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Help Me Stop the Wachovia Goons from Intimidating Obama Supporters in Norther Virginia
Perhaps someone with more legal knowledge than I can help answer this question.
I was just out on my lunch break (in Arlington, VA) when I noticed a couple of Obama/DNC people out on the sidewalk attempting to register new voters.
The sidewalk in question also happens to be next to a branch of Wachovia Securities. No sooner did the Obama supporters show up, then Wachovia sent out their security goons to tell them they weren't allowed out on the sidewalk and that they'd be arrested if they didn't leave.
Given that they were physically standing on the sidewalk (next to a Metro bus stop and a good 30 feet away from Wachovia); doesn't that mean they're on public property and cannot be told to leave?
I'm not a lawyer, so I'd appreciate it if someone with a knowledge of the law can tell me if this is illegal (and possibly cite the statutues so I can go back out there and tell Wachovia to go to hell)?
They now have their goons...I mean guards stationed out there to make sure they don't return.
I've called the Obama office in Arlington to bring this to their attention, but I want to personally make sure this kind of intimidation stops. Knowing the law would sure help me out.
If someone out there does know this, please contact me at ingvy.mcwawa@gmail.com, or leave a reply in the comments below.
Thanks!
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It's times like these I wish TPM had a preview option, because that post is a grammatical train wreck. Urgh....
September 22, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
hope you get some feedback on this. thanks for posting.
September 22, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some additional (important) information:
I called the branch manager of the local Wachovia office and he was adamant that it is the property management company, not Wachovia, that is trying to scare off the DNC/Obama supporters.
I went into the property management company and spoke with the shrew-in-chief, Ms. Christa Jackson, who was extremely hostile from the get-go.
Ms. Jackson told me that the supporters are prohibited from entering the building plaza (and she's absolutely correct here), but there's just one problem with this: When I saw the security guards harassing the volunteers, they were out on the sidewalk in front of the elevator to the Metro (subway). She confirmed that this is, in fact, public property, yet the guards remain and the intimidation continues.
I am calling the Obama campaign and the DNC again to give them this information. In the meantime, perhaps more people should call the property management company and let them know they are violating numerous state and federal laws.
Below is the contact information of the management company:
Vornado/Charles E Smith
Christa Jackson
Senior Property Manager
2200 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 1G
Arlington, VA 22201
Tel: 703-351-5606
cjackson@vno.com
September 22, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Call a local TV station or two. And your local paper. This is a huge potential PR black eye for them.
September 22, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't leave your camera at home, either, get a video or pics of the intimidation, for more than one reason. There may be a potential civil suit hiding here between the lines that would move Watchoverya's management to stifle those security guards.
Would love a video of "The Shrew" too, bet she looks like she just ate lemons when you walk in with that camera...
Bus she probably looks like that all the time...
September 23, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just spoke with the Obama campaign out here in NOVA and they've sent a coordinator over there to deal with it.
If this continues, I will volunteer to register voters and park myself there. Let them try and arrest me...
I'll head over in a few hours and will check again.
Thanks to everybody who posted/wrote to show their support!
September 22, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just curious, but is it typical for a property mangement company to have security guards?
September 23, 2008 4:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi,
I just wrote to her. I agree contacting local news stations and as I say in my letter... if I were a volunteer. I would take out my cell phone and say let's get a police officer here to help us resolve the situation...
Dear Ms Jackson,
It was brought to my attention that security guards have intimidated american citizens attempting to assist other american citizens in getting registered to vote while standing on a public sidewalk outside one of your buildings near a bus stop.
This is an attempt at voter supression which is illegal under the law. Do you understand this Ms. Jackson? We are in the 21st century now and the people of america will not tolerate this kind of behavior. You must instruct your security and all other personnel that the registration of voters is legal and allowed by law in public places and that they have no right to interfere and are in fact breaking the law by doing so. Make sure that they understand that Ms Jackson every single one of them. And perhaps we need to contact the local police to watch over anyone attempting to register voters near your property to make sure that they are protected because it seems your presonnel are inclined to break the law.
Sincerely,
An american citizen against voter supression and outright intimidation!
Lauren Brillante
September 23, 2008 8:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Something tells me she didn't write back. Thanks for doing that!
Also, kudos to the young kids from the DNC who were not intimidated by this and returned to the sidewalk later on.
September 23, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink