Ducking Disobedience
Joe B., attended the rally for ID protester Deborah Davis in Denver last week. He notes that none of Davis' lawyers or members of the press were willing to risk arrest by refusing to show their IDs during Davis' media event bus ride through the Denver Federal Center.
Lawyers argue that if they had been arrested with Davis, they could have been considered witnesses and be forced to testify against her - or be banned from representing her in future legal actions. But Joe's right that lawyers and reporters should put their money where their mouth is and find out first hand how it feels to be arrested for simply refusing to show ID on a public bus.
Read Joe's account:
This was in the Rocky Mountain News on 12/10/05, regarding Deb's attempted "Victory Ride" through the DFC on Friday, 12/9:
------
Three lawyers followed in private cars, dubbed "rightsmobiles," ready to rush into the Federal Center - after showing their IDs - if Davis got arrested.
(Now there's a strong show of support. Not one lawyer was willing to join Davis on the bus and commit civil disobedience, but they're right behind Deb if she does!)
"I'm Jack McDonald," announced one officer. "Is there anyone on this bus right now who's willing to show ID?"
The journalists were willing. The five regular commuters were willing. Davis wasn't willing.
(Like the lawyers, the press isn't willing to put their money where their mouths are either!)
"If you're not going to show an ID, you're not going to be allowed on the Federal Center," Kinney (a rep from the RTD) announced.
RTD had a spare bus on hand to which it transferred the five regular commuters.
One of them was Tara Futch, who was on her way through the Federal Center to her job at Taco Bell. She said she rides the bus often and frequently forgets her ID, but always has been allowed to stay on through the Federal Center as long as she doesn't get off there.
----------
Tara had better have her ID from now on. Thanks to Deb, she can say goodbye to that lapse in protocol. The Feds will need to evenly enforce the rule if they expect it to withstand a legal challenge. Davis' actions will only lead to a tightening of the rule
So, to summarize: the number of supporters for Davis who have been willing to stand up against the ID rule in Denver so far: Lawyers - zero, press - zero, regular bus riders - zero, the dozen or so 'protesters' who showed up for the 'victory ride' - zero.
I wonder if the lawyers will re-christen their cars "wrongmobiles" if Davis loses (as I suspect she will) when she finally gets before a judge? For now, I think "chickenmobiles" is appropriate.
