Virginia

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,935 posts) Fri Nov 12, 2021, 01:27 PM Nov 2021

2 men detained after vulgar banner shown during Va. Veterans Day ceremony

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2 men detained after vulgar banner shown during Va. Veterans Day ceremony

Joshua Barlow | jbarlow@wtop.com

November 12, 2021, 1:59 AM

Described as a “disagreement” over free speech by Virginia Capitol Police, two men were detained Thursday after a banner containing vulgar language was displayed during a Veterans Day ceremony in Richmond. ... The run-in began shortly after 11 a.m. when Ronald Hedlund, 60, of Glen Allen, drove his pickup truck over a sidewalk into a tow-away zone on Second Street near the base of the Virginia War Memorial’s amphitheater. ... There, he displayed a “vulgar” banner with language directed at President Joe Biden in clear view of ceremony attendees, Virginia Capitol Police said in a statement.

Police approached Hedlund and asked him to move. After he refused, officers chose to stay with him until the ceremony had ended to avoid further distractions during the ceremony. ... At the same time, Carl Grunow, a 58-year-old veteran from Chesterfield, Va., saw the banner and left the amphitheater during the ceremony. According to police, Grunow climbed into the bed of Hedlund’s truck, removed his suit jacket, and attempted to cover the banner with it. ... Police say there was no physical contact between Grunow and Hedlund.

After multiple attempts to coax Grunow from the truck, officers removed him from the vehicle, issued a summons for disorderly conduct, and escorted him to his car. ... Hedlund was ticketed for parking in a tow-away zone and allowed to leave.

“We are very sensitive to a person’s right to freely speak their mind, but when they will not work with our attempts to de-escalate matters, we are left with little choice.” Col. Anthony S. Pike, the agency’s chief, said. ... Pike also said Capitol Police might consult with the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office on whether additional charges should be filed against Hedlund.

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9 replies

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2 men detained after vulgar banner shown during Va. Veterans Day ceremony (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2021 OP

Tell us what the banner says pls since there's no image, even on the link. brush Nov 2021 #1

Newsweek has it. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2021 #2

That's vulgar? Yarnie Nov 2021 #4

It's a euphemism. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2021 #6

A perfect response to the whole Brandon thing: CrispyQ Nov 2021 #7

The thing I hate most Woodswalker Nov 2021 #3

And of course the wingnuts are butthurt Deep State Witch Nov 2021 #5

I see people with it every day with it on t shirts and caps doc03 Nov 2021 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Nov 2021 #9

brush

(57,488 posts)

1. Tell us what the banner says pls since there's no image, even on the link.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Nov 12, 2021, 01:40 PM

Nov 2021

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,935 posts)

2. Newsweek has it.

Reply to brush (Reply #1)

Fri Nov 12, 2021, 01:43 PM

Nov 2021

Last edited Fri Nov 12, 2021, 02:14 PM - Edit history (1)

But Newsweek is junk.

It's a simpler form of "Let's go, Brandon."

Yarnie

(90 posts)

4. That's vulgar?

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Reply #2)

Fri Nov 12, 2021, 01:57 PM

Nov 2021

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,935 posts)

6. It's a euphemism.

Reply to Yarnie (Reply #4)

Fri Nov 12, 2021, 01:59 PM

Nov 2021

https://www.google.com/search?q=biden+banner+richmond+veteran

Virginia veteran charged after covering 'F*** Biden' sign at Veterans Day ceremony

By: WTVR CBS 6 Web Staff Posted at 3:14 PM, Nov 11, 2021 and last updated 9:03 AM, Nov 12, 2021

RICHMOND, Va. -- Two men were detained by Virginia Capitol Police outside Thursday's Veterans Day ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.

A 60-year-old Glen Allen man parked his pickup truck in an area of 2nd Street, near the memorial, that was blocked off as a special parking zone, according to a Capitol Police spokesperson.

A sign in the bed of his truck displayed the uncensored phrase "F*** Biden."

"[He] drove onto a sidewalk, around the barricades, and back onto 2nd into the prohibited area," a Capitol Police spokesperson wrote in an email. "After he parked on 2nd in a spot that made his truck highly visible to the Veterans Day ceremony crowd, Capitol Police officers approached him and asked him to move."

The truck driver, according to police, refused to move and questioned the officers' authority.

"Because the ceremony was already underway and Capitol Police did not want to cause further distractions, officers decided to remain with [him] at his truck until the ceremony ended before taking additional actions," the spokesperson's email continued.

By that point, at least one person in the crowd had apparently seen enough.

A 58-year-old veteran from Chesterfield left the Veterans Day ceremony, climbed into the truck, and attempted to cover the sign with his jacket.

Officers removed the veteran from the truck and later issued him a summons for disorderly conduct.

The truck driver was later ticketed for parking in a tow-away zone.

"I applaud our officers for their attempts to get [the truck driver] to leave peacefully and respect the ceremony honoring our veterans," Virginia Capitol Police Col. Anthony S. Pike said. "We take our role as peacekeepers seriously, and we try to de-escalate free speech matters whenever possible."

{snip}

This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.

CrispyQ

(38,244 posts)

7. A perfect response to the whole Brandon thing:

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Reply #2)

Fri Nov 12, 2021, 02:33 PM

Nov 2021

Woodswalker

(549 posts)

3. The thing I hate most

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Nov 12, 2021, 01:53 PM

Nov 2021

About rightwingdinglalings is that in your face confrontational asshat attitude.

Deep State Witch

(11,251 posts)

5. And of course the wingnuts are butthurt

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Nov 12, 2021, 01:57 PM

Nov 2021

about their "freedom of speech" being violated.

I told one of them that those veterans served to guarantee the right to criticize the President - no matter who he (or she) is. They should be more respectful of that and keep politics out of it.

doc03

(36,699 posts)

8. I see people with it every day with it on t shirts and caps

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Nov 12, 2021, 03:49 PM

Nov 2021

in the mall and other places. I thought there were decency laws but
I guess not.

Response to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.

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