Thread: Protest group plans July 4 march on Washington with loaded rifles

Protest group plans July 4 march on Washington with loaded rifles

By Peter Hermann,
Tuesday, May 7, 10:44 AM

An Internet talk show host is trying to gather protesters to march into the District on July 4 carrying loaded rifles, prompting a warning from D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier that her own armed force will meet them at the border.

“If you’re coming here to protest government policy, great,” the chief said Tuesday on her monthly appearance on NewsChannel 8, reacting to the group’s plan to cross the Potomac from Arlington National Cemetery. “If you’re coming here to break the law, we’ll take action.”

Lanier added, “There’s a pretty good chance we’ll meet them on the D.C. side of the bridge.”

So will the U.S. Park Police, Sgt. Paul Brooks said. If the protesters go through with the march, Park Police will be waiting for them at the District line, which happens to be on U.S. Park Service property, near the Virginia side of Memorial Bridge.

News of the march comes amid a national debate over gun regulations that emerged following the Newtown, Conn., massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. And it is scheduled to take place in one of the most strictly regulated cities when it comes to firearms laws. Washington allows residents to possess registered firearms on their own property, but the city forbids carrying those weapons in public.

Authorities noted that they have not been in contact with the group’s leader, Adam Kokesh, a 31-year-old U.S. Marine who served in Iraq and returned a self-proclaimed libertarian and anti-war activist. Kokesh publicized his plans in Internet postings.

On his blog, “Adam Vs The Man,” Kokesh called on people to register for the march, which he called an act of civil disobedience. He said protesters with loaded guns slung across their backs will march around the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court and the White House. Thus far, 2,500 people have signed up to participate, Kokesh said.

On the blog, Kokesh wrote that he is planning a nonviolent protest, but he won’t predict what could happen if the police move in with force. He urged protesters to submit to arrests and said the group will peacefully turn back if denied entry into the District. But separately, he said some protesterers plan to take a step into the District to prompt an arrest.

“We will march with rifles loaded and flung across our backs to put the government on notice that we will not be intimidated and cower in submission to tyranny,” Kokesh wrote on the Internet site. “Should we meet physical resistance, we will peacefully turn back, having shown that free people are not welcome in Washington. ... We are truly saying in the SUBTLEST way possible that we would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.”

In an interview, Kokesh said said the march is not aimed at protesting the District’s gun laws specifically but is “more to assert our rights as individuals on Independence Day.”

He said he wants to work with law enforcement and hopes that Lanier will make an exception to the law and grant his group safe passage, and even a police escort, through the District.

Brooks, with the Park Police, said guns are not allowed in the cemetery in Arlington. But he said it appears the group plans to start just outside the cemetery gates, along Memorial Drive. He said the organization has not sought a permit, as required for demonstrations on National Park Service property, but Kokesh said on the web site he does not intend to get one.

Lanier said on the television program that city representatives are willing to meet with Kokesh and other leaders “to facilitate whatever they want to get accomplished in a legal way.” But, she said, “passing into the District with loaded firearms is a violation of the law and it will be treated as such.”

In 2007, Kokesh was photographed at the Senate Hart Office Building being arrested wearing a T-shirt that read, “Iraq veterans against the war.” He was arrested again in 2011 when he led a group dancing at the Jefferson Memorial, and he has gotten into trouble for protesting in a Marine uniform and for taking a souvenir gun home from the battlefield.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/....html?hpid=z10

Radio host has patriotic, perhaps unwise idea for armed march on DC

Got Fourth of July plans yet? Right-wing radio host Adam Kokesh is planning an "Open Carry March" on the nation's capital, in which he plans to lead gun advocates in a march carrying loaded guns. "This is an act of civil disobedience, not a permitted event," reads the event's Facebook page. "We will march with rifles loaded & slung across our backs ... this will be a non-violent event, unless the government chooses to make it violent." Obviously, openly carrying guns is against the law in D.C., so we're not sure how Kokesh thinks this will end, but it'll be interesting, or terrible, or possibly nothing, if he caves beforehand. We'll see. [Source]

