Wow. I’m not sure what to say about this one. Perhaps the abusiveness of the security personnel is to blame. Perhaps they need to reexamine their policies on when they are actually able to engage with people. Mr. Hill made no threatening gestures whatsoever, but apparently was such a threat to security that he had to be taken down. Hard.
This is just one of the latest instances of small minded individuals given a modicum of power and taking that power to an abusive level. At the very least, they need to be disciplined. Arguably, they should be fired for attacking an individual that did not offer up any threats. Then we have the so-called State Trooper. Ummmmm, really? I sure couldn’t see his “identification”. Upon repeated requests for his name or badge number or identification, he failed to display it. That sure seems suspect, as if he is not really a real State Trooper. He comes off as another security guard that is abusing his power. Now, Alaska is a gun friendly state. There are also several gun owners in Alaska. What happens if you are a gun owner (with a gun on you) and you witness 2 people assaulting an individual and someone masquerading as a State Trooper? Well, it’s not a good scenario. Likely, more than one person would not be sleeping that night very soundly. And I’m not just talking about Mr. Hill.
Torches & Pitchforks. That scenario seems to be getting closer every day.
Activist Post brings us this one:
This first day of the 2010 Alaska State Fair starts with sunny skies and a brutal assault by security personnel on a LaRouche supporter.
At about 5pm Alaska Time, Thursday, August 26, 2010, security personnel approach Sidney Hill, a lone man peacefully displaying an impeach Obama sign near Pioneer Plaza on the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. Minutes later, a crowd assembles, additional security forces arrive, and they physically assault the man holding the sign. He’s taken to the ground with force and detained.
An unidentified Alaska State Trooper arrives to physically disperse the crowd, and at several points during the conflict, crowd members yell in support of the demonstrator’s right to speak his message. The demonstrator’s personal firearm is confiscated by fair security, and he is held captive until Palmer police arrive to escort the man away in cuffs.
Sidney Hill was in jail awaiting a pre-trial at 1:00 pm on August 27, 2010 at the Palmer Courthouse. He has been charged with Assault 4-Cause Fear Of Injury, Disorderly Conduct-Challenge To Fight, and Criminal Trespass 2- Upon Premises. However, according to the Valley Frontiersman newspaper, “Assistant District Attorney Trina Sears said her office decided not to prosecute Hill on the assault charge.”
Assault on protester at 3:30
Trooper distracts me, but I barely catch the gun in security guard’s left hand at 4:41Court record of arrest: http://bit.ly/bPSx6D
ADN coverage: http://bit.ly/bwE3u9
Frontiersman coverage: http://bit.ly/9V4gyn
Newsminer coverage: http://bit.ly/bEEq2K
Alaska State Fair official statement: http://bit.ly/cY5U2u
