West Easton police coverage is provided by state police. Unable to enforce local ordinances that might have applied here, they charged Mezzacappa with littering. This is covered by the state Vehicle Code.
Those charges have been dismissed at the direction of NorCo DA John Morganelli, who looked into this matter. His conclusion is that Mezzacappa was engaged in core political speech and was not scattering rubbish.
Morganelli, a Democrat, has himself been subjected to numerous venomous attacks over the years from Mezzacappa. But he is a free speech purist, an unusual trait in a district attorney. In 2004, he dismissed trespassing charges filed against peace activists who were distributing anti-war flyers on a public sidewalk outside the Palmer post office. Three years later, he dismissed criminal charges filed against a Washington Township man who was flying the American flag in an upside down position. In 2012, he refused to prosecute a troll over online comments about a judge. That year, he also dismissed attempted robbery charges against "Nature Dave," a bank protester who held a sign inside a bank, warning customers they were being robbed. he did allow a terroristic threat charge to stand.
The best way to assure that people that people you agree with are heard is to ensure that those you disagree with are heard, too.
16 comments:
Thank God the DA saw through this blatant attempt to harass this poor young woman yet again. Some people have nothing but a sick hatred in their hearts and continue to harass this woman.
This was a BS charge. It could have been brought against a lot of politico's who do the same thing every election. Why were cops told to charge her? We all know why.
Kudos to the DA for being the Professional and real sane grown up in the room.
Cops were told ro charge her? Who told them? Nobody tells police, especially the PSP,, who to charge or not charge without themselves breaking the law.
This is all much ado over nothing. She never did anything wrong in the first place
"The best way to assure that people that people you agree with are heard is to ensure that those you disagree with are heard, too."
Indeed!!
Good call.
I have no dog in this hunt. Except for this principle.
Glad to see the influence of law and order brought about by the election of President Trump is already having an effect.
Grab her by the pussy. We are a nation of laws.
5:17PM
I see your point....
The light is not defined by the day, but by the darkness of night.
There is a touch of irony when Library Referendum opponents made a big deal about supporter signs without a printed disclaimer and then hung there own opposition signs without disclamers. Much like the trump signs, stapled on utility poles. Who needs a library when we can have a serene dam?
Yes, obviously this was not the same as scattering dirty diapers.
However, when does a sign cease being free speech and become rubbish itself? I can see someone writing political comments and slogans on trash as a way to claim they are not scattering rubbish.
Still, while it might not be criminal. I do see a legitimate claim of a civil case from the utility poles' owner(s). If they can prove damaged was made upon the poles as a direct result of this.
Again, the 1st Amendment does not protect one from their own stupidity and poor choices. Many don't understand that.
It could be criminal, too, but it is NOT littering. There are numerous ordinances in many jurisdictions that bar the use of signs on street markers. There is a compelling state interest in public health and welfare, which trumps the political speech. But it is NOT littering. She was charged with littering.
It is also illegal to drive a nail or tack or attaches any metal or hard substance to or into any pole of any public utility pole line. 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6905. But once again, she was charged with littering. Also, I have no idea whether she was using a nail gun or stapler to put up signs on utility poles. I doubt it.
Isn't there an ordinance that AFTER an election, all of the electioneering signs be removed ?
Were these signs taken down by her ?
9:56 AM all indications say that the workers in the highway department we're taking down the signs right after she was putting them up, I guess they didn't want the no parking and speed limit signs covered, free-speech is one thing but to cover over legally posted signage is another. Do that in the community the DA lives, cover all the signage in his community and see how they like it.
The illiterate Hillary brigade were so triggered by an election eve Trump dump, that they actually wasted their time and the police time by censoring free speech, to their ultimate evil demise, as Trump and the entire R ticket took West Easton easily Red, for the first time in history.
Interesting that the Hillary brigade , ie, Henry and Dan and Dezznuts have no rpoblem with Hillary signs in the park, or all of the garland , wreathes and bells that are put up on these same signs each year at the holidays by citizens who celebrate x-mas. Did not see Boorugh officals tearing down the christmas ornaments year after year that get hung up on the signs and poles, or ludicrous cries to the police to arrest the offenders.
Message: do your fucking jobs assholes.....had you done your jobs, we would not have had the crater on adamson street caused by your eternal stupidity and incompetence. A public hazzard and public safety disaster. Election 2017 coming soon .......
9:56, The signs were taken down by West Easton.
11:47, In the community where the DA lives, a police department exists to enforce local ordinances. Any municipality that is unable to provide its own police election has no real reason to exist.
12:36, aka Constable cRaZy, for the third time, you'll go down in flames.
We don't have a police dept. in Williams Township and we exist. If a constable runs for a seat on Council they have to resign from their position.
Numerous communities rely on PSP. If unable to provide this basic service, it has no reason to exist.
A constable does NOT have to resign his position to be on council. In Hamburg the Constable was also the Mayor.
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