Anti-War Minister's leg broken in hallway scuffle with Capitol police

[ViolaLee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiradcejA6o

They tackled him and piled on and broke his leg. He just wanted to get into the Patraeus hearings.

[Stoner]

He shouldn't have resisted the authorities by trying to dash inside. He should have left like they asked him to a billion times.

Now he's not only a dumbass but a dumbass with a broken leg. Too bad he didn't break them both.

I would like to see some evidence that his leg was broken. Maybe it was but all I saw was him claiming it was broke. Could have been a tactic to lie there near the door absorbing the media attention. He definitly isn't beyond something like that.

[ViolaLee]

He didn't try to dash inside, he tried to sidestep them grabbing him. That's what it looked like to me. I'd like to know why they were intent on keeping him out after he waited in line like everyone else.

[Stoner]

He didn't try to dash inside, he tried to sidestep them grabbing him. That's what it looked like to me.

Of course it looked like that to you.

[ViolaLee]

I would like to see some evidence that his leg was broken. Maybe it was but all I saw was him claiming it was broke. Could have been a tactic to lie there near the door absorbing the media attention. He definitly isn't beyond something like that.


Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the HipHop Caucus wanted to attend the Petraeus Hearings yesterday. He stood on line waiting his turn to enter the room. This is what happened to him.

Capitol Hill Police “football tackled” Hip Hop Activist who was in line to enter hearing room for General Petreus’ testimony on Capitol Hill

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus, was attacked by six capitol police today, when he was stopped from entering the Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill, where General Petreaus gave testimony today to a joint hearing for the House Arms Services Committee and Foreign Relations Committee on the war in Iraq.

After waiting in line throughout the morning for the hearing that was scheduled to start at 12:30pm, Rev. Yearwood was stopped from entering the room, while others behind him were allowed to enter. He told the officers blocking his ability to enter the room, that he was waiting in line with everyone else and had the right to enter as well. When they threatened him with arrest he responded with “I will not be arrested today.” According to witnesses, six capitol police, without warning, “football tackled him. He was carried off in a wheel chair by DC Fire and Emergency to George Washington Hospital.

Rev. Yearwood was examined for possible head and leg injuries then transferred to Central Processing. He has been charged with “assaulting a police officer.”

Rev. Yearwood said as he was being released from the hospital to be taken to central booking, “The officers decided I was not going to get in Gen. Petreaus’ hearing when they saw my button, which says ‘I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ.’”

The Capitol Police work for the Speaker’s Office. I’m calling the Speaker’s office to “discuss” this and I hope you will too. Her office number is: 202-225-0100.

(Update: Liz from HipHop Caucus is at court and can’t get online, but wanted people to know that Rev. Yearwood has a broken leg, he’s in a cast and he’s being arraigned for assaulting an officer and disorderly conduct. Updates as we get them — JH)

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/09/11/this-is-not-what-democracy-looks-like/[hr]
A former Air Force officer and anti-war protester was arrested Monday for causing a disturbance outside the hearing room where Gen. David Petraeus testified on the state of progress in Iraq.

Rev. Lennox Yearwood was a lieutenant in the Individual Ready Reserve until his honorable discharge in mid-August. He has been speaking out against the war in Iraq since before it began because it is “immoral,” he told Air Force Times in August. Yearwood is the president of the Hip Hop Caucus, and activist group which opposes the war.

After the police put Yearwood in handcuffs, he is heard to say his leg is broken on the video. He is then taken away in a wheelchair by medical officials. Havstad said Yearwood was treated at George Washington Hospital for a broken leg.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/09/airforce_yearwood_arrest_070911/

[Stoner]

Still waiting to see evidence or proof his leg was broken. Maybe it was maybe it wasn't. I'm guessing he was being a typical lib whiner. We'll see. Hopefully he's not lying. That would be disgraceful.

