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 Peace Activist Slaps Citizen Journalist at Rally and Gets Arrested
1 more article on this subject:
On Saturday, March 22, 2008, at a pro-troop rally in West Chester Pennsylvania, a member Chester County Peace Movement (CCPM) was arrested after slapping a Citizen Journalist twice in the face.
This information came to me via email, from Melanie Morgan, who is the chairman of Move America Forward, which is one of the biggest pro-troop organizations in the US, and who forwarded me (with permission) a set of emails between her and the Citizen Journalist that was slapped at the rally in West Chester, PA.
The name in the email will be redacted and be replaced with her online blogging name of "Skye" for privacy purposes.
Citizen Journalism has much in common with the main stream media, CJ's now actively report news, especially local news where they can physically go bear witness to events to write about them, they take photos and video and they provide reportage of situations as they transpire.
Skye was doing exactly that on Saturday at a pro-troop rally in West Chester.
( Pro-Troop rally held in West Chester, PA.--Photo courtesy of Skye)
A little after noon, Skye was video taping and exchange between the rally members and members of the Chester County Peace Movement (CCPM), when a member of the peace group approached her and slapped her in the face, twice.
The police were called and arrived within 5 minutes and announced to the crowd that they were conducting an investigation. Witnesses pointed out the man that had slapped the Citizen Journalist and when the police told him to come forward, the man became belligerent and uncooperative and refused.
The police approached him and the man, then, physically pushed the officer which resulted in the officer's partner tackling him to the ground to be handcuffed, where the man continue to struggle. Members of CCPM surrounded the police officers while this was happening.
( Peace protester being handcuffed after shoving and officer during the investigation- Photo courtesy of Skye)
Skye's reaction is stated in one of the original emails, where she says, "I've prided myself in my professional conduct at this rally and to be struck twice by a 'peace' protester who has been present since the time I began covering this rally is truly disturbing."
Skye also runs a blog called MidnightBlue, where she says, "Snarky retorts, name calling and mis characterizations by the CCPM are common place events in my 7 month documentary of this rally. Yesterday crossed the line, when I was struck twice by a peace protester. I can deal with all the above, but will NOT tolerate any form of violence against my person. I am consulting legal advice on this matter."
Saturday was not the only incident during the Easter holiday weekend, six protesters from a group called Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War were also arrested on Easter day, in a Chicago church after standing up and screaming about Iraq while squirting fake blood all over themselves and other parishioners until security guards and ushers removed them, then the police arrested them.
They were taken away while the crowd in the churched booed them, some following, one of which was a Mass attendee, Mike Wainscott of Chicago, who yelled at the anti-war protesters, "Are you happy with yourselves. There were kids in there. You scared little kids with your selfish act. Are you happy now?"
Video of that arrest can be found here.
[Update] Emails are still coming in, video expected soon but here is a picture of the man that hit Skye.
( Man known as John M., member of CCPM that struck Skye, the Citizen Journalist- Photo courtesy of Skye and Melanie Morgan)
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Update has been added and Melanie is trying to get the video to me... more updates expected.
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He should have a "Veteran for Violence" banner instead of peace. Just like he has the right to protest Melanie has the right too.
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@ Chris V. (cgull)
He should have a "Veteran for Violence" banner instead of peace. Just like he has the right to protest Melanie has the right too.
Skye has been documenting the rallies, counter rallies, protests and counter protests for 7 months now.
Citizen Journalism can be dangerous it seems,
I have the video of him hitting Skye, I just don't have permission yet to post it.. I will as soon as she gives me the go ahead. -
Great article Susan ........ thanks. I'll watch for your updates to this story.
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Wow, Susan. This is sad that protesters have to become violent and attack others unprovoked.
I too will be watching and waiting for your udates.
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Thanks Helena and Debra.
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Peace appears to have many meanings.
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Good coverage, when a peace protesterstrikes someone, all i can do is question the person's true beliefs.
I have attended and organized quite a few Peace rallies over the years; have been called many names and pushed more than once ; a democracy depends upon opposing views for its very survival; this activist should be ashamed.
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@ Bob Ewing
Good coverage, when a peace protesterstrikes someone, all i can do is question the person's true beliefs.
I have attended and organized quite a few Peace rallies over the years; have been called many names and pushed more than once ; a democracy depends upon opposing views for its very survival; this activist should be ashamed.
