On March 3rd, 2008, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Tim Asher, Executive Director of the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative (MoCRI).
Topics discussed:
• distinction between affirmative action and race preferences
• public support
• the opposition and their use of signature “blockers”
• media bias—err, sabotage…
• the government’s (detrimental) role
And, of course, a run-down of what became of the petitioning effort!
This past Sunday, Paul Jacob, a free marketeer columnist, wrote an excellent piece highlighting the recall of House Speaker Andy Dillon.
My favorite part of his column:
My favorite line in the movie is when Sen. Smith sharply responds to another senator: “The people of my state need permanent relief from crooked men riding their backs.” In human affairs, much less politics, nothing is permanent. But the recall of Speaker Dillon will provide much needed relief.
Tim Asher, Executive Director of the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative has fought the long and hard battle against petition blockers and has chosen not to submit his signatures to the Secretary of State.
He collected 170,000 signatures in 113 days, he brought in a daily average of 1,500 signatures. Very impressive!
He had enough signatures to certify his petition but under scrutiny and legal challenges by ACORN, BAMN, and Jobs for Justice, Asher would have cut it close.
The picture on the left shows ACORN’s incident report form, which would have been submitted by blockers to challenge circulators signatures.
With all of this said, Asher is not disillusioned and has pledged to return in 2010.
The Civil Rights Initiative now heads to Nebraska and Arizona.
We wish them the best of luck and will continue to track down their blockers.
If you think circulating a petition is an easy job think again.
A circulator never thought he would get punched in the face by a “voter.”
He was outside a retail plaza, when someone asked him to see the petition. After the aggressor read the petition, he began a racist debate with the circulator.
Then, WHAM! The aggressor punched him in the face.
It’s not known whether the aggressor was a voter or a blocker.
However, what normal person punches someone in the face for exercising their First Amendment right?
Missouri is one of a few states with the initiative process, where if you have a change of heart you can file an affidavit to remove your signature from a petition.
Well…
This week Jobs with Justice and By All Means Necessary dedicated most of their time at the post office aggressively asking people to change their minds and withdraw their signatures.
They claim signers have been mislead into signing the petition.
Mislead? Get out of here.
Jobs with Justice and BAMN are the bullys who are blocking and spreading false information on affirmative action to voters. They claim that if the state removes affirmative action, blacks and women will be out of jobs.
Give me a break, where is John Stossel when you need him. I hope he reads this and does a piece on how harmful affirmative action programs are for society.
Our collection of Free Speech Blockers continues to grow. We now have a list of six individuals who actively work to limit or block the free speech of citizens who wish to petition the government. The Free Speech Blocker profiles are updated constantly, so check often for updates.
Click on any name below to view the Free Speech Blocker’s profile. Also see Petition Blocking for more details on what these free speech blockers do and how they do it. More Free Speech Blocker profiles coming soon!
Blocker: JUSTIN JOHNSON
Blocker: MAXIMO RODRIGUEZ JR
Blocker: MARCELL LAVERNE MITCHELL
Blocker: JOAN GEBHARDT
Blocker: MORENO RONDELL TAYLOR II
Not only is there a blocker-housed toll free number to report the location of petition circulators but blockers are handing out business cards.
Read it and weep. This card belongs to a woman who blocks free speech, who blocks a voter’s right to sign a petition.
Jobs with Justice “is an action-oriented” group, coordinating the blocking activity. On their website ACORN, SEIU, and the Teamsters are listed as their member, such to name a few.
Actually, their office is in the SEIU building.
Of course, this group would oppose the removal of affirmative action programs in government jobs; they don’t want to put the jobs of those who are inefficient and protected by race at risk.
Their name should really be Jobs without Justice.
What justice are they providing to taxpayers when we have to pay for their lazy disadvantaged workers?
Friends,
If you thought Michigan was bad this only gets better.
In Missouri, there are currently five different petition drives, the most controversial one being affirmative action. The petition seeks to remove affirmative action programs in government agencies.
Fair enough.
Well, the opposition is soooooo against this they have created a toll free number to report circulators in order to block them.
Crazy, check it out.
Yesterday, the socialist party had the following thing to say:
“The people of Andy Dillon’s district need to know that deep pockets from outside Michigan are meddling in their community and trying to take away their voice,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer. “Andy Dillon’s family has served this community for two generations — he doesn’t take orders from out-of-state moneymen, and neither do voters in the 17th District.”
Dillon’s 08 campaign contributions shows he too has taken money from GA, IN, MO, SC, TX, and the list goes on.
So, Brewer don’t give me this bullshit that he doesn’t accept money from outside the state, because he does.
If you are interested in learning more about Dillon’s campaign contributions, click here.
Brewer goes on to say:
“This all goes to show there’s a serious lack of support for this recall among the voters of Redford Township, Dearborn Heights and Livonia,” Brewer said of the recall campaign, which is paying signature gatherers $6 per signature. “Voters in the 17th District will not stand for outsiders coming into their neighborhood and telling them what to do.”
Folks, the reality is that their is plenty of support for the recall of Dillon. Because of this, Brewer has been forced to hire felons and out-of-district blockers to thrwat the petition process.
This video has to be one of the best we’ve seen come out of the Michigan Recall saga so far. The real payoff is at the end where Dillon’s Thugs (the Police) attempt to block free speech.
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