http://now.msn.com/adam-kokesh-plans...-washington-dc

Adam Kokesh organizes gun rights march for July 4th in Washington


Photo: Gun protest
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 - Out and About D.C. by Susan L Ruth
Susan L Ruth
WASHINGTON,May 8, 2013 – Protests on July 4th in Washington are nothing new, but the one planned this year comes with a twist: The participants are pledging to carry loaded rifles.
Adam Kokesh, a libertarian talk show host is inviting protesters to join him in what he refers to as an “Open Carry March on Washington”.
Kokesh is a veteran of the Iraq war and an outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in that war.
Kokesh’s relationship with the military has been a complicated one. As a Marine, he worked at a security check point in Iraq and was a liaison between the United States military and Iraqi civilians, and received the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Commendation Medal for his actions in that role.
In 2004 Kokesh brought a pistol home from Iraq, violating military rules, which led to his honorable discharge from the Marines and a re-enlistment code that prevented him from a future re-enlistment.
On March 19, 2007, Kokesh attended an anti war protest wearing his Reserve uniform.
Ten days later, Adam Kokesh received an email informing him he was under investigation for misconduct for wearing his uniform at a political event. Kokesh’s reply gained him an additional misconduct charge for the use of expletives.
The result of the hearing was that his discharge was lowered from “honorable” to “other than honorable”
After that initial protest, Kokesh had made a habit of organizing others against issues that he disagrees with.
In the past six years, Kokesh has organized and protested everything from U.S. involvement in wars and John McCain to laws banning dancing at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. He is now he is turning his efforts to the Second Amendment.
The Open Carry March on Washington is hoping to bring at least 10,000 protestors to say “that we would rather die on our feet than live on our knees”
“We will march with rifles loaded & slung across our backs to put the government on notice that we will not be intimidated & cower in submission to tyranny,” the event’s description reads on Facebook. “This will be a non-violent event, unless the government chooses to make it violent. Should we meet physical resistance, we will peacefully turn back, having shown that free people are not welcome in Washington, & returning with the resolve that the politicians, bureaucrats, & enforcers of the federal government will not be welcome in the land of the free.”
Adam Kokesh has not applied for a permit to protest before, seeing the act of demonstrating without permission of the government as an act of civil disobedience.
During one of his protests at the Jefferson Memorial, after the police began clearing out the demonstrators, a journalist asked Kokesh if he had a permit to protest, Kokesh reportedly produced a copy of the Constitution and said, “Actually I got a permit. It’s the same one I swore an oath to when I enlisted in the Marine Corps. And it says something about ‘freedom of assembly.’
The Open Carry March is expected to cross the Memorial Bridge, go around the Capitol building, to and around the Supreme Court and ending at the White House.
Washington DC’s laws state that a permit is required if the protest is going to take place on the National Mall and there are going to be more than 25 people attending.
Police must allow permit-less marches occur in the street as long as the demonstrators remain in one lane. They also must allow unpermitted protests of less than 100 people on sidewalks as long as they do not block the walkway.
If the protest is to take place around Capitol buildings a permit would need to be obtained from the Capitol police. It should be applied for two weeks in advance.
To hold a demonstration on the National Mall, demonstration organizers must contact the National Park Service. All applications with the NPS require a payment of $50 unless the protest is determined to be a First Amendment Activity.
An updated version of the event’s listing on May 6th says “there will be coordination with D.C. law enforcement prior to the event.” However, it is not clear whether Kokesh is working to obtain a legal permit or not.
Even if the Open Carry March does obtain a permit, demonstrators could still find themselves in trouble with the law.
Washington D.C.’s Police Chief Cathy Lanier told News Channel 8 that any “open carry” persons will be violating D.C gun laws. “Passing into the District of Columbia with loaded firearms is a violation of the law and we’ll have to treat it as such.”
Washington D.C. allows residents to purchase handguns, but they must keep the firearms in their homes. Carrying a loaded weapon of any type is against Washington D.C. law.
“It’s pretty exciting to see how it’s developing,” Kokesh told WAMU Radio. “It’s certainly taking off and going viral, and we’re really excited to be able to provide something meaningful for people to do on Independence Day, when everyone else is going to be the least patriotic thing possible, which is sitting on their butts and not doing anything to improve the country.”
To date 2,700 people have pledged on Kekesh’s Facebook page to attend the event.

http://communities.washingtontimes.c...#ixzz2SkX8Gfbc

Does anyone know if this is still on for July 4 ?