Yes he should. I have spent months documenting arrests, vandalism against veteran memorials, violence perpetrated in the name of peace and it is clear that some, not all, but some of these people hide behind the name "peace activist" so they can act out in a violent manner and they seem to think hiding under the guise will make their actions less disgusting. -
@ Sue D.
Skye has been documenting the rallies, counter rallies, protests and counter protests for 7 months now.
Citizen Journalism can be dangerous it seems,
I have the video of him hitting Skye, I just don't have permission yet to post it.. I will as soon as she gives me the go ahead. Hope she is not injured. -
I am one of the Victory Movement who rallies in West Chester. These people are the angriest peace-niks I have ever seen! Another man from their group shoved a couple of ladies off the corner into traffic a couple of weeks ago. They continually taunt the counterprotest- coming to stand in front of us with anti American signs, and Bush bashing signs. (we quietly reposition ourselves) They can't stand when any of us can give them a good argument, even when they come looking for one, which they do often enough! More and more people are coming to join us, and more are stopping their cars to thank us! The peace group are sniveling little whiners, and they don't like that we are gaining momentum with the public!
Skye has always behaved professionally, and her coverage of the weekly rallies has been excellent. What that protester did was uncalled for and cowardly. They have awakened a sleeping giant among us patriots!
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I have the video and will email it directly.
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@ Trishmac
I am one of the Victory Movement who rallies in West Chester. These people are the angriest peace-niks I have ever seen! Another man from their group shoved a couple of ladies off the corner into traffic a couple of weeks ago. They continually taunt the counterprotest- coming to stand in front of us with anti American signs, and Bush bashing signs. (we quietly reposition ourselves) They can't stand when any of us can give them a good argument, even when they come looking for one, which they do often enough! More and more people are coming to join us, and more are stopping their cars to thank us! The peace group are sniveling little whiners, and they don't like that we are gaining momentum with the public!
Skye has always behaved professionally, and her coverage of the weekly rallies has been excellent. What that protester did was uncalled for and cowardly. They have awakened a sleeping giant among us patriots!
Trishmac, welcome to Digital Journal and thank you for your firsthand account of what has been going on. Please keep us updated. -
@ Mark L Harvey
I have the video and will email it directly.
Snoop, I have it....figuring out how to use it from the email version, is another thing...LOL -
@ Chris V. (cgull)
Hope she is not injured.
cgull, she is more angry than anything....as well as realizing the risks inherent of trying to document the tactics used by the CCPM. -
Good to be here- thanks Susan. It's always a pleasure to find so many like minded patriots! There is definitely strength in numbers!
Will update as soon as I have any info on the corner in West Chester!
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Again, Susan....fantabulous. :-)
My favorite part? The photo of the alleged 'peace' demonster, oh, I mean demonstrator being arrested. Too bad HE WASNT TAZED while hopped up on coke. I am in disbelief that someone would just slap another just to slap them!
Sigh....
Good stuff.
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@ Trishmac
Good to be here- thanks Susan. It's always a pleasure to find so many like minded patriots! There is definitely strength in numbers!
Will update as soon as I have any info on the corner in West Chester!
It is appreciated more than you know :o)
@ Nikki W (karateblossom)
Again, Susan....fantabulous. :-)
My favorite part? The photo of the alleged 'peace' demonster, oh, I mean demonstrator being arrested. Too bad HE WASNT TAZED while hopped up on coke. I am in disbelief that someone would just slap another just to slap them!
Sigh....
Good stuff.
Thanks KB. Melanie had emailed me last night and I promised her to make this my first story of the day.
Glad I did and I am still getting emails. -
I have the video converted to You Tube format...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHR-sdIeDGk-
@ Mark L Harvey
I have the video converted to You Tube format...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHR-sdIeDGk
You SOOOOO Rock Mark! I guess I actually need to open an account at YouTube huh? -
The video you have requested is not available.
If you have recently uploaded this video, you may need to wait a few minutes for the video to process. -
A veteran, no less..!
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Susan, I got the same message as well.
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Thanks to Mark for emailing me the embed code...lets see if this works better:
Took it down.... Mark it says it is no longer available.
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The You Tube account is processing the video now. Give it some time to get its act together.
