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View Full Version : Swastikas appear on overpasses


AlonzoMourning23
09-23-2006, 04:41 PM
Thousands of motorists in Orange County, Fla., were surprised to spot several swastika flags hanging over busy roads Friday, according to a Local 6 News report.

Officials said hours before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, was set to begin, symbols of hate were found hanging on state Road 408 overpasses in the county.

Police removed several 4-foot-long swastika flags from the roads after receiving reports about their locations. Officers said the flags were placed along Hemple Avenue and Dorscher and Winter Garden roads.


"I think they are kind of sick people," motorist Diane Abramson said. "(They are) people who have no respect for other people and probably don't have respect for their own religion."

"We hope this is the aberrant acts of hatred and intolerance of really just a few," Jewish Community Center representative Elaine Silver said. "And this is something that is not acceptable to our community as a whole."

It is not known how many people were behind hanging the flags on the overpasses.

"Even though displaying the flags is not illegal, it is offensive and hurtful to many," Local 6's Deborah Garcia said.

"I just hope it is just the flag they are doing and not any other damage or hurtful things to other people," Abramson said.

The intelligence unit with the sheriff's office is investigating the flags and into statutes that may have been violated.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

http://www.local6.com/news/9913716/detail.html

Police removed swastika banners hung from two freeway overpasses Friday, the day that the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana begins, authorities said.

One Nazi emblem was found hanging over state Route 78 at Escondido Avenue in Vista. A California Highway Patrol officer took it down just before 6 a.m., authorities said.

A second swastika banner was reported hanging from the Sea World Drive overpass on southbound Interstate 5 in San Diego, according to the CHP. When officers arrive, the banner had already been removed, authorities said.


A CHP representative said that the banner found in Vista had been thrown in the trash and officials did not expect any further action to be taken and that no investigation was going to be undertaken.

Hanging a sign from a freeway overpass is illegal, the CHP said.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/9910995/detail.html

Cobra
09-23-2006, 07:44 PM
They should of used spray paint, banners are a lot quicker and easier to remove. Then again we are dealing with neo-nazi skinheads who aren’t particularly known for their cleverness.

lily
09-23-2006, 10:57 PM
Then again we are dealing with neo-nazi skinheads who aren’t particularly known for their cleverness.

Probably from huffing the spray paint!

Labrocca
09-24-2006, 03:43 AM
In most places spray paint is a felony...however hanging signs is most likely a misdemeanor with a small fine...I would say they are smart.

Cobra
09-24-2006, 06:11 AM
Were they planning on getting caught, I'd still go with getting as much bang for your buck. Their banners weren't up anytime before being removed by the first cops that got to them.

Labrocca
09-25-2006, 03:12 AM
Yeah but the originality of the banners got them more publicity.

Cobra
09-25-2006, 03:28 AM
Ahh, I see. Good point, banners are prettier too.

So why should it be illegal to hang banners in public, free speech/expression and all. Considering my belief system I think I should be defending their right to as awful as it sounds.

Labrocca
09-25-2006, 04:26 AM
And I think that's part of their point too Cobra. Most cities allow for all types of posters and banners. While I do admit it shouldn't be allowed on a highway I think they should be legal along with Garage Sale signs or whatever else people posts. Most cities however do have laws concerning "posts" in public areas. Spray painting is considered vandalism though and can range from a fine to a felony charge with jail time.

Mayberry
09-25-2006, 11:12 PM
This can probably be twisted to fit under the banner (no pun intended) of "hate crimes". That is most likely why they were taken down so quickly, and I wouldn't be surprised if charges were filed if the people who hung those flags get caught. It is reprehensible, but it's their right to free speech I guess.

ECW
09-27-2006, 06:35 AM
Free speech is one thing but hanging a sign, any sign, on a freeway overpass is illegal because it could distract motorists into a crash. If they had any balls they would have paraded with those banners. That would have been legal but then people would have seen the yahoos carrying the banners as well. They may have suffered an ass kicking if I was driving by... that's probably why, in the dead of the night, they hung banners instead.

firefox
09-27-2006, 06:41 AM
Yeah. Panzies! Would you really expect them to be anything BUT spineless jerks though?

ECW
09-27-2006, 06:43 AM
The only brave Nazis I see are on Jerry Springer and they are brave because Steve keeps the audience from beating them up. The rest of them are hiding in the darkness counting the days they have left.

firefox
09-28-2006, 03:19 AM
Yeah I used to know of some neos near where I used to live in San Diego. Are you familiar with the attacking/murdering of the three gay men @ the annual gay pride fest by these guys? It was a couple of months ago.

Anti-Racism
10-01-2006, 05:43 PM
While I do admit it shouldn't be allowed on a highway I think they should be legal along with Garage Sale signs or whatever else people posts.

I thought that was what "free speech" meant. They should be able to post their signs, distribute their fliers, have their speeches without any of us necessarily reacting or caring.

lily
10-01-2006, 11:52 PM
I thought that was what "free speech" meant. They should be able to post their signs, distribute their fliers, have their speeches without any of us necessarily reacting or caring.

No.......I'm pretty sure we still get to care.

Anti-Racism
10-05-2006, 07:50 AM
I thought that was what "free speech" meant. They should be able to post their signs, distribute their fliers, have their speeches without any of us necessarily reacting or caring.

No.......I'm pretty sure we still get to care.


That's the word "necessarily." You might care, but to me it's another person exercising their right to have an opinion.

Flea_Bit_Monkey
10-12-2006, 07:30 PM
Free speech is one thing but hanging a sign, any sign, on a freeway overpass is illegal because it could distract motorists into a crash.


That's why billboards are illegal too, right?

underdawg
10-12-2006, 08:18 PM
I don't think banners placed in public places should be illegal. Above the overpass near the gates to Ft Lewis, you can find thousands of yellow ribbons attached to the guard rails reminding us of the troops fighting away from home that have been in place for a few years. I don't think these should be removed any more than other forms of free speech.

Anti-Racism
10-13-2006, 04:27 AM
I don't think banners placed in public places should be illegal.


Good point. What about when certain people are so rabid they cannot control their feelings and tear them down?