‘Abe Lincoln’ Fined While Reciting Gettysburg Address at Lincoln Memorial
- Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:09am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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A 25-year-old Washington, D.C. intern has been fined after he dressed up as Abraham Lincoln on Presidents Day and delivered the Gettysburg Address on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. His offense? He didn’t have a permit.
The Daily Caller explains:
On President’s Day — standing where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream Speech” — Phillip Howell, 25, recited Lincoln’s famous address and was quickly stopped by the Park Police officer. He told Howell that he could not give speeches on the steps of the memorial without a permit.
“He called me Abe, and then I turned around and he said, ‘Do you have a permit?’ I said ‘no’ and he said, ‘well you can’t do that here then,’” Howell told The Daily Caller. “Then I said, ‘I’m just giving the Gettysburg Address, come on, it’s President’s Day.’ And he said, ‘I don’t care what you’re giving, You’re not allowed to do that here. I don’t care what speech or what agenda you want to give.’”
Confused as to why it is actually illegal to read the words carved into the memorial’s wall in a loud voice, but not wanting to cause any trouble, the 6-foot-4 Howell, who sports a thick beard and looks just like Honest Abe in a top hat and suit, moved to the bottom of the steps and delivered the rest of the speech to a cheering crowd.
That’s when the officer walked down the steps and asked the duo if they had a license for street vending.
“I could arrest you,” Howell recalled the officer saying.
They told the officer they didn’t know it was illegal and would be on their way. The officer refused, detained them at the base of the memorial, and wrote Howell and his friend holding the basket $100 in tickets.
A spokesman for the Parks Service told the Daily Caller the permit requirement is in place to ensure all groups have the opportunity to use the space. And in the end, that’s just fine with Howell.
“It does seem a little ironic that the ‘Land of the Free’ cannot be so free at times,” he told the DC. “But other than that, I have no issue with what the officers did.”
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Comments (124)
Jack007
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:09amI’ll betcha if it was a Fxxking stinking Mooslim saying all Jews in the world should die nothing would have been said by the cop.
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:08amEven as great as this country is. We really suck sometimes!
Report Post »AmericanPatriot1776
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:07amthey should’ve hired the guy and let him do the speech to commemerate the day, he would’ve done it for free! I guess they were afraid that the 100 year old speech would offend someone… like how the constitution, a 200 year old documents offends people so much, they want to change it.
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:00amAmericka, land of the not so free anymore – damn this strikes me as the govt having way too much control…who do we get the permits from? The politburo?
Report Post »kspatriot
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:58amI wonder if the idiots storming and trashing the capitols in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana had to have permits.
Report Post »OkiePatriot
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:18amThey dont have to have permits because they are fighting for the NEW America the one with progressive ideas not the OLD America of our founding fathers…you didnt get the memo??? The founding father groups (Tea Party) are out and the new progressive groups (SEIU, SDS, AFL-CIO) are in…what a shame!
Report Post »newspapertaxis
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:57am“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
Report Post »Abraham Lincoln
MoonPie
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:03amPresident Lincoln must be shaking his head in disbelief over what this nation has become.
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:54amHa! Ha! I probably should not be surprised to hear such a thing but considering its Washington DC and there are still filthy liberals walking about, I guess we can expect such things until 2012 at least. To think this guy would be fined for doing such a thing to honor at least one of our great Presidents, hardly makes any sense. The one who fined him should be horsewhipped and fired.
Report Post »Shellback
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:45amThis reminds of the story of an older vertern silent protest while attending an event at George Washington University where Hitlery Clinton was giving a speech about Egyptians have a right to speak out/protest against their government and that speech shouldn’t be supressed. The vet, in silent “protest” was standing with his back to Hitlery and was arrested and taken to jail. His cuffs were on so tight that his wrists were bleeding. This country is going down the crapper really fast. It is high time to flush the festering turds out of Babylon.
Report Post »mcFirst
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:43amif his intent was to pass a hat, I am not too irked by this. If he really wanted to re-enact a speech then shame on the Park service.
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:40amWe have bound ourselves with chains of permits, regulations, petty laws, pork-laden bills, dishonesty, back-room deals, special interest groups, payoffs, fees, fines, I‘m sure there’s more feel free to add your own, that we as a nation has lost all common sense.
Report Post »Buzz Cat
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:31amThere are very few real freedoms left in this country anymore. The American people are being slowly and methodically stricken of our God-given rights. The process has been done quietly and insidiously right under our complacent noses. Will this country see the kind of revolts taking place in the Middle East? Will the American people rise up and take back their government?
Report Post »FrankSpeak
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:28amYes it is sad how far we have strayed, but it will not remain that way.
Report Post »I_Hate_Libs
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:28amThe horror of the democrat mind!
Report Post »onegodinkansas
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:27amJust curious, the pictures I‘ve been seeing of ’protesters’ living in the Wisconsin Capitol building, do they have permits?