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Adam Kokesh Raided By Federal Agents (Video)


Tuesday, July 9, 2013 20:26



(Before It's News)


Authorities reported to My Fox DC that Herndon Police and U.S. Park Police had blocked off several roads around Kokesh’s home and were in the process of serving a warrant for Kokesh’s arrest.

“We were expecting this. We were expecting the Government to raid our house,” said Young to NBC.

According to reports, Kokesh is facing a felony charge for his recent viral YouTube video which shows Kokesh loading a shotgun in Liberty Plaza. If convicted Kokesh could spend up to five years in federal prison.

i do believe the guy was just saying that it was time to overthrow the US government as well. Some also say that this guy issome kind of false flag patsy because of his outlandish behavior. You really cant tell. Lets say he did try to violently overthrow the us government and was victorious, he would be a hero. if he failed, he would be an undercover agent paid by the government so that the government could then take your guns away. The conspiracy people are fickle like this. very hard to please or prove anything to them. Noe the less, this is kind of big news. -Mort







http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative...Fzimbra%2Fmail

Thanks for the update. I hope there were no children in the home when the police raided with a flashbang.

W

Adam Kokesh charged with possessing hallucinogenic mushrooms


View Photo Gallery — A history of activism: Adam Kokesh has promoted a variety of causes over the past six years, including peace in Iraq and free speech. His latest idea is a march into the District by 1,000 people carrying loaded rifles.

By Trishula Patel and Justin Jouvenal, Updated: Wednesday, July 10, 11:05 AM E-mail the writer

Police searched the Northern Virginia home of activist Adam Kokesh Tuesday evening and took him into custody on a charge of being in possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms while also having a gun, authorities said.
Kokesh, a former Marine, was held overnight at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, charged with possession of schedule I or II drugs while in possession of a firearm, said Lt. Steve Elbert, a spokesman for the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office.

Video

A video posted on YouTube that appears to show activist Adam Kokesh loading a shotgun in Freedom Plaza.

Kokesh refused to be fingerprinted or arraigned, or to speak with court officials on Wednesday morning, said Nancy Lake, Clerk of the Fairfax County General District Court.
He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 2.
“We were expecting this. We were expecting the government to raid our house,” Darrell Young, Kokesh’s roommate, told WRC-TV (Channel 4).
(READ: Kokesh has a history of rabble-rousing and self-promotion)
U.S. Park Police Lt. Pamela Smith said her agency executed a search warrant at Kokesh’s home in Herndon about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, looking for a weapon. The park police are the federal agency responsible for policing Freedom Plaza, the concrete park a few blocks from the White House where — in a video posted to YouTube on July 4 — Kokesh appears to load a shotgun in violation of D.C. gun laws.
Smith said she did not know if the YouTube video was the reason for the search warrant. Carrying a loaded weapon, concealed or unconcealed, is against the law in the District. The possession of a firearm not registered in the District carries a penalty up to a year in prison.
“We will not be silent. We will not obey,” Kokesh says in the video. “We will not allow our government to destroy our humanity. We are the final American Revolution. See you next Independence Day.”
Herndon police assisted in the search, a communications technician from the department said. But she declined to provide details.
According to a news release posted on Kokesh’s Web site, police in cars and helicopters approached Kokesh’s house in Herndon, a suburb 25 miles west of Washington, about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and staged an “armed invasion.” The house is in the 1500 block of Snow Flake Court.
Kokesh’s five roommates provided the following account of the raid to the Washington Post. Park police could not be immediately reached for comment, and the details could not be independently verified.
After police knocked on the front door of the single-family home, the roommates said, officers kicked it in and threw a flash bang grenade inside.
They said some of the roommates headed for a back door, only to find members of a U.S. Park Police SWAT team pointing guns at them. The roommates said more than one police helicopter circled over or near the house during the search.
At least five people inside were handcuffed as officers spent about five hours combing through the house, they said.
A roommate who saw the search warrant said police were looking for the shotgun Kokesh allegedly used in a July 4th video and materials related to the creation of the video. The roommates said officers removed the shotgun, files and a some unknown items that were taken from a safe that police drilled open.

