"V" Meets Secret Service

[Bill Stewart]

Guy Fawkes's Day was on a Sunday this year,
so he waited until Monday to petition the government
for redress of grievances.

The article has pictures and a URL for video surveillance\\\\\\streaming.

http://www.givemeliberty.org/RTP2/UPDATES/Update2006-11-11.htm

V Meets The Secret Service

Accepted As The Vox Populi

On Monday, November 6, 2006, V visited security check points at the White 
House, the main Treasury, IRS and Justice Department Buildings and the 
Capitol. Vs purpose was to deliver the Peoples Petitions for Redress of 
Grievances relating to the Governments violations of the war powers, tax, 
privacy and money clauses of the Constitution, and to inform key Government 
officials that at least 100 more Vs would be at their doorstep on 
November 14th expecting a response to the Petitions.

At the White House about a dozen Secret Service agents appeared on foot, 
bicycles and car to meet V. While virtuously assuring the security of the 
state, they were curious about the image of V and asked many questions. 
Most, when asked if they had seen the movie V for Vendetta, smiled their 
approval.

When an agent asked if V would remove his mask for identification 
purposes, V explained that would defeat the very purpose of the mask, 
which was to give expression to the fact that the nation was becoming a 
police state, that too many people were becoming afraid to be identified as 
dissenters or protestors, and that this was not in the long term interest 
of a free people.  The agents accepted the veracity of Vs message and 
refrained from veering V from his vanguard visit as the vox populi.




Many law enforcement agents dutifully responded to the first impression 
security concerns caused by Vs dramatic and startling presence at the 
seat of governmental power. All but one who confronted V were generally 
pleasant, professional and ultimately respectful of the voraciously valued 
Rights of peaceful protest, dissent and Petition that V was claiming and 
exercising.

Unfortunately, there was one agent who, either out of vanity, vice, or 
emotional instability, believed his vows of service and badge would 
vindicate his use of violence where clearly none was justified.

One Secret Service agent near the White House, even after he and all the 
other agents had recognized that the toy daggers in Vs belt were plastic 
and part of the costume, and despite the clearly peaceful and 
non-threatening behavior of V, the officer forcefully seized the plastic 
daggers from Vs belt.

After a bit of mental gymnastics between the agent and V, amid the 
growing public spectacle and peer pressure from his fellow officers (who 
voiced their agreement with Vs logic and assertion of his Rights), V 
eventually prevailed over the vexed officer and succeeded in securing the 
return of the toy daggers.

The crowd by the White House gates also included activist Cindy Sheehan and 
her supporters who were demonstrating nearby and had gathered to observe 
the incident between V and the Secret Service. They let out a cheer as 
the SS agent stood down and returned the plastic knives.

At Vs request, a Secret Service agent called up to the White House to 
ask if someone would come to the gate to accept service of the papers. 
After 20 minutes or so, word came to the gate house that the papers should 
be mailed to the President. This was done the next day.

Watch the streaming video documenting Vs visit to the Capital
and his valiant efforts to Petition the officials of the Government.

Try the high resolution link first: 250k cable
If you only have a dial-up connection use this link: 56k dial-up

After departing from the White House, V walked around the White House 
compound to the security checkpoint at the Treasury Department.  Treasury 
accepted service of the papers from V without incident. Other than the 
agent at the security check point who instructed V to use his phone to 
call the mail room, the only other person to speak with V was Mr. Lynch 
from the mail room.

The IRS building is apparently still closed due to the flooding experienced 
last summer. The agents at the security check point informed V that the 
papers would have to be delivered to IRS at 500 North Capitol Street. 
Rather than do that, the papers were mailed to the IRS Commissioner the 
next day.

At the Department of Justice several armed agents with Homeland Security 
patches on their arms, as well as DOJ security personnel met V. They too 
were very curious. There ensued another prolonged face-to-mask exchange of 
news, information, affirmations and assurances. Eventually, the officers 
determined that V and the camera person were not violating the DC code 
dealing with the wearing of masks on the streets of the city, or their 
refusal to produce identification, and that they were not a security 
threat. The protective security forces and agents from the DOJ arranged for 
a Mr. Burroughs to accept service of the Petitions for Redress for the agency.


Note: The most disturbing part of Vs interaction with the law 
enforcement authorities at DOJ occurred when the Homeland Security agent in 
charge asked V what was the purpose behind Vs presence at DOJ. V 
began to explain the First Amendment freedoms and the Right to Petition. 
Almost immediately the agent said, in effect, Youre pulling my leg. You 
are trying to pull a fast one. Im not falling for the garbage. I dont 
want to hear it. At that point the agent phoned the DC police and learned 
that V was not violating any municipal laws. After asking V where he 
was going next, he told V he was free to go.

At the Cannon House Office Building, the agents of the Capitol Police who 
were manning the security check point told V they were instructed not to 
let him into the building. They said the papers would have to be delivered 
to a Pitney Bowes facility at 119 D Street. The papers were mailed the 
next day.

At the Hart Senate Office Building, the agents of the Capitol Police said 
someone from Majority Leader Frists office would have to come to the 
security check point to accept service of the papers. V was given the 
phone number of Senator Frists office. The young man who answered the 
phone said he was the only person there and could not possibly leave the 
office. The papers were mailed the next day.

As V and the videographer walked from one location to the next, he met 
and conversed with many people. About half of the people smiled; some said 
they had seen the movie. About half clearly did not know what to make of 
V and avoided eye contact.

Some people were interested in conversing with V, including a group of 
6-10 college age young people who were waiting in a line to tour the 
Capitol. During the conversation, V said he wanted to quiz them on their 
knowledge of the Rights covered by the First Amendment. V asked if they 
could name the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. Two or 
three immediately said Speech. After a moment or two one said, Worship 
God. V restated that freedom for the young man. Then another said 
Guns. V corrected him.

That was as far as the young people could go in answering the question. V 
then engaged the young people in a discussion of all five of the freedoms 
and the four outstanding Petitions for Redress. The young people stayed 
with the conversation, expressing an interest in learning more, until they 
had to move along in the line.

All in all, Mondays dry run was beneficial. All local and federal law 
enforcement agencies in DC have now been introduced to V. They now know 
that on November 14th there will be more than 100 Vs rallying at 
Lafayette Park and the Reflecting Pool and marching from one rally to the 
other along the streets of DC, stopping at various federal buildings to 
await a response to certain Petitions for Redress.

All local and federal law enforcement agencies in DC now know the purpose 
of these events is to show peaceful support for the First Amendment Right 
to Petition Government for Redress of Grievances and to give expression to 
the fact that too many Americans are beginning to fear the Government and 
that that is unhealthy to the longevity of a free people and our Republic.

All participants are asked to arrive at Lafayette Park between 11 and 11:30 
am on the 14th. The event starts at NOON. The group will wait up to 1 hour 
for a representative of President Bush to appear and to tell the group when 
they might expect to receive a response to the Petitions for Redress of 
Grievances.

If no such representative appears, the participants will move to the front 
entrance of the Treasury Department where they will wait up to = hour for a 
representative of Secretary Paulson to appear. If no such representative 
appears, the group will move to the Justice Department where they will wait 
up to = hour for a representative of Attorney General Gonzales to appear. 
If no such representative appears, the group will move to the Reflecting 
Pool by the Capitol where they will wait up to 1 hour for a representative 
of Speaker Hastert or Majority Leader Frist to appear..

We have reserved 8 rooms for 16 people at an Extended Stay Inn for the 
night of November 13, 2006. The Inn is located at 205 North Breckinridge 
Place, Alexandria, VA  22312. The cost is $50 per person per night, double 
occupancy, i.e., $100 per room per night. The WTP team will be staying at 
the Inn.

Please send an email to Bob at givemeliberty.org if you want to reserve one of 
the rooms.