Did a federal agent ban anti-Bush signs in downtown storefronts?

Memphis Flyer
03-12-05
CHRIS DAVIS

Did a federal agent ban anti-Bush signs in downtown storefronts?


SIGNING ON “The man who called was very polite and nice,” says John Gasquet, owner of Empire coffee at 2 N. Main in Downtown Memphis. “He said he was special agent Something-or-other. He said that due to the fact that in some states the President had been to, there were issues of security regarding area businesses, he was calling businesses to tell them not to put up any negative signs in their windows that were negative toward President Bush. He said there were designated areas of protest and this would cut down on the possibility of problems.”

Gasquet didn’t have any negative signs in his window, and he hadn’t been planning on posting any signs at all. As a businessman—about to pass his business off to new owners—it didn’t seem logical to post material that might antagonize half his clientele. “I thought sure, okay. Fine. But then it started to irritate me. I’m a veteran… I’ve served my country. I was happy to do it and I would do it again. And it bugged me that someone from the Federal Government would try to tell me not to do this.”

As Gasquet understood it, his job as a soldier had been to defend the Constitution, not a pet policy of this or any administration. By his estimation the first amendment under attack. He wanted to make and post a sign that showed respect for the office of President, but still got the message across. The sign Gasquet posted notified customers that Empire had been contacted by a federal agent and told not to display any anti-Bush signage. In smaller letters it said, “We would like to remind the agent of our first amendment rights.” No action was taken against Empire coffee for displaying the sign, and the authenticity of the caller is still in question.

Customers who saw Gasquet’s sign started telling him that other businesses in the area had been contacted and given similar instructions. No other local incidents have been confirmed at this time. After information concerning the call broke on the Internet on Saturday morning Empire received a call from another business owner in Alabama who had been contacted by "the feds."

~snip~

http://www.memphisflyer.com/content.asp?ID=3184&onthefly=1

the secret service visits in person if the motorcade is going down the streets or in a parade. this has been in practice to my knowledge since reagan , they checked every building and shop owner/employee in my town-in person-since this was a phone call. it`s bullshit.

Stifling dissent through intimidation.

Though I bet the "Special Agent" was probably a Republican party official instead of a law enforcement official, the message was the same:

No public display of dissent in areas that Buxh appears. The "Commander In Chief" is loved and respected by all.

It's ironic that the party of Reagan has transformed us into a clone of the former Soviet Union.

they are everything they claim not to be. They say 'family values', they say they are for the troops, they say that they are fiscally responsible, they say they are Christians. They are what they are not.

Quite concerning that employees of the federal government have become watchdogs for the George Bush.

Also interesting transcript on Bush's speech in Memphis. Notice that FDR has become one of his favorite references.

with the FDR references? What a moran * is!