Fallbrook protesters report assault

A small group of civil rights protesters in Fallbrook was assaulted on March 31 “by a man who said he was in the military,” according to an article in the North County Times (4/2/07).

Reportedly, the incident occurred about 1 p.m. when the group, which included two ministers and an 8-year old girl, was attacked. They were holding a copy of the Constitution and holding the US flag upside down. The Times reported that “According to a report filed with deputies, a suspect – a white man in a silver car – threatened to strike Brian York, a Fallbrook resident,” when a second minister stepped in and was knocked over by the assailant.

This is a bizarre story. First, Fallbrook is a military town, and no serviceman loyal to the Constitution would attempt to deprive demonstrators of their First Amendment rights. The military is sworn to uphold the Constitution. Certainly the Constitution is under attack by the Bush administration, but not by the military, I fervently hope. If the attacker is in the military, I have to believe it was because of a serious misperception. Regardless, there is no justification for committing criminal battery.

The Times reported that the group was protesting the Bush Torture and Detention Legalization Act passed by Congress last October 17. I certainly applaud these brave folks for that. This is among the most sinister and immoral pieces of legislation ever passed by Congress and is already targeted for repeal by the new Democratically-controlled Congress.

Americans are horrified by this act, which permits use of secret evidence obtained by torture, permits the detention of American citizens as enemy combatants without any proof and denies the right of habeas corpus to anyone “the government” labels as an enemy combatant.

Joe Howard Crews