Report Post »ONE PIECE
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:24amWhat happen to the “Land of the free”? I thought that we were still a free nation & not a FEE nation!! There must be something that we can do to save it.
Report Post »Oldphoto678
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 10:16amNope, not a thing you can do about it. You lose. The false version of America that you crave never was, and we, the real Patriots of America will never allow you to have it. Piss off!
Report Post »presley311
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:22amThey should put up speakers out there and have that speech played on a loop for all the kids that come see it.
Report Post »reconmarine
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:21amThis is truly sickening. It’s all about money to these people. The Freedom of Speech will cost you a permit or a fine. Welcome to the new Amerika.
Report Post »Navymommy
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:21amThey shut up the schoolkids who were singing the national anthem as well. I understand their point. It keeps the dignity of the memorial. Otherwise it could turn into a speaker’s corner with all kinds of people spouting nonsense and make it easy for panhandlers to harass people.
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:18am“I don’t care what agenda you want to give”? Really? Really? Sounds to me, like the cop needs to chill out, and try going back to school, with his butchery of the English language, and total misunderstanding of the laws he’s supposed to uphold.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 10:40pmThere nothing but over paid traffic guards.
Report Post »CamTheConservative
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:18amI would laugh if it wasn’t so sad…
Report Post »Rob
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:18amPanhandling is for losers…
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:18amI bet I could stand there dressed like King Abdullah and read from the Qur’an and nobody would bat an eye.
Report Post »onegodinkansas
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:21amGood one
Report Post »Ser Scot
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:29amGonzo,
You should try that and see what happens. Make sure to draw the attention of a Mall cop before you begin. Report back after you’ve gotten your ticket. Mall cops are pretty obnoxious.
Report Post »kreese
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:53amYou’re right.
Report Post »alrunner58
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:17amLooks like a single person to me.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:33amNo, he has a wedding ring on. :-)
Report Post »DAGNY
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:17amA permit to speak? Why did we let our country fall so far?
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:26amIts not a permit to speak – its a permit to speak at the Lincoln Memorial – I know it sound rather stupid but what if he had drawn a large crowd? http://wp.me/pYLB7-H6
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:44amWhat if? Well if he had drawn a large crowd then just MAYBE the permit argument might of had a little merit. The FACT is there was no crowd therefore no permit was needed.
Report Post »KenInIL
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 11:36amYour probably have to be accompanied by a teleprompter to speak at the Lincoln Memorial.
Report Post »Just A Private
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 2:03pmAre large crowds forbidden in the Lincoln Monument? Sure is a wide set of steps if they only want a few people at a time….
Report Post »wildbill_b
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 6:45pmMy first question is, Who owns this country? We do. That is a “public” building. It is called a “public” building because the people own it collectively. We can do what we please there within reason of course. Common law, which is the law of this country and not statute says you can not harm another or violate his rights. Just as if we please we can tomorrow dissolve the entire government and create a new one that suits us.
If more people would apply their time to reading they would understand that “If the Constitution grants us the authority to DISSOLVE the government at our pleasure, the premise they put out that we are subservient fails to instill any belief”.
Report Post »bertr
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:10pmone of the roots of corruption thats fueling this, is letting law enforcement and government financially profit over what they pass to be legal/illegal. the fines cops collect from violators of law should not go into thier own funding.
Report Post »The state should not make money off of what they deem as “crime” because it leads to corruption. I do not know the answer but that just seems to be common sense.
I know it has to be paid for somehow but bs laws and ticket quotas to raise state funds are corrupt intrinsically
wboehmer
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:14amLast time I checked, one person does not constitue a “group!”
Report Post »What kind of country has this become?
booger71
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:20amA sad one
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:21am@wboehmer – I was thinking the same thing…..it was just one guy. It seems like we’re becoming the kind of country where people contort and twist the rules in ways to further a personal agenda.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the get hypocrisy moving video
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:26amWashiington has lost all common sense. He actually looks like Lincoln and I thought that was pretty cool. But it is a good thing he didn’t start PRAYING they would certainly have locked him up. He is just not the right nationality, If he had had a turban on he would have been praised for what he was doing, Disgracefull
Report Post »Cheekymnky2
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:27amWhere are your papers Mr Lincoln? These papers, they are not in order.
So much for the first amendment.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:35amThe country has come to the point where PC garbage laws are a nightmare, and simply reading the words of Abe Lincoln now becomes a criminal offense if spoken aloud.
Report Post »what4
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:44amTake the Fed’s right to enact such stupid laws away!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 8:50amYou think they’ll use the money from the fines to clean the Reflecting Pool? He needs to get a lawyer…there are plenty out there!
