Man Arrested Waving ‘Impeach Obama’ Sign On Highway Overpass
Hofstra University student Daniel Martins thinks he was just exercising his First Amendment rights, but the police saw it as distracting drivers and and a safety risk.
Martins, who has been holding his sign on the same overpass every Friday since September 2013, was charged with disorderly conduct and being a criminal nuisance, reports News 12 (video below).
Martins and his attorney held a news conference on Tuesday, declared his innocence and accused the police of violating his First Amendment rights.
“[Prosecutors] would rather bargain and plea down violent drug and DWI offenders, but I’m being prosecuted for peacefully protesting, which is completely legal,” Martins told CBS New York. “It doesn’t make any sense to me. If that’s justice, then our Founding Fathers would be turning in their graves.”
In response, the Nassau District Attorney’s Office issued a statement: “Political protesters have a First Amendment right to display signs and flags, but they cannot create a public safety hazard in the process. We continue to review this case.”
neworleans878 July 3rd, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Hey! My First Amendment rights supersede your right to safety!
That damn tyrant Obama!
Obewon July 3rd, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Lol “It doesn’t make any sense to me!” Issa’s 0 indictments after 50 weeks of hearings per year leave these delusional’s with nothing to do but scratching their teabaggs.
Eric Trommater July 3rd, 2014 at 8:37 pm
He held up traffic! I say give him life in prison. If he live in Virginia and it had been on 95 I would have to rethink my lifelong object to the death penalty.
Anomaly 100 July 3rd, 2014 at 9:02 pm
Typically they can only count to the Second Amendment.
M D Reese July 3rd, 2014 at 10:07 pm
…and only the second half of that one.
tiredoftea July 3rd, 2014 at 9:48 pm
So, other than bad TP hair, a lack of physical fitness and dress code offenses, I’m not sure that a guy who’s been doing this since Sept. 2k13 suddenly be a public hazard. What else is going on here?
ohknowyoudidnt July 4th, 2014 at 10:20 am
A possible near collision for distracting drivers from watching the road? I don’t know what the police are using for an excuse, I don’t even care, he should have been arrested from day one.
Laura Renea July 3rd, 2014 at 9:55 pm
These people just love the founding fathers…but oh how they HATE the government they devised! It’s really weird.
M D Reese July 4th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
“Gawd” works in mysteerious ways…or not…
M D Reese July 3rd, 2014 at 10:07 pm
There are limits to “free” speech. There are also consequences.
Obewon July 3rd, 2014 at 11:51 pm
The end of the video is great! PD:”You have to come with us.” Teabagger: “Right now?” PD: “Yes. Put your hands behind your back.” It’s gonna be a long hard Holiday weekend at Rikers Island FEMA reeducation camp!
M D Reese July 4th, 2014 at 5:50 pm
Thanks! I don’t usually watch videos because I’ve got the TV or music on most of the time. This “sovereign citizen” thing is getting downright funny. Even funnier when they turn out to be welfare queens…