May 7, 1941 was the
day I was born. I thought I would treat myself to another protest attempt may
1998. I went through the application process, which if anybody read it, really
does not apply to protest situations.
I received my application
back wanting to know what activity I had planned. It was clear in my
application there was no activity. I just wanted to post a protest sign
somewhere near the dome. I drew up a diagram showing exactly what this thing
was going to look like and I only asked for about a 4x8 place to stand it and
sent it back.
I never got a
reply, so I presumed that my application was rejected again. Not to be deterred
by rejection, I proceeded to the Capitol Building on my birthday any way.
Since I did not
have permission to protest under the dome, I decided the governor's reception
room would do. I entered soon after the office opened and handed Amy the
receptionist, a clipboard with a message that I was protesting and I was also
on speech strike and would only answer written communication. I sat on the
couch by her desk and started to prepare my little cardboard protest sign about
2x3. I had dome documents I was taping on it and was cutting the tape with an
old scissors.
It didn't take long
before security and Abdallah showed up. Since I was on speech strike and only
responded to written communication, I handed them the clipboard with the
explanation. I was on speech strike simply because there would be a written
record of everything I communicated and they could not say I said anything I
didn't say.
The security patrol
spotted my scissors about five feet from where I was working, declared them a
weapon and confiscated them. I hadn't threatened anybody with them. It was
interesting to see how real paranoia worked. I complained to Abdallah that the
tape I was using had to be cut and would not tear, so he gave me a roll of
masking tape. I continued to tape.
Soon Janklow came
out with his huff and puff. I ignored him and Abdollah explained I was on
speech strike and wouldn't respond to anything not written. Janklow said he was
glad I wasn't saying anything because it would be better that way. He was not
pleased to find his appearance had no effect on me.
While I was sitting
there constructing my sign, there were a lot of wheels turning. Finally, I was
told that if I stayed there I would be arrested. They did say that I could have
a place under the dome to put up my sign. Isn't that all I wanted in the first
place?
I moved that sad
looking little piece of cardboard and set up the main entrance right next to
Janklow's office. There were more security and SDHP cops there than I could
count. Who was this guy who thought he had a constitutional right and had the
idea he could upset the politically correct routine?
I sat there quiet
as a mouse with my cheap little sign propped up with the documents on it. Soon
the security cop showed up and told me and all the other cops that I indeed had
the right to protest any day between the hours of eight and five. Wow! How
could things be better?
Dick (Tracy) Ward,
my favorite goon from DCI showed up with yet another situation that I will
address later to keep this from getting too confusing. He had searched my house
and taken some of my property in hopes I had something illegal. But he
demonstrated his incompetence right there.
I encountered Jeff
Canfield from UPI and Dakota News Network and KGFX radio that totally
demolished my respect for what passes for journalism. I will explain that
situation later as well.
I sat there until
late afternoon. I knew Janklow would show up to see me with that pitiful sign
and my having to sit on the floor. I was right. He came out and walked around
pretending he didn't see me, while stuffing peanuts into his face since he had
just quit smoking.
As soon as he went
back, I took my sign and left. Since I had been told anybody could protest
there, I saw new possibilities.