cannabisnews.com: Activist Arrested Outside Bush Rally Activist Arrested Outside Bush Rally Posted by FoM on October 25, 2000 at 14:14:42 PT By Dan Scanlan, Times-Union Staff Writer Source: Florida Times-Union A local medical marijuana rights activist was arrested Tuesday outside The Jacksonville Landing after he tried to speak out against Gov. George W. Bush during the Republican presidential nominee's campaign rally.Police said Scott Bledsoe, 28, of Orange Park was arrested at 7:45 p.m. on Independent Drive West and charged with opposing an officer who told him to leave. He also was charged with breach of the peace after he started speaking out against the Texas governor's drug policies through a bullhorn. "Secret Service told me I was in a secured area and I would have to leave," Beldsoe said. "But there were other people there and they weren't being told to leave."He said he advised the city about what he would be doing at the event and made sure the property was "100 percent public." But City Attorney Steve Rohan said he can't give anyone permission to hold a demonstration and told Bledsoe that Monday."I know they have certain First Amendment freedoms, but the law said there are things you can't do," Rohan said. "He may have been trespassing and I do not know the facts, but he did not have permission from me."Bledsoe is a member of Floridians for Medical Rights, which is having a petition drive to get a question on Florida's 2002 ballot to allow legal marijuana use for medical reasons. The group won two civil rights lawsuits against the city after claiming harassment from poll workers and police while collecting signatures during the 1998 and 1999 elections. Source: Florida Times-Union (FL)Author: Dan Scanlan, Times-Union staff writer Published: October 25, 2000Copyright: The Florida Times-Union 2000Contact: tuletter tu.infi.netWebsite: http://www.times-union.com/Forum: http://cafe.jacksonville.com/cafesociety.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Floridians for Medical Rightshttp://www.medicalrights.org/html/fmr.htmlCannabisNews Articles - Scott Bledsoe:http://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Bledsoe Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 27, 2000 at 20:54:36 PT Way To Go Scott! Keep up the good work! You are being heard! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by observer on October 27, 2000 at 19:25:03 PT Good Job, Scott! It is great to have you here! I like the way you've taken action! I hope you sock it to them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Scott Bledsoe on October 27, 2000 at 02:25:33 PT: Insanity I thought in good faith that we had taught these Bozos a thing or two in Federal Court, I see now that we must make it overly apparent through the pocket book that they cannot do these kinds of things...........Hooray for Free Speech.........!!!!!!!!! FLA CAN [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mungojelly on October 26, 2000 at 11:01:50 PT: in order to have freedom of speech In order to have freedom of speech, we must start speaking. This is the only way to firmly establish our rights of self-expression. We must create a culture where it is normal and accepted to go out into the streets and express your views. The police can only get away with this sort of thing when it is one "wacko" that they're arresting. If there are hundreds or thousands of people out there expressing various unpopular opinions, it will no longer be possible to easily oppress them. mungojelly [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by observer on October 26, 2000 at 09:17:32 PT Bledsoe Released Subj: RELEASE: Scott "Bullhorn" Bledsoe and Jail OverflowDate: 10/25/2000 3:20:28 PM Eastern Daylight TimeFrom: klee VITEL.TZO.COM (Kay Lee)Sender: DPFT-L TAMU.EDU (Drug Policy Forum of Texas)Reply-to: klee VITEL.TZO.COM (Kay Lee)To: DPFT-L TAMU.EDUOctober 25thFor Immediate ReleaseTo All News MediaContact: Kevin Aplin ph (321) 255-9790email flcan vitel.tzo.comScott "Bullhorn" Bledsoe: Bail dropped, free on ROR due toJAIL OVERCROWDING!Ironic that Brother Bush was in town and the jail isovercrowded.Free Speech Activist, Scott "Bullhorn" Bledsoe was arrestedyesterday by Jacksonville Sheriff's office after they andsecret service agents prevented Bledsoe from speakingthrough a amplifier at a Bush rally. Bledsoe was attemptingto criticize the presidential candidate's position andhypocrisy in the War on Drugs.City attorney Steve Rohan had approved the proposed activityfor that location as lawful and on public property.Bledsoe's next court dates are at the Duval countycourthouse in Jacksonville at 10:00am on Nov. 8th. Thishearing is for a trial involving the ALLTELL Stadium arrest,and on Nov 15th for arraignment on the Bush Rally arrest.He has been charged with opposing a police officer andbreaching the peace.Bledsoe has been a plaintiff in two successful lawsuitsagainst J.S.O. for free speech violations.Anyone willing to contribute to his legal defense fundshould make out a check or money order to FL CAN and sendto:2613 Larry Ct,Melbourne, FL 32935P.S. even small contributions make a differenceKevin AVisualizing Freedom,Shared by Kay Lee2613 Larry CourtEau Gallie, Florida 32935MAKING THE WALLS TRANSPARENThttp://www.zyworld.com/kay~lee/garywaid.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Ed Carpenter on October 26, 2000 at 02:22:52 PT: Demonstrator arrested "Police said Scott Bledsoe, 28, of Orange Park was arrested at 7:45 p.m. on Independent Drive West and charged with opposing an officer who told him to leave."'Opposing an officer,' Hmmm, they have some creative charges in Florida. There is also one called 'resisting arrest without violence' like when they have to carry you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by arcturus on October 26, 2000 at 00:29:14 PT Let me get this straight. You can be arrested for not leaving if an officer of the law tells you to even if s/he doesn't have the right to tell you to? Ahhhhhhhhhhh! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by DdC on October 25, 2000 at 21:41:11 PT More SS Gestapo abuses of Free Speech HooraySo happy to see someone from Florida besides the evil McCollum or Mica. Go Scott!DdC [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: