LSU protests flag burning

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www.theblaze.com/stories/update-video-captures-contentious-lsu-protest-as-flag-burning-student-whisked-away-to-safety/

UPDATE: GRAPHIC VID CAPTURES CONTENTIOUS LSU FLAG-BURNING PROTEST AS PLANNER WHISKED AWAY TO SAFETY
Posted on May 11, 2011

Things got out of hand quickly at this afternoon’s flag-burning protest on the campus of Louisiana State University. And while counter-protesters are claiming victory, that victory didn’t come without controversy.

As we reported earlier, communication studies graduate student Benjamin Haas had planned an event to protest the recent arrest of a student who stole a university American flag and burned it. He planned on burning his own American flag. But students, led by student government President Cody Wells, planned a counter-protest. Now, first-hand reports say that the flag-burning never happened. Instead, as pictures and video show, the protest got heated as counter protesters mobbed Haas, who then had to be whisked away in a police cruiser for his safety.

John Baham, who attended the protest, explained exactly what happened in an e-mail to The Blaze:

Ben Haas did not burn the flag. There were hundreds of students, veterans, and other patriotic Americans in free speech alley where a heated debate was taking place between a few vets, and a female student. We couldn’t hear what was being said, though. [...]
Suddenly, a student yelled, “Hey there‘s Ben Haas and he’s talking to the cameras!” Everyone ran to the parade grounds, and surrounded him while chanting many different things: “U.S.A.,“ ”Love it or leave it!,“ and ”Geaux to Hell Hippie, Geaux to Hell!” This last chant is a play on a cheer said during LSU vs. Ole Miss games.

While Ben was speaking to the news camera’s people in the crowd started to throw water bottles, water balloons, etc. at him. The mounted police officers had to escort him away across the parade grounds, and into a police car that was waiting in the middle of a very busy road through campus. The whole time the crowd was following him chanting various things, and they even surrounded the police car until the mounted officers cleared a path.

MORE...

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Warning for language.

[deziloooooo]

SCOTUS ruled that burning the national flag, while regrettable is a right of Free Speech, the amendment, guesss they don't teach that at LSU...to bad , but then again , who listens to the SCOTUS when they have it wrong right?

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www.theblaze.com/stories/my-brothers-died-for-you-new-lsu-vid-reveals-military-mans-passionate-words/

He is featured in one of the iconic images from today’s counter-protest at LSU. A military man, wearing camouflage and a beret, screaming at flag-burning planner Ben Haas as he tries to deliver prepared remarks (courtesy of The Daily Reveille):
In a previous video, his words were indecipherable. Now, with a new video surfacing, we know what he said.
“My brother died for you!” he screams. “My brothers died for you! My brothers died for you! My brothers died for you! My brothers died– for you!”

In all, the soldier identified only by a name that appears to say “Froom” on his uniform, repeats the phrase five times before being separated from Haas by police.

His passionate screams can be heard in a video posted on YouTube by BatonRougeToday. That video also shows a clearer picture of Haas being pelted in the head with water balloons, and a police officer informing Haas that they were “moving you out for your safety:” (video in link)

[Deleted]

Fine. Try to burn the flag. Protesters have a right to protest. There were no arrests, no one was hurt, and no flag was burned.
I'm glad to see patriotic college kids. Gives me hope.

[Deleted]

It's about time we the people started fighting back. Protest the protesters. I like it. This IS the United States of America.

[henryclay]

Thanks for the posts, krickitt. As you have learned, it's not only a right for people to burn the flag, it's also a right for people to make themselves look bad by responding to a post without having read the post, which may tend to make the flag burner look like a saint by comparison.

From your link:

A student at Louisiana State University (LSU) is planning on burning an American flag on campus today, the schools student government president said. And since he followed the proper university procedure to stage his protest, the event will not face any official pushback. But that doesn‘t mean the act won’t face patriotic counter-demonstrations. It will.

According to the student newspaper The Reveille, the pyro protest by communication studies graduate student Benjamin Haas is slated for 1 pm ET today.

That’s according to Cody Wells, student government president. “We’re going to respect his First Amendment right to burn our American flag,” he told the Reveille.

But Haas isn’t the only one who is planning a protest. Wells said he and others will also be holding their own “peaceful assembly in response to recent flag burnings.“ The reason for the plural ”burnings” comes after a student was arrested last week for cutting down and burning the American flag flying over the university’s war memorial.

Wells’s event will include the Pledge of Allegiance as well as the National Anthem. He tells the student paper tht he has a trumpet player lined up for the ceremony and also hopes to have cadets present.

Just as Haas will be exercising his right to burn the flag, Wells said, he and others will “exercise our own First Amendment rights”

[Deleted]

Huh.. so the guy, Haas, was protesting the arrest last week of a student, Isaac Eslava, who was arrested for vandalism and burning a flag. He wants to defend basic human rights for students and suspected terrorists alike..etc..And he is a professor at the college..

Coming on the heels of Bin Laden that does not seem to have gone over well with the community. Interesting..

[deziloooooo]

I still feel the SCOTUS , on the flag , something legal could be done.

Possible a Federal law , that disfiguring it puposly , would be illegal, and be able to state why and worded in such a way that would pass muster by the SCOTUS when that law was appealed , it would be.
Naturally know one knows how the SCOTUS will act when a case was brought before it, possible a amendment to the constitution making the flag special , more so then it is, legally giving it certain rights and protection as a enduring of our country that is morally and legally protected by purposly disfiguring or damaging it.

Would need the legal community on this one. Then go through all the States for ratification .

Some one wants to make a protest, well find something else . I was going to say our currency, though I think it is illegal to disfigure or burn our currency actually but not the flag? Doesn't compute does it if I am right.

[Deleted]

I don't know how I missed this. Too much time on the boards, and not enough on the internet. I'm slacking up. I'm still trying to figure it out. It's different, that's for sure. I'm remembering all the videos I've seen of old veterans on crutches being knocked to the ground and that sort of thing. This country has kind of gotten it's blood pressure up lately with old 9/11 re-runs, all of it. We are in a spell of patriotism right now. Which I guess also means the anti war types are also running a little hot, maybe frustrated by the blood-lust over Bin Laden.. All pretty interesting..

[henryclay]

I believe it is more fully accurate to say yes, Eslava was arrested, but not for burning just any flag, but for burning a flag that he had defiantly and openly stolen from the university first, so that what he was arrested for was first the stealing of the flag and then burning the evidence, which was all along the property of the taxpayers of the State of Louisiana, which means by definition stealing and destroying public property.

[Deleted]

AHH, I was wondering why he was arrested for burning a flag. Makes sense. He should have bought his own flag to burn. Did I miss in the article.. why the first kid burned the flag? I need to read back. Getting tired, finally.

[henryclay]

He should have bought his own flag to burn.

krickitt, don't you know by now that liberals don't use their own money to knock the United States?

[Deleted]

Okay-- I got it, but not the why of it, just the facts. Will post in pieces, all from the same link, to keep it simple.

www.nbc33tv.com/news/crimetracker/suspect-caught-in-lsu-flag-burning

ORIGINAL STORY: Just hours after the news of Osama bin Laden’s death, an American flag is found burned on the LSU campus. No one is confirming a connection between the terrorist’s death and the flag burning, but the act has left many students unsettled.

“I think we all went to bed with a sense of American pride,” says Sgt. Austin Stukins with the Marine Corp. “Then, to wake up this morning to find that someone had the audacity to yank that flag down, which we all have fought for so hard to keep flying over this country for so many years. It was disheartening to say the least.”

Sgt. Stukins’ reaction is mirrored across the campus. “It took everything in me not to cry,” says former student government candidate, David Jones.

The American flag that flew over the war memorial on campus was cut down from the flagpole and burned.

“I think it’s just completely unacceptable and unjustified for anyone to steal the symbol of our country and then to deface it,” says junior Brittany Courville.

“That’s our livelihood of our nation,” adds senior Theodore Williams. “[It’s] the thing that really brings us together, so it really hits me hard.”

Some students wonder if Osama bin Laden’s death triggered the act. “I find it very hard to believe that it’s just a coincidence,” says Courville. “That’s not to say that it wouldn’t have happened eventually, but I think it was definitely a catalyst.”

A group of cadets showed up with a stand-in flag when they learned of the burning. They’ve been standing watch at the War Memorial all day. They say they’ll continue to guard the new flag until a more permanent one can take its place.

“I think this shows our Tiger pride,” says Williams.

The cadets were joined by a somber crowd for a prayer vigil. “I had to do something,” says Jones. When he heard about what had happened, he called as many friends as he could to join him at the War Memorial for a few minutes to honor the stars and stripes.

Jones says he asked students not to be angry. Instead, he hopes that they’ll pray for peace. “I cannot dignify an action of hatred and stupidity with hatred, with more stupidity,” he says.

It’s a reminder that America’s spirit can’t be broken. “I’m a patriot,” says Jones. “I love and breathe American and I’d give my life for this country.”

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This is an NBC33 News update - The flag that was torn down and burned on LSU's campus was replaced this evening. The ROTC on LSU's campus put the new flag up during a ceremony tonight. The previous flag had been flying at LSU's War Memorial for the past two years.

This is an NBC33 News update - LSU Police have issued an arrest warrant for Isaac Eslaya, 23. Eslaya is an LSU student and is believed to be responsible for the flag burning incident. He faces two felony counts of Simple Criminal Damage to Property, Arson, Theft, Resisting an Officer and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Officials say an LSU staff member alerted LSU Police about Eslaya’s whereabouts. Once located, Eslaya fled the scene and has not yet been captured.
Police did recover a stolen vehicle, which they believe was used by Eslaya. The LSU flag that was burned was recovered inside the vehicle along with drug paraphernalia, a clothing item belonging to the suspect and red and black spray paint.
Detectives have also learned that the same day as the flag burning, The Venue Apartments located north of campus were vandalized by graffiti using red and black spray paint and were able to connect the suspect to the crime.
Eslava holds a dual citizenship for the United States and Columbia and is believed to have fled to Atlanta, Ga.
If you have any information, contact LSU Police

BATON ROUGE, LA (NBC33) — This is an NBC33 News update - LSU Police have arrested the man wanted for burning of the University's American flag earlier this week. Isaac Eslava, 23, turned himself to LSU police today on charges of theft and arson.

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ROTC members stand guard

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Okay. I'm through now.
;D

(Are there Bin Laden type terrorists in Columbia??)

[cereb]

Buffoons do this sort of thing because of all the attention it gets. When will people learn.

[ameiko]

May 12, 2011 1:23:05 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

SCOTUS ruled that burning the national flag, while regrettable is a right of Free Speech, the amendment, guesss they don't teach that at LSU...to bad , but then again , who listens to the SCOTUS when they have it wrong right?

The SCOTUS has a history of horrific judgements.

I have zero sympathy for this moron. While I admit that had he been beaten into the ground, that it would have been illegal, I can't say it would have been wrong.

People burn the flag are looking for a reaction; well buddy boy got one!

Anyway, I am willing to compromise. If you are willing to wrap yourself in a flag, douse yourself in gasoline and light that flag on fire THEN, go for it. If you believe THAT strongly in your cause, go for it!

If I happened to "accidently" trip people who try to smother the fire, gosh darn it my bad!