Good thing video was rolling to disprove the libs that were standing around that lied about what they saw (officers "gang tackled" him for no reason). The video clearly shows him trying to slide past the officers. Regardless of lib opinion and distortion of the facts the lib reverand was charged. No charges against the officers.

Guess libs see what they want (even when there's video).

[BoogyMan]

Doing a little Google searching for Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. turns up a few interesting links. I would imagine that Mr. Yearwood is a known entity on the hill. He apparently made a spectacle of himself during the Katrina hearings.

Mr Yearwood obviously tried to evade the Capital Police as well as argued with their instructions. It is too bad that he is hurt, but the Capital Police did their jobs.

[ViolaLee]

This is why I could never be a Republican. You guys believe in police brutality. You don't believe in the right of people to attend government hearings. You think it's not a problem that the Capitol police broke his leg. It's ok because he's a war protestor and a Katrina protestor. He deserves it.

My ideals are the total opposite. Every citizen should be able to protest and watch government hearings without any fear of brutality or pain or harrassement. The government should fear the people, not the other way around.

I'm a patriot. I believe in the constitution. I believe in the bill of rights. I'm disgusted by my fellow americans who don't mind those rights being abused.[hr]“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”
Patrick Henry

[Stoner]

It is too bad that he is hurt

Well alledgedly. Still waiting for something official to be posted.

I bet next time he won't assault a police officer.

[ViolaLee]

I posted two links Stoner. What exactly do you want? Should I go get the guy and have him post here for you?

Please show me in which part of the video did he assault a police officer.

You're getting a little out there stoner.....come back to reality![hr]Stoner, call the Speaker of the House. The Capitol Hill cops work directly under her.

These police serve directly under the Speaker of the House. Please call the Speaker's office and ask as politely as possible just "What is going on here?" Her office number is:202-225-0100

Ask Nancy if his leg is broken. Let us know.

[BoogyMan]

This is why I could never be a Republican. You guys believe in police brutality. You don't believe in the right of people to attend government hearings. You think it's not a problem that the Capitol police broke his leg. It's ok because he's a war protestor and a Katrina protestor. He deserves it.

What brutality are you speaking of Viola, the police forcing a man who tried to evade them to the ground? You make comments like this without any kind of deference to the fact that these guys are there to protect the most powerful people in our government and are expected to take seriously such threats as someone evading them and refusing to follow their instructions.


My ideals are the total opposite. Every citizen should be able to protest and watch government hearings without any fear of brutality or pain or harrassement. The government should fear the people, not the other way around.

There is a huge difference is protesting and refusing to follow the instructions of the police and then trying to evade them. That kind of activity certainly warrants the officers taking the guy to the floor.

[Saigio]

It is too bad that he is hurt

Well alledgedly. Still waiting for something official to be posted.

I bet next time he won't assault a police officer.


I guess your hatred of liberals comes before your hatred of cops.
It even blinds you to reality.

[Stoner]

I posted two links Stoner. What exactly do you want? Should I go get the guy and have him post here for you?



I saw nothing in your links that was proof that he actually broke his leg. We'll find out soon enough if he did. Only thing I saw was a spokesperson for the Hip Hop Caucass saying he was treated for a broken leg. I'm waiting for something from doctors or the hospital.

What I did find in your link was this.

Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, spokeswoman for the Capitol Police, said Yearwood was stopped from entering the room after attempting to cut in front of people waiting to get in.

“What he tried to do was jump to the front of the line. He was told he couldn’t do that,” Schneider said. “And he pretty much charged at the officers to get past them into the room, after he was told not to.”



This one was also good (and from your link as well).

The video of the arrest begins as Yearwood is talking heatedly with officers, so it is unclear how the incident began. Almost two minutes in, though, Yearwood walks past one officer, and another officer puts his hands on Yearwood’s shoulders. Yearwood shrugs the officer off sharply, and six to eight officer immediately jump the minister and push him to the ground, where he is handcuffed.

