I've read this story in a few different places from a few different points of view. Also seen an interview with the two guys that wore the shirts.
For whatever reason, a mall security guard asked the two guys to take off their shirts. One of them refused. The security guard was upset and then asked him to leave the mall. The guy refused. The security guard told the guy he was trespassing. The guy said, basically, "have me arrested then". The security guard called the police and said that he was trespassing. He was arrested. The mall backed up the security guard.
I heard earlier today that the charges have been dropped by the mall.
Seems to me that the security guard probably overreacted to the situation. Maybe he was provoked. We don't know. Doesn't matter. An overreaction and that is it.
I don't see this as indicative of anything "going on in America". I remember hearing about many such similar cases all my life. Pretty normal. The US is a nation of laws and people sometimes interpret that differently, sometimes don't understand it and sometimes abuse it.
Two hippies, a six dollar an hour rent-a-cop and a police officer following the letter of the law combined to create a nationwide story about "free speech". Funny.
Last edited by Colin at Mar 6 2003, 06:12 PM
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