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@ Mark L Harvey
You Tube says no way but Live Leak said OK.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=58b_1206391709
Wow. That guy was an ass! -
Yes, he is.
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Thanks for the video...that really puts things into perspective!
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Gotta watch those "peace protesters."
They can get violent...
Anyone else see that that is a contradiction?
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It says the video has been removed.
Yep I do love all the "peace protesters" just don't get in their way.
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@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
It says the video has been removed.
Yep I do love all the "peace protesters" just don't get in their way.
Amazing... the video was sent to be used, BY the person that videoed it. -
How come YouTube won't allow Skye's video but they do allow the Chester County Peace Movement's video version of the same thing? Go to YouTube and type in West Chester Freedom #278. It has their version of the attack.
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Skye asked me to take the video down while her lawyer reviews the incident. She will post the video when the dust settles.
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@ Mr Garibaldi
Gotta watch those "peace protesters."
They can get violent...
Anyone else see that that is a contradiction?
No matter how you slice it, they are as anti-peace as they come!!!!
They don't care about children (most of them have a brain about the size of a 2-year-old anyway).
They don't care about ANYONE.
Skye's exhibit of true PEACE was an example for these aliens to follow, for sure. God forbid, anyone strike me! I'm not sure I'd have been so peaceful or humble. I'm trained to defend my person and I guess my instincts would kick in before my brain at that point.... -
They are neither peace activists or anti-war proponents. Their very dogma is 180 degrees out of phase with the United States Constitution yet, they use and abuse the Constitution to claim their "rights" to act as they do.
But, whenever their opposition utilizes the SAME dictum, they scream foul ball.
They are anti-Americanists, plain and simple. They want either socialism, communism or anarchy or some morphed form of all 3.
They want their cake and eat it too and they were expecting a free hand in their activities and they have been stopped cold. This angers them and their true intents emerge.
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@ Mr Garibaldi
Gotta watch those "peace protesters."
They can get violent...
Anyone else see that that is a contradiction?
Yup! -
@ Mark L Harvey
Skye asked me to take the video down while her lawyer reviews the incident. She will post the video when the dust settles.
Makes sense. I did get to see it though. -
I suggest you find a duck call, keeping in mind George's yellow ducks he hands out to moonbats, and when they come over, use the duck call as they try to harrass you. Especially effective when use with electric bull horn. Drive them crazy........! LOL...!
Ooooohhhh....Raaaaaahhhhh....! Semper Fi...!
Eagles up and away....!
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@ chickenhawk
I suggest you find a duck call, keeping in mind George's yellow ducks he hands out to moonbats, and when they come over, use the duck call as they try to harrass you. Especially effective when use with electric bull horn. Drive them crazy........! LOL...!
Ooooohhhh....Raaaaaahhhhh....! Semper Fi...!
Eagles up and away....!
ROFL. ummmmm, welcome to DJ chickenhawk. -
waddle waddle quack quack
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Yes, welcome to DJ, chickenhawk. Hope you enjoy it here! :)
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Hey,
A friend sent me a link to a second you tube video that one of the moonbats filmed. I can't open it but they said it clearly shows that skye was never slapped. Only her camera was hit. What the hell is going on? Skye's video goes dead but we never see her being slapped. Who is telling the truth? I sent skye's video to a bunch of friends including my liberal co-workers. Now I got egg on my face? My co-workers are telling me they will never believe a Vietnam veteran slapped skye unless they see it on a video and not just a camera that goes dead. Anyone have a link showing skye actually being slapped.
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Everything you need to know is right here. -
I haven't seen Skye's video yet, it is being held up for legal purposes. If anyone else has seen it, or has a link to it, please let me know! The other video, that YouTube is showing, by the Vet against the war, has been edited for sure.
I know for a fact, that many of these people are violent, unpeaceful folks, having stood out there myself since late October, with the Victory movement. They are rude, crude snippy people, forcing their hate signs in front of our flags and support the troops signs. They come up into our faces and confront us with questions about our patriotism, and laugh derisively at our answers. But, when we do the same in return (yes, some of us do get carried away at times in our fervor to defend our positions) they cry foul, and shove women around. Not just the slapping of Skye, but real physical contact that has occurred more than once now, to women from the victory movement. These "men" who love to dish it out, cannot take the heat when our ladies confront them, and they implode. Skye would not, ever, lie about her experience, and the women who were with her when it happened, would not lie either.
