FREE SPEECH HALTED at U.S. Open Sand Castle Event 2010

[MrHaggis03]

Just move on fundie.....nobody wants you around them, full stop.

[floridaman2000]

the cop has legal presidents to do so and the procedures to do what he does cause he is the government the government outlawed free speech

[caligirl7525]

Woah.

[TallSky]

Why not set up a booth and offer to pray for people's needs? People are at the beach to un-stress from their work week. They will not often be receptive to vocal efforts like this, and it will give some the impression that you're nuts. I am not saying that you are, because I agree with your message. But it is by the spirit of God that people are saved, and not by the will of men. If I get a lot of flak from people over this, I will not respond. I don't argue with brothers and sisters on line.

[FamilyLifeComC]

Is the police a Jehovah's witness too? Who is the officer again?

[FamilyLifeComC]

Is the police a Jehovah's witness too?

[jerrybenson]

@FamilyLifeComC

This video had absolutely nothing to do with Jehovah's Witnesses. The issue was "free speech". The right to speak on public property on any subject what-so-ever.

Jerry

Jerry

[boatbrain2]

Sue in Federal Court. This is a violation of Title 42 Section 1983 of the Federal Code. You can sue under that law. This is all nonsense. SUE. SUE. SUE.

[jerrybenson]

After numerous phone calls and emails, I have made some progress in resolving the free speech issue. The Sand Castle committee and City of Imperial Beach has so far avoided giving me answers. The Imperial Beach Police department has voiced their position that what they did was NOT wrong.

However, the Sheriff's department has determined that the Imperial Beach Police have violated our constitutional rights and promised to change their policy and educate their officers. PTL

[cherishcart]

@jerrybenson

I live in Imperial Beach. There is no Imperial Beach police. We outsource to the San Diego Sheriff Department which you can clearly see next to the lifeguard station when you return to IB. It sounds to me like they are running you in circles. It is time for IB to get back our own police force and stop relying on San Diego who doesn't even know they are allocated as our force!

[jerrybenson]

@cherishcart

Thanks for clarifying. The I.B. city website refers to their law enforcement as the "San Diego County Sherriffs Department, Imperial Beach Division."

I can now see the relationship with the Serriffs Department and their Imperial Beach Division.

Jerry

[theapologeticfront]

I really hope you get the opportunity to challenge this. I wonder what the restriction is on how loud you are allowed to speak about your religion before the police consider it a "violation" of their event? Thinking about such is completely absurd, as you weren't even yelling. I'm sure if you were speaking that openly about sand castles they wouldn't have said anything.

[tdrothrock]

Wow Jerry. I went to the same event last year and handed out the giant bills and interviewed people in that exact location. Sorry to see this happened to you. I wonder how much longer we will be able to share the Gospel?

[jerrybenson]

Hi Thad,

I went last year as well with no problems. If you think about it, many of the events we go to are public events, like parades, 4th of July, Street Faires, Comic-Con etc. We go because this is where people are.

I will follow up on this outcome this week. Lots of legal people to talk to. I believe a decision was made that is illegal but no one has pressed the issue.

Blessings,

Jerry