Cops did their job. And a good one at that. By the way, that annyong voice you hear in the video telling cops he's "a peaceful man" is none other than scumbag lib extrordinaire Cindy Sheehan.

[ViolaLee]

Doing a little Google searching for Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. turns up a few interesting links. I would imagine that Mr. Yearwood is a known entity on the hill. He apparently made a spectacle of himself during the Katrina hearings.

Mr Yearwood obviously tried to evade the Capital Police as well as argued with their instructions. It is too bad that he is hurt, but the Capital Police did their jobs.
What do you mean by a spectacle? Because he's an activist for Katrina victims, that's making a spectacle? Everyone should just shut up and go home? (actually if that's what you wish for, it's happening now, in apathetic America).

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., is a minister, community activist, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop political life. A powerful and fiery orator, Rev. Yearwood works diligently and tirelessly to encourage the Hip Hop generation to utilize its political and social voice. He currently serves as President of the Hip Hop Caucus in Washington, D.C. The Hip Hop Caucus is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan, organization that inspires and motivates those born after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Rev. Yearwood is known for his activist work as the National Director of the Gulf Coast Renewal Campaign in which he organized a coalition of national organizations and grassroots organizations to advocate for the rights of Hurricane Katrina survivors. More recently, Rev. Yearwood has become an important figure in the peace movement as an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq and the Bush Administration. He was an Officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and recently led a "Make Hip Hop Not War" national tour to engage more young people in the movement for peace.

Rev. Yearwood was a co-creator of the 2004 campaign Vote or Die with Sean Diddy Combs. He was also the Political and Grassroots Director for Russell Simmons Hip Hop Summit Action Network in 2003 and 2004, and a Senior Consultant to Jay Zs Voice Your Choice.

Rev. Yearwood, was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He earned his undergraduate degree from University of the District of Columbia in 1998 and was awarded a Master of Divinity from Howard University in May 2002. Firmly grounded in his Caribbean and Louisiana roots, Rev. Yearwood is a fierce advocate for the poor and minorities. Rev. Yearwood has been seen on CNN, BET Tonight, MTV, BBC, C-Span, and Hardball with Chris Mathews and featured in the Washington Post, The New York Times and VIBE.http://hiphopcaucus.org/rev.php[hr]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwKpr1CEQ00

Taking him away in the wheel chair

[Saigio]

The video of the arrest begins as Yearwood is talking heatedly with officers, so it is unclear how the incident began. Almost two minutes in, though, Yearwood walks past one officer, and another officer puts his hands on Yearwood’s shoulders. Yearwood shrugs the officer off sharply, and six to eight officer immediately jump the minister and push him to the ground, where he is handcuffed.

So shrugging hand off your shoulder should be met with about 7 people jumping on you, pushing you to the ground, and then handcuffing you?
How big is this guy that it takes seven people to restrain him instead of one or two?

[BoogyMan]

Doing a little Google searching for Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. turns up a few interesting links. I would imagine that Mr. Yearwood is a known entity on the hill. He apparently made a spectacle of himself during the Katrina hearings.

Mr Yearwood obviously tried to evade the Capital Police as well as argued with their instructions. It is too bad that he is hurt, but the Capital Police did their jobs.
What do you mean by a spectacle? Because he's an activist for Katrina victims, that's making a spectacle? Everyone should just shut up and go home? (actually if that's what you wish for, it's happening now, in apathetic America).

LOL, you post his information from his own website to tell us what a great guy he is, now that is just precious. He made a spectacle of himself with regard to Katrina by interrupting a proceeding and trying to speak over the participants.

Yearwood resisted the instruction of the police and then tried to evade them. He was taken down as he should have been. He was apparently injured in the process which is unfortunate, but if you are going to act is a threatening way you should be prepared to deal with the consequences of your actions.

The police did the right thing here and should not be vilified for having done so.

[Saigio]

Didn't you know, Viola? That's just a part of the big lib lie. [/sarcasm]

[ViolaLee]

Cops did their job. And a good one at that. By the way, that annyong voice you hear in the video telling cops he's "a peaceful man" is none other than scumbag lib extrordinaire Cindy Sheehan.


