “lie-down” of their own, sent a support message from her group, Protest Easy Guns, which has done lie-ins in 31 states. Please remember that Dave Edler (former mayor) is a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Just an update. Whoop