On Jan. 12th, In a stunning display of irony and lawlessness, guards at the National Archives (the repository of our nation’s most precious document: The U.S. Constitution) denied visitors their Constitutionally mandated rights to free speech by denying entry and physically escorting visitors away who wore t-shirts bearing quotes from the Constitution itself! What part of the Constitution was quoted, you ask? The parts which speak to our nation’s need to impeach Presidents and Vice Presidents when faced with the kind of disregard for the Constitution that this administration (and the National Archives) imposes on us. So, this country has gone so far downhill that the Constitution has remained a symbol, but the meaning of that symbol is forgotten. We revere the document, and guard the document, without knowing why we do so. We’re willing to defy the mandates of our revered document in an ignorant attempt to defend our lawless president’s image. Isn’t it ironic that not only do our public officials ignore their oaths of office to defend the Constitution in order to support this lawless president, but the literal guards of the Constitution do the same.
-Jodin Morey
Cofounder: Impeach for Peace
The following is from indymedia…
On Jan 12, members of John Niremberg’s impeachment march (which started over a month ago in Boston) were either denied entry to or expelled from the National Archives for wearing clothing printed with the articles of the Constitution concerning impeachment.
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National Archives bars/boots wearers of aarticles of impeachment
In the audio, the following interviews are presented after a short intro:
John Nirenberg speaking about the march from Boston
A participant denied entry into the Archives(over a vest)
A participant challenged by security inside the Archives, preceded by the last seconds of the guard’s challenge. The security guard’s words did not come out well, but the interviews did.
The last leg of John’s Boston to DC march began at Union Station and ended at the Archives, with about 80 people reportedly participating. Probably there would have been more, but many people were still in jail from yesterday’s Gitmo actions.
At the National Archives, the Constitution and First Amendment are on permanent display,yet the exercise of the very rights enshrined in this document are prohibited both by posted signs and by security guards.
It’s one thing to ask that people leave their signs outside, but to exile the rally to the other side of the street, then to demand that people cover up T-shirts referring to impeachment or leave the building is something else altogether.
What would they do if someone had a (temporary or otherwise) tattoo on their face demanding impeachment?
Ever since Bush began even RUNNING for President in 2000(and having protesters at his rallies arrested), there has been a campaign in this country to burn the constitution that is supposedly the sole source of their authority. The Archives itself is now part of this, but people there got off lucky compared to those at the 2004 GOP convention arrested for merely being on the same block as protesters, much less those detained at Guantanimo Bay or shipped abroad to be tortured.
What kills me is, not only will bush and cheney NOT be impeached, but there’s probably already a deal in the works with Hillary (there doesn’t need to be such a plan with the republican candidates) to pardon them after they’re out of office. I can see it now, Hillary standing on the dais after pardoning these traitorious, lying, murderous, thieves; “Let the healing begin.” Any bets it won’t come down exactly like that no matter who is elected?