ACLU files lawsuit over arrests at Santorum book signing

RANDALL CHASE
Associated Press

.. According to the lawsuit, the women went to a Barnes & Noble store at Concord Mall in Wilmington to challenge Santorum at an event advertised as a book signing and discussion of his book, "It Takes a Family."

The women were ordered to leave by a uniformed state trooper providing security at the event after a member of Santorum's promotional team overheard them talking before the Republican lawmaker arrived, according to the lawsuit.

"The advertisements said 'book signing and discussion,' not 'discussion only if you agree with the senator,'" said Julia Graff, staff attorney for the Delaware chapter of the ACLU, which joined with the Pennsylvania ACLU chapter in filing the lawsuit. "The trooper denied these women their right to share their views with an elected official. This is precisely the kind of conduct the First Amendment was designed to guard against." ..

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Delaware State Police Sgt. Mark DiJiacomo and the Santorum representative, identified only as "Jane Doe." ..

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/14709600.htm

We were wondering if anything would come of that incident. I'll post in our Delaware forum as well!

I understand what Santorum is up to but, for the life of me, I really wonder what is going on in the minds of all these official authorities across the country who seem to be so willing to throw Americans out of somewhere because they disagree with someone in authority. 'Tis a sad state we're in, America.

.. nonauthoritarians in the country. Across the political spectrum, a surprising number of people jumped on the authoritarian bandwagon ...

are scared and want big daddy to protect them from the scary brown people!!

They're probably thinking the same thing as all the DUers
who are willing to throw away others free speech rights when
it suits their purposes. And the names of those DUers are
legion.

Tesha

nt

Security official refused to identify themselves? Not good. Maybe Barnes and Noble should decline any future Santorum signings.

And damn good timing as well. He's already smarting from the "absentee homeowner" scandal.

Keep up the pressure!

Damn, learn something new every day. They can't possibly have much in the way of comprehension skills...

Todd in Beerbratistan, in a snarky mood

You would think he would had had someone from Halliburton/KBR providing security.

AND what happen to the Capitol Hill Police? They are used for security in their home state? Or were they lying about that as usual? If they do provide security to congressional members away from the Capitol then why are state police needed?

Personally, I think state police should not be used in that capacity. Especially, when Santorum was not elected by the people of Delaware.

and was off-duty but showed up IN UNIFORM and in his police cruiser. He actually ordered the girls to place their hands on the hood of his car as if he was going to search them. He used his official position to intimidate those young women.

There's some info at this link that indicates that the Delaware State Police initially defended this guy's actions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102&topic_id=2316284&mesg_id=2317951