It's unknown as to whether or not these idiots driving around actually committed any crime at this point (apart from the one the police got one of them for - unrelated to this activity). But people like this are the reason there are legitimate issues with the Confederate flag, and that it makes folks uncomfortable. This is a perfect example of abusing the right to speech and expression. Sure, they legally have the right to drive around with flags in a convoy to show support for the flag and the idea. Where it crosses the line is when they verbally abuse another or a whole group with obvious racist epitaphs - and at a child's birthday party no less. Conservatives can stand for principles, but they should take the high road and not give reason for further hatred of their ideas. These men are truly disgusting. There's a video at the link if you wish to watch. ----------------- Terrifying moment a black child's birthday party was interrupted by 'armed' white men carrying Confederate flags 'shouting n-word death threats' Seven pickup trucks with flags arrived at party in Douglasville, Georgia Owner of house said that men threatened violence and were armed Police, sued for racism last year, arrested one man on unrelated charges By Christopher Brennan For Dailymail.com A black child's birthday party in Georgia was interrupted by a group of men driving pickup trucks with Confederate flags who were allegedly armed and threatening violence. Video of the incident showed at least seven trucks with both Confederate and American flags driving past the outraged party-goers in Douglasville on Saturday. A woman who posted a second video says that one of the white truck drivers, who she alleged were armed, said he would 'kill y’all [N-words]'. Scroll down for videos Cell phone video shows a convoy of pickup trucks decorated with Confederate flags that arrived at the house of Melissa Alford (left) during a child's birthday party +3 Alford said on Facebook that one of the men said he would 'kill y'all n*****s' and they had a shotgun with them 'This is a child's birthday party,' someone is heard yelling at the men. Melissa Alford, who said on Facebook that she lives in the house where the party was being held, said that the uninvited guests were armed with a shotgun when they arrived at the party. 'I'm too scared to go to sleep because these guys still have the gun in their possessions,' she said. 'I just want these people to stop terrorizing people,' Melissa posted later. 'I don't mind them riding with their flags but I don't want them going around threaten people in their yard like they did mine or harassing folks either'. Douglasville police said that they were aware of the truck convoy and followed it for a while when it came into their jurisdiction but did not see 'any criminal or traffic infractions'. They said that officers received 'conflicting statements' about what happened at the birthday party and arrested one of the truck passengers on an unrelated charge, according to the Atlanta Constitution Journal. Police called after Confederate flag group invades child's party +3 +3 'This is a child's birthday party,' one person on the grass yelled towards the road. Police said they arrested one man on unrelated charges and were investigating whether anything criminal occurred The department said they had no evidence of shots being fired, but were investigating whether any laws were broken. Douglasville police did not return request for further comment Monday evening. Late last year the department was sued by a former employee who said that he was fired twice for speaking up about racial profiling and racism, according to CBS 46. The incident and prominent use of the Confederate flag comes amid renewed debate over the symbol, which was actually a flag of the secessionist Southern states' armies. Some say that the flag, which featured prominently on the online profile of Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof, supports the legacy of white supremacists and slavery. Others claim that the symbol is part of Southern heritage.
Yes, liberals are well known for slander. My point is that conservatives are right on the argument, so they should rise above that and not mimic it - at least on stage. Two wrongs not making a right, and so forth.
The article is notably light on facts. It suggests the men invaded a private birthday party and threatened people. Past experience with claims of racism should make us a little hesitant to accept everything at face value. I would guess that what happened was they were riding around with their flags and a group of the blacks yelled insults at them. Things probably went down hill from there.
We agree on something. Sort of. This was an egregious abuse of free speech. The thing is, aside from the uttering of death threats, for which I think they should all be charged and made to serve the maximum term, there is no mechanism in the law that curtails such barbarism. But there should be. In the same way that free markets are saved from themselves with a modicum of regulation, so should free speech be. Otherwise we will always be at the mercy of the lowest possible denominator.
We agree "sort of" because I'm presenting a view that is against animals like this, so you like it. Unfortunately, you'll never agree on anything you just said if the races were opposite, because - as you claim - that'd be pointing out something disparaging in blacks, and thus racist. If it can be proven that they uttered death threats, then yes, I agree, action should be taken because promise of an act of violence is not protected under free speech. Short of that, however, it's all hearsay. Any insults, or driving around with the flag are protected by free speech, and although I think what they (supposedly) said was disgusting, I support their right to do it. There can be no gray area with the right to free speech. It either is allowed or it is not. The moment you try to place "offensive" as a label on speech, it opens itself up to interpretation by whoever is currently in charge of interpreting it. That makes it fallible. Freedom of Speech has to be at the mercy of the lowest common denominator, because no human can be trusted with the establishment of "acceptable".
I think it's interesting how your default assumption is that it's always the black people's fault, even when the circumstances would strongly suggest otherwise at first blush.