by Jack Lee
Initially it was hardly noticed by anyone except for a small crowd that had gathered to watch, but what happened is a sign of the times and you have to think – is this still the land of the free?
The words of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address are carved onto the walls of the Washington D.C. memorial bearing his name. Phillip Howell, a 25 year old unemployed actor thought it would be a good idea to dress up as Lincoln and read the Gettysburg Address from the steps of the memorial on President’s Day.
But, when Howell showed up to deliver Lincoln’s speech the Park Police shut him down – no permit and he was also issued a citation. One of his well meaning friends tossed out a basket and the crowd chipped in $25, a no-no. This was a solicitation and that’s against the law – he was fined $50. “It does seem a little ironic that the ‘Land of the Free’ cannot be so free at times,” Howell said.
“I can understand the government wanting groups to apply for a permit”, says Chris Bounds at Liberty Juice, “but one person is hardly a group.” Howell was basically reprimanded for speaking aloud. “Has that been deemed inappropriate by Park Police? Apparently so.
Here’s the link if you want to read the original story.