You have quite a disdain for peaceful people and the mother of a US soldier who died in Iraq.

[lily]

I posted two links Stoner. What exactly do you want? Should I go get the guy and have him post here for you?

you posted 2 articles and the only one that said his leg was broken was Havstad, his spokesperson.........I think it would be important enough that one of the articles that stated he left the hospital, would be un-biased enough to actually confirm that....but both said he was released after being looked at.

Now you know I was going to be all up in arms there with you Viola after watching the video........but about half way through, I recognized the woman that made a specticle of herself, screaming and yelling in the room that the hearing was taking place. So I'm just going to assume, since she is being brought out in handcuffs and the person (name escapes me) said that they were pressing charges and any others that wanted to make asses out of themselves, please leave now.........and the reverand was already causing a rucus outside.......even before being let in.......that sorry, he deserved to be turned away and if he chose to resist while being asked several times to please move away......then sorry, he's got no one to blame but himslef.

[Pookie]

Mercy! It's one thing to be restrained, but breaking a leg? Ouch! That might have been just a little too much restraint there, maybe. I used to be a cop, and I never, ever hurt anyone I had to restrain, no matter if I got beat up in the process. I don't know though -- I was one of those cops who tried to reason with folks before putting my hands on them, and about 97% of the time it worked.
Purrs,

[BoogyMan]

Mercy! It's one thing to be restrained, but breaking a leg? Ouch! That might have been just a little too much restraint there, maybe. I used to be a cop, and I never, ever hurt anyone I had to restrain, no matter if I got beat up in the process. I don't know though -- I was one of those cops who tried to reason with folks before putting my hands on them, and about 97% of the time it worked.
Purrs,


If you watch that video Pookie, you will see that they DID try to reason with the guy and he just keeps repeating no to their requests.

[ViolaLee]

.......... but if you are going to act is a threatening way you should be prepared to deal with the consequences of your actions.

The police did the right thing here and should not be vilified for having done so.


If he acted in a threatening way I would agree with you.

Stoner - several of the links said that Liz of Hip Hop Caucus verified that his leg is broken.

Liz Havstad
202.787.5256 (office)
510.206.6749 (cell)
liz at hiphopcaucus dot org

There ya go, call her up and ask.

http://hiphopcaucus.org/press.php

[BoogyMan]

.......... but if you are going to act is a threatening way you should be prepared to deal with the consequences of your actions.

The police did the right thing here and should not be vilified for having done so.


If he acted in a threatening way I would agree with you.

He did, and you should. :D


Stoner - several of the links said that Liz of Hip Hop Caucus verified that his leg is broken.

Liz Havstad
202.787.5256 (office)
510.206.6749 (cell)
liz at hiphopcaucus dot org

There ya go, call her up and ask.

http://hiphopcaucus.org/press.php


Isn't this a bit like calling up the guy's momma to ask if he is a good guy?

[ViolaLee]

I posted two links Stoner. What exactly do you want? Should I go get the guy and have him post here for you?

you posted 2 articles and the only one that said his leg was broken was Havstad, his spokesperson.........I think it would be important enough that one of the articles that stated he left the hospital, would be un-biased enough to actually confirm that....but both said he was released after being looked at.

Now you know I was going to be all up in arms there with you Viola after watching the video........but about half way through, I recognized the woman that made a specticle of herself, screaming and yelling in the room that the hearing was taking place. So I'm just going to assume, since she is being brought out in handcuffs and the person (name escapes me) said that they were pressing charges and any others that wanted to make asses out of themselves, please leave now.........and the reverand was already causing a rucus outside.......even before being let in.......that sorry, he deserved to be turned away and if he chose to resist while being asked several times to please move away......then sorry, he's got no one to blame but himslef.