“It was a pure act of intimidation,” said one roommate, who would only give his name as Jeremy.
The roommates spoke in a basement studio where they work on a podcast and web videos called “Adam Vs. The Man.” They said they have about 75,000 subscribers on YouTube. A sign that said “Anarchy Ave.” hung over a flat screen TV in the studio.
One of the roommates had a handgun strapped in a holster as he talked, but all said they believe in non-aggression and that Kokesh’s views have been misrepresented in the media.
They described themselves as voluntaryist, a strain of libertarianism that believes all acts -- such as paying taxes or gun restrictions -- should be voluntary.
Charging documents filed in court Wednesday morning said Kokesh was charged with possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms, a Schedule I narcotic, while possessing a firearm. Possession of Schedule I or II drugs is a felony in Virginia, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $2,500 fine. If convicted of possession of the drugs while also in possession of a firearm, Kokesh would face an additional minimum of two years in prison.
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh said prosecutors could potentially obtain a court order compelling Kokesh to be arraigned if he continues to be uncooperative with authorities.
(PHOTOS: Kokesh has promoted a variety of causes over the last six years.)
Kokesh, an Iraq war veteran and Internet talk show, host unveiled plans in early May to lead an armed “Open Carry March” into the District on July 4. He described the proposed event, in which he said participants would carry loaded guns across the Memorial Bridge from Arlington into Washington, as an act of civil disobedience against “tyranny.”
But the march was canceled after police said they would enforce D.C.’s strict gun laws, which prohibit the carrying of loaded weapons.
Instead, apparently, the video of Kokesh loading what looked like a shotgun was posted on YouTube on the July 4 holiday.
In an e-mail exchange with a Washington Post reporter on Friday, Lucas Jewell, the manager of Kokesh’s Internet talk show, confirmed that the video was shot on the morning of July 4 in Freedom Plaza, which is on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 13th and 14th streets, about a block north of the National Mall.
When asked if the gun and the ammunition were real, and whether Kokesh shot the film alone or with the assistance of himself or others, Jewell declined to answer.
“For legal reasons I probably shouldn’t say if it was a real shotgun,” Jewell wrote in an e-mail. “But I have to say, it looked pretty real to me. I’m no firearms expert, but when he loaded those shells it looked and sounded very similar to a mossburg.” Jewell was most likely referring to a Mossberg pump-action shotgun.
In six years of headline-grabbing activism, Kokesh has embraced causes including peace in Iraq, free speech in the United States and the unsuccessful 2012 presidential candidacy of Ron Paul. He has invoked Mahatma Gandhi and the First Amendment, and he’s used both dancing and loaded weapons to make his political points.
“We will continue to spread the message of liberty, self ownership, and the non-aggression principle regardless of the government’s relentless attacks on our operation,” a statement posted on Kokesh’s Web site on Wednesday morning said.
“We will continue to combat its desperate attempts to crush a worldwide, revolutionary shift in the people’s understanding of the state’s illegitimacy — after all, good ideas don’t require force.”
In 2007, Kokesh was arrested at the Hart Senate Office Building wearing a T-shirt that read, “Iraq veterans against the war.” He was arrested again in 2011 when he led a group dance party at the Jefferson Memorial. He has gotten into trouble for protesting in a Marine uniform and for taking a souvenir gun home from the battlefield.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/activist-adam-kokesh-reportedly-arrested-in-herndon/2013/07/10/73dbc8c2-e943-11e2-8f22-de4bd2a2bd39_story.html?hpid=z2

http://www.alipac.us/f9/gun-activist...harged-284519/