2008 Woodie Awards
Alabama woman arrested for protesting war
Associated Press
Issue date: 3/17/05 Section: News
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A woman arrested for holding an anti-war poster at Auburn University Montgomery during President Bush's visit last week was released by a city magistrate, who said she was expressing her right to free speech.
The woman was handcuffed by AUM police officer Chris Silvis with help from two state troopers because she refused to protest inside a predetermined area on campus, where other protesters demonstrated, according to the police report.
The woman, who held a sign reading ``Stop the War!'' outside the gym where Bush was speaking Thursday, refused to give her name to authorities and is listed as Jane Doe in court documents.
She was released from the Montgomery County jail Thursday evening when Chief Magistrate Patrick Murphy said the sign was a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment.
``I ordered her released because nothing in the complaint indicated a criminal offense because there was no probable cause and she didn't commit a crime,'' Murphy said.
Her arrest and Murphy's comment were first reported Saturday by New York Times regional newspapers in Florence, Gadsden and Tuscaloosa.
Murphy said the woman did not have to identify herself because there was no probable cause she committed a crime.
AUM spokesman Lee Bridges said the officers asked the woman to limit her protesting to the campus ``free speech zone'' - an area designated by school policy for protests in general.
``She refused to move and apparently used profanity. They were arresting her for disorderly conduct, not protesting,'' Bridges said.
Bridges said protesters have to register with campus police to demonstrate at the free speech zone, located at the library plaza. Bush's speech was held at the gymnasium a few buildings away, where the woman apparently was holding up her sign outside.
The free speech zone was in clear view to anyone waiting to see the president, Bridges said
The woman was handcuffed by AUM police officer Chris Silvis with help from two state troopers because she refused to protest inside a predetermined area on campus, where other protesters demonstrated, according to the police report.
The woman, who held a sign reading ``Stop the War!'' outside the gym where Bush was speaking Thursday, refused to give her name to authorities and is listed as Jane Doe in court documents.
She was released from the Montgomery County jail Thursday evening when Chief Magistrate Patrick Murphy said the sign was a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment.
``I ordered her released because nothing in the complaint indicated a criminal offense because there was no probable cause and she didn't commit a crime,'' Murphy said.
Her arrest and Murphy's comment were first reported Saturday by New York Times regional newspapers in Florence, Gadsden and Tuscaloosa.
Murphy said the woman did not have to identify herself because there was no probable cause she committed a crime.
AUM spokesman Lee Bridges said the officers asked the woman to limit her protesting to the campus ``free speech zone'' - an area designated by school policy for protests in general.
``She refused to move and apparently used profanity. They were arresting her for disorderly conduct, not protesting,'' Bridges said.
Bridges said protesters have to register with campus police to demonstrate at the free speech zone, located at the library plaza. Bush's speech was held at the gymnasium a few buildings away, where the woman apparently was holding up her sign outside.
The free speech zone was in clear view to anyone waiting to see the president, Bridges said