I've been watching hearings for years. I've been watching code pink sit behind Gonzales and other people testifying and when they chant impeach, end the war, or whatever, they are not escorted out.

This time they were.

This time the Cap police broke a minister's leg. I disagree with you Lily. I don't think the proper punishment is to bash his head into the ground and break his leg.[hr]


.......... but if you are going to act is a threatening way you should be prepared to deal with the consequences of your actions.

The police did the right thing here and should not be vilified for having done so.


If he acted in a threatening way I would agree with you.

He did, and you should. :DSo you're threatened by a guy shrugging your hands off his shoulders? You're threatened by a quick jerk to the left to get someone to take their hands off you?

Why are so you afraid?


Stoner - several of the links said that Liz of Hip Hop Caucus verified that his leg is broken.

Liz Havstad
202.787.5256 (office)
510.206.6749 (cell)
liz at hiphopcaucus dot org

There ya go, call her up and ask.

http://hiphopcaucus.org/press.php


Isn't this a bit like calling up the guy's momma to ask if he is a good guy?
Do you think she is lying when she says his leg is broken?

Why would you think she is lying?

[BoogyMan]

I've been watching hearings for years. I've been watching code pink sit behind Gonzales and other people testifying and when they chant impeach, end the war, or whatever, they are not escorted out.

This time they were.

This time the Cap police broke a minister's leg. I disagree with you Lily. I don't think the proper punishment is to bash his head into the ground and break his leg.


Bash his head into the ground and break his leg? You speak as if they were TRYING to hurt the guy Viola. He didn't go down until he tried to evade the police, and they did what they had to do to stop the guy which was take him to the floor as quickly as possible. They had no idea whether the guy was carrying a weapon or what.

Had he followed instruction, he probably would have had no trouble.

The guy is no victim of anything other than his own foolishness.[hr]So you're threatened by a guy shrugging your hands off his shoulders? You're threatened by a quick jerk to the left to get someone to take their hands off you?

Why are so you afraid?

Bwahahahahaa. You have no ground upon which to stand here Viola. The guy tried to evade and disobey the police.

Why do you hate the Capital Police and order? :D

[Saigio]

Isn't seven officers restraining one man excessive? Or is this guy that big?

[Pookie]

I think, perhaps, since 9/11 many police officers have gotten a bit more tough on people. And I cannot blame them. You just never know, really, who might have a weapon and who wants to do harm. Perhaps seven officers on one man is a bit overdone, but this is the Capitol. Remember Flight 93 was supposed to hit the Capitol. Although I still think it's a little over the top, you really can't fault them for their actions. You can say perhaps it was too much, and maybe put those officers on administrative leave with no pay for a few days, but when people refuse to listen to reason, that's when things can get out of hand in a big hurry.
Purrs,

[lily]

I've been watching hearings for years. I've been watching code pink sit behind Gonzales and other people testifying and when they chant impeach, end the war, or whatever, they are not escorted out.

This time they were.

......as have I Viola and if you would have been watching Monday you would have noticed the woman in the yellow. Watching the second video it puts it right in the time frame I was talking about, the other one that was taken out, in the pink hair band was right when, (was his name Lantos) ordered quiet and calm in the room. He, a Demococrat no less, wanted the hearings to proceed.

Your own article and the video shows exactly what happend after that.......the reverand cut in front of people, refused to listen to the police and then started the tussle. The police were already ordered to keep the peace and they were doing their job. I'm sorry, I don't have much respect for people that don't do what police tell them to do.

With that said. There were plenty of code pink people sitting in the hard to get last seats that sat quietly and listened, so no.....they weren't targeting people that they didn't like......they were doing what they were there for......to keep the peace and to let the hearings go on in an orderly fashion.

This time the Cap police broke a minister's leg. I disagree with you Lily. I don't think the proper punishment is to bash his head into the ground and break his leg.

Well..........I've done my own search, plus the articles you linked to and no reliable source said he broke anything. If he did, you don't think this would be front page news???