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Update on the non-peaceful peace activists:
Iraq war protestor takes plea agreement in assault case
Charges will be withdrawn if John H. Meicht abides by terms; victim says she is pleased with the decision and that justice was served.
By MICHAEL P. RELLAHAN, Staff Writer
WEST CHESTER — Criminal charges against a demonstrator at the borough’s weekly war protests who allegedly shoved a Philadelphia blogger videotaping the event could be dismissed under plea agreement terms accepted Friday.
Appearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Gwenn Knapp, John H. Meicht agreed to write a formal letter of apology to the blogger, complete 30 hours of community service and stay out of trouble for the next 60 days. If he does so, the counts of simple assault, resisting arrest, harassment, recklessly endangering another person and related charges against him will be withdrawn by the district attorney’s office.
In their place, Meicht, 62, of West Goshen, would be allowed to plead guilty to a summary offense of disorderly conduct and pay a fine.
If he fails to complete the terms of the agreement, the charges against him would go forward.
The plea agreement was worked out between Meicht’s attorney, Timothy J. Trott of West Chester, and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Gonzalez, with help from Cpl. Thomas Gotthold of the West Chester Police Department, who had himself been involved in a confrontation with Meicht the day of the incident.
Afterward, the blogger, Tania Ciolko of Philadelphia, said she was satisfied with the resolution of the case.
“I’m very happy about it,” Ciolko said. “I think justice was served. I got what I wanted, an apology.”
Meicht, a retired school teacher from the Downingtown Area School District, declined comment through his attorney. But, Trott said they were pleased to close the matter.
“(Meicht) certainly appreciates what’s happened here today,” Trott said. “There’s no one in this country today that doesn’t have passionate feelings about what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, and sometimes tensions escalate.”
The incident involving Meicht and Ciolko occurred the morning of March 22, when demonstrators for the Chester County Peace Movement and the Chester County Victory Movement — which take opposite sides in the debate over the Iraq War — appeared at the intersection of High and Market streets in West Chester to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the war.
Tensions had been rising between the two groups in the months previous to the incident. The Chester County Peace Movement has been appearing in front of the Chester County Courthouse since 2002, but were joined by the Chester County Victory Movement, holding counter-protests, in the fall of 2007.
The two sides alternately accused each other of harassment.
According to Ciolko, she had attended several times in the past, videotaping the proceedings for her blog: Midnight Blue. A self-described conservative Democrat, Ciolko was videotaping a confrontation between a man and a woman on the southeast corner of the intersection on March 22, when Meicht, who was with the Chester County Peace Movement demonstrators, slapped the camera from her hand, telling her to “get the camera out of my face.”
She said that when she raised the camera again, he slapped it away once more.
“We can have differences of opinion, but we should be able to express them without violence or harassment,” she said after the hearing.
Gotthold became involved when Richard Davis, leader of the Chester County Victory Movement, complained about the incident and tried to point out Meicht to the officer. When Gotthold tried to speak to Meicht about the encounter, Meicht initially refused to give his name or identify himself.
When Gotthold told him he was under investigation for an alleged assault and tried to lead him away from where a crowd of 50 had gathered, Meicht told him, “I’m not telling you anything,” and pushed Gotthold in the chest.
Gotthold and another officer then tried to restrain Meicht, and he briefly fought their attempts to place him in custody. He was arrested and released pending a summons that day.
After the brief hearing in front of Knapp, Gonzalez said Meicht had been offered the summary agreement primarily because of his lack of a prior criminal record and because he has not returned to the demonstrations at High and Market streets.
“As far as we know, he has not been back,” she said. “It doesn’t seem that this individual is going to pose any future problems there.”
Gotthold said he was satisfied with the arrangement and that Meicht had already offered an apology to him the day of the incident.
Another man who was part of the Chester County Peace Movement who had gotten in the way of police as they took Meicht into custody was given a similar plea agreement on Tuesday.
David F. Cleveland, 48, of West Chester, will have to complete 20 hours of community service and stay trouble-free for 60 days before the charges against him are withdrawn.
“You have to put it in perspective as making things better at the corner of High and Market (streets) in West Chester,” Gotthold said.
To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan, send an e-mail to mrellahan@dailylocal.com. -
Thank you so much for the update Trishmac!
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