Report Post »P C BE DAMNED
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:15amPermits are what caused the BATF to murder Randy Weavers family some years ago in Idaho. They have become the Capitol crime in America. I would be very careful until we correct this government and get back to the Constitution as you can’t take a right and turn it into a priviledge, issue a license and charge a fee for practicing your right.
Report Post »Ghenkis_Khan
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:29amIf he were wearing keffiyeah and he was reading the Quran they would proably left him alone.
watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:31amWhat a bizarre interpretation of the policy !!!! One person dressing up and then speaking what is carved into the memorial is considered “against the law”. Yet hundreds of people dressing up and speaking in WI at the state capitol and no fine at all. HHmmmm………..So now one person needs a permit to exercise their 1st amendment rights or else they can be fined. I think that would have difficulty holding up in a court of law because he did not represent any group other than himself. I have no problem needing a permit if they were trying to collect money, but that was not the original intent.
Report Post »kreese
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:35amYou don’t understand—this is another way of reducing the deficit.
Report Post »Anarcho Capitalist
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 9:40amI hate this country.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 10:10amThe Parks Dept had no problem with the two bare breasted lesbians that attempted to disrupt the Promise Keepers Sacred Assembly -Stand in the Gap” a few years back.The mounted Park Official told some good men “they’d have to do a lot more than that to get arrested here.” And now we have a Patriot who thought it good to recite part of Abe Lincolns most remembered speeches-to benefit others-none of the gay profanity that the Nations Capitol finds so acceptable.I pray for the Christians who feel called of God to witness to that fallen city _But I would not be in fear should it be made as Sodom was ,Fire and brimstone from the sky –for Our God is a righteous God,
Report Post »encinom
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 10:33amAnother mislieading head line, Lincoln was not fined for reciting the speach, he was fined for pan handling. “And the fine wasn’t levied right then and there. Instead, Howell was ticketed when his friends suggested he start passing a basket around and try to make a few bucks.”
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 10:57am@ ENCINOM…on cue just like the predictable doofus most liberals are you are the incorrect one…..Maybe you better read a little closer but the park official said he couldn’t do what he was doing when he was just reading the inscription out loud. The park official didn‘t ticket him at that point but still told him he couldn’t do what he was doing which at that point was just talking loudly. He then moved down the stairs and that is when the suggestion of collecting money was made and the fine given. You sir are factual inaccurate and intentionally misleading with your post. Away with your weak perverted sense of the truth !!!!!!!
Report Post »Trance
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 11:46amLet’s not get up in arms at every little thing. Maybe step back and THINK for 2 seconds. There is a reason you need a permit to speak at that special place. If a permit was not needed, everyone that could get their hands on a bullhorn would be standing there blasting all day long. And I really don’t think most people here want to hear the type of people who generally do that.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 12:42pm@ TRANCE………..freedom of speech doesn‘t end just because you don’t like what someone is saying that is inconsistent. And using a bullhorn would violate disturbing the peace laws which do not forbid expression but do take into consideration the right of others to not continually be disturbed. I will stand for freedom of speech all day long even if it is a liberal nut job spouting garbage. Otherwise, restrictions will some day be used to silence any dissent or opposing view. Just look to the anti-hate speech laws and the abuses that can arise out of that.
Report Post »mrlogan3
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 2:00pm@sissykatz
Report Post »Why do people on the blaze always say stuff like that? If a middle eastern man in a turban was giving a speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial people would freak out, and the guy would probably get tazed.
solaveritas
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 2:04pmLaw are our SERVANTS, not our MASTERS.
“Prosecutorial discretion” allows for the non-enforcement of law when the purpose of the law is not served.
The permit law was to make sure all who wanted to speak, could. In this case, it was uncrowded, and not an issue.
The intern and his friend were cooperative and willing to obey every law, as soon as they found out what the law was. No tickets should have been issued.
Report Post »Mrs.T
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 3:50pmWe have become a Soft Tyranny, well on our way to a Tyranny, the next step from there is a Hard Tyranny.
People better wake up soon, those that are still living in la-la-land.
Report Post »bertr
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 7:52pm@MRLOGAN3
Report Post »if someone speaking at the lincoln memorial in a turban got fined, msnbc and the huffingpost would freak out.
funny isnt it
Mick
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 10:12pmAnarcho Capitalist, don’t hate the country, it is the people in it. But don’t hate them, be better than them.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 10:36pmIts even sadder than sad because many a new comer has no idea of what they have lost. If your over 35 and were born here you have a clue but young kids and emigrants have no idea. We truly have become a soft tryanny for right now and maybe soon a real police State.
I’ll bet he would get a ticket if he all alone simply bowed his head in silent prayer. How offensive.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 23, 2011 at 10:39pmHe should have known better……..he should have come with a mob and they dare not ticket anyone. But he seemed to be one of the good guys. 25 year old doing this…there is hope!
Report Post »badhabit73
Posted on February 24, 2011 at 10:50pma very very sad one my freind.
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