2009 Tax Day Tea Party at the State Capitol.
A state official told organizers that under the permit rules “signs, banners, posters and other similar displays” can’t be supported by any metal, wood or plastic posts.
Steve Swanson, a member of Triangle Conservatives Unite, asked if that included flags. After several attempts to get a straight answer, he was told yes.
“If flags are affixed to, or supported by any metal, wood or plastic posts or other supportive devices constructed of metal, wood or plastic they would not be allowed,” wrote Jennifer Norton, an administrative officer in the N.C. Department of Administration Facility Management Division.
“It seems that this rule is also about our flag – outrageous,” said Laura Long, the Triangle Conservatives Unite organizer.
The rule against metal, wood or plastic flag poles also applies to color guards. Norton said that requests for events that include color guards would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The rule does not apply, however, to small hand-held flags.
The penalty for violating the rule is revocation of the permit, which means that the police could shut the rally down, said Swanson.
Apparently, the rule was not in effect for last year’s Tea Party on the same site. It was written by Tony Jordan, facility management division director, in consultation with the State Capitol Police “to protect participates and citizens,” according to Norton.
Swanson said he believes state officials are not sure how to handle Tea Party events because they are a new phenomena. “The problem is that there have never been protests from the right,” he said. While protests from the left have been common, conservative groups usually hold rallies and prayer vigils, he said.
"I am concerned that our citizens while demonstrating at the upcoming Tax Day Tea Party, will be arrested for waving American flags or other appropriate signs while expressing their First Amendment Rights,” said Claude E. Pope Jr., Wake Republican Party chair.
The Raleigh event will feature speeches from several Congressional candidates and organizations, including NC Listen, Americans for Prosperity, the John Locke Foundation and North Carolinians for Free and Proper Elections.
The event begins at 5 p.m. In conjunction with the event on the Capitol grounds, there will be a Rolling Tea Party from 4 to 9 p.m. This consists of people riding in a set downtown route that circles the General Assembly, the Governor’s mansion, and the Capitol.
Comments
I see that you quoted me in this piece, but I did not say that this was about our flag. This is clearly about how our flag will be carried, about how the color guard will not be allowed to have their ceremony at our event unless a special amendment is granted to our permit, and how the NC government is encouraging its own citizens to break the US flag code if they want to bring an American flag to this event. When did it become a threatening overture to carry a flag on a flag pole? And yes, I do think that is outrageous! Thanks for writing on this important topic.
Good Lord people! You can carry a flag in any way that you please as long as the pole isn't longer than 12 inches.
This is just more distraction by the right in an effort to seem like the victims.
Make a mountain out of this but at the same time this party wants to control the rights of 2 same sex consenting adults to marry and women's reproductive rights.
All smoke and mirrors.
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