January 2005

By Kevin Tull

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(No I’m not writing letters to myself, it’s a real friend who just happens to be named Kevin)

If this is "DEMOCRACY" I would much rather live in a fascist state! This is JUST PLAIN WRONG FOLKS! It is unjust no matter how one looks at it.

Kevin H

(Referring to a story about Michael Badnarik and David Cobb being arrested for crossing police lines as a protest against the looming draft and for OPEN DEBATES at the Saint Louis Presidential debates held at Washington University)

Hi Kevin,

Earlier that afternoon before the candidates crossed the police line there was a protest march and a rally and there were about a thousand people representing various groups, all anti-Bush/Kerry.

I was there, and if Michael and David had not been allowed to cross the police line there was 60 to 70 other people (Greens and Libertarians) who would have crossed the police line. At that point it was clear that they would have beat us and arrested us, this was a peaceful protest, but the storm troopers looked at us with murderous rage in their eyes. It is very unnerving to see such contempt from persons sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution.

Apparently cooler heads prevailed among the commanders of these soldiers and they allowed David Cobb and Michael Badnarik to cross the line without any physical violence occurring. Both David and Michael had planned it this way, but all it would have taken was one freaked out police state soldier to turn the peaceful protest into a bludgeoning of peaceful protesters. They crossed the line as the crowd chanted proudly "Bill Of Rights, Bill Of Rights!"

We had people in place to make sure that they were bailed out if needed. They were cuffed for three hours according to what I have heard. This is a clear sign of the brutality of the police, when you consider that neither of these men resisted arrest or in any way threatened anyone. They said that they both wished to cross the line and planned on being arrested. They said that they did not wish for any of their supporters to cross the police line with them because they rightly knew that it would become a riotous situation. All charges were dropped against both Presidential Candidates, now if charges could only be brought against the two treasonous candidates who debated in the gym last night.

I am proud of Michael and David for their willingness to risk their health and their freedom for an opportunity to have our freedom of speech represented in the debates and the media. They did this so that maybe we can start having the real questions asked and get the real answers, not scripted status quo sound bites from the candidates who have worked to trample our freedoms.

This protest should have been front-page news across America, it was covered, but the significance of this historic event was downplayed to a second page story or a mere paragraph or two by the major media. There was some television coverage, but again the importance of the event was treated with minimalist excitement for the major story that it really was.

I, earlier at the rally, (at the park across the street from Washington University) had the opportunity to introduce Michael Badnarik and to let the crowd know that the Libertarian Party was my party and that I was proud to be here to introduce one of the bravest men I have ever known, and I can also say now that David Cobb is another one of the bravest men I have had the pleasure to meet.

Even though there are major differences between the Greens and the Libertarians we joined together in peaceful protest against injustice and we were one group that night in the finest tradition of peaceful resistance against this leviathan state.

Well Kevin, that's the news from the front and if you wish, spread this around. I've attached a few pics from the event, unfortunately by the time that we came back around to the front entrance where the candidates crossed I didn't have the opportunity to get pics so these ones are around the back of the college where there were fewer Darth Vader wannabes. Look close and you will see the APC with turret behind the blockade.

Your friend in Liberty,

Kevin Tull

2004 Libertarian US Senate Candidate from Missouri

thejclib2@juno.com

816 921 2723