Man cited for burning Mexican flag
Web Posted: 10/09/2007 10:11 PM CDT
Joe Conger
KENS 5 Eyewitness News
It caused some controversy, but it was supposed to. Now, one man is headed to municipal court for burning a Mexican flag in protest in front of the Alamo.
The city is charging 46-year old David Bohmfalk with burning without a permit, even though no one gives permits to burn a flag.
"I was raised to respect my country," Bohmfalk said.
All the rallies and talk of amnesty for undocumented immigrants in May 2006 lit the fires of patriotism for Bohmfalk, he said.
"I just got angry," he said. "I decided I had to do something, make my statement, and that's what I did."
Bohmfalk had his own protest in front of a building known for revolution, where Davy Crockett and James Bowie made a stand. So did Bohmfalk but he used a lighter instead of gunfighter. Park police cited Bohmfalk for illegal burning of rubbish, even it was a Mexican flag he set ablaze.
"Because of what it's made out of, it took a little while to burn it. It took me two minutes, but I got it lit," Bohmfalk
Authorities say his actions left some of the Mexican nationals in the Alamo crowd feeling burned. However, Bohmfalk's attorney, Jason Jakob, says, freedom of speech is Bohmfalk's constitutional right.
"My client felt so strongly, and exercised protest, by burning that flag," Jakob said.
Bohmfalk says while he was detained by police, he was harassed, his life was threatened, and he was even assaulted by some tourists who spit on him. Ironically, all these offenses are punishable by law. Jakob says flag burning is not.
"In America, every day we see people burning the American flag and it's become desensitized," Jakob said. "If we can allow that, we can certainly say that the Mexican flag can be burned."
As a former Texas police chief and military veteran, Bohmfalk says he knows his rights, and is fighting for them.
"Why should a foreign flag get any better protection than the American flag?" he said.
The city has not returned calls for comment. As for Bohmfalk's right to a speedy trial, that's been delayed as well. His trial has been reset three times.
I like that he was charged with"illegal burning of rubbish, even though it was a Mexican flag." hahahaha... Seems to me they could have just said "illegal burning of rubbish, to wit: a Mexican flag."
Bohmfalk says while he was detained by police, he was harassed, his life was threatened, and he was even assaulted by some tourists who spit on him. Ironically, all these offenses are punishable by law. Jakob says flag burning is not.
Ya gotta wonder why these people weren't arrested though. Selective law enforcement? Plus, whether they were arrested or not, why were these people allowed torment this guy in police custody?
__________________
Nature does nothing uselessly.
- Aristotle -
"The city has not returned calls for comment. As for Bohmfalk's right to a speedy trial, that's been delayed as well. His trial has been reset three times."
Sounds like the persecutor hates to bring this one to trial. I hope Bohmfalk demands a trial by jury.
"The city has not returned calls for comment. As for Bohmfalk's right to a speedy trial, that's been delayed as well. His trial has been reset three times."
Sounds like the persecutor hates to bring this one to trial. I hope Bohmfalk demands a trial by jury.
The problem there is that San Antonio is probably 80% Hispanic... Maybe he call Jesse Jackson to insist that it be a "jury of his peers". Any one care to take bets on whether Jackson would insist that the guy have some whites on his jury?
Location: land of the Lilliputians, In the state of insanity
Posts: 24,185
RE: Flag Burning at The Alamo
Quote:
ORIGINAL: ipscshooter
Quote:
ORIGINAL: falcon
"The city has not returned calls for comment. As for Bohmfalk's right to a speedy trial, that's been delayed as well. His trial has been reset three times."
Sounds like the persecutor hates to bring this one to trial. I hope Bohmfalk demands a trial by jury.
The problem there is that San Antonio is probably 80% Hispanic... Maybe he call Jesse Jackson to insist that it be a "jury of his peers". Any one care to take bets on whether Jackson would insist that the guy have some whites on his jury?
I was thinking the very thing when I read falcon's post. A jury would hang him. San Antonio has more Mexicans that Mexico does.
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kaafir mushrik
Unintended consequences and God have one thing in common: Liberals don’t believe in either of them.
"The city has not returned calls for comment. As for Bohmfalk's right to a speedy trial, that's been delayed as well. His trial has been reset three times."
Sounds like the persecutor hates to bring this one to trial. I hope Bohmfalk demands a trial by jury.
The problem there is that San Antonio is probably 80% Hispanic... Maybe he call Jesse Jackson to insist that it be a "jury of his peers". Any one care to take bets on whether Jackson would insist that the guy have some whites on his jury?
I was thinking the very thing when I read falcon's post. A jury would hang him. San Antonio has more Mexicans that Mexico does.
Yea, for this guy "illegal" probablyis a bad thing.
C. Davis
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Flag Burning at The Alamo
