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August 11, 2010
Students Told to Stop Singing National Anthem at Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C
Students Told to Stop Singing National Anthem in D.C.!
A group of students were taking a monument tour of the nation’s capital when they made a spur-of-the-moment decision to sing the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial, but were told to stop by U.S. Park Police.
Police tell students to stop singing national anthem at Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Yes, the one in America!
Students at Lincoln Memorial Told to Stop Singing National Anthem
A group of high school students attending a conservative leadership conference in Washington, D.C. said they were ordered by a security guard to stop singing the national anthem during a June 25 visit to the Lincoln Memorial.
“They told them to stop singing,” said Evan Gassman, a spokesman for the Young America’s Foundation. “I was taken aback. You wouldn’t expect a display of national patriotism to be censored."
U.S. Park Police confirmed that the students were in violation of federal law and their impromptu performance constituted a demonstration in an area that must remain “completely content neutral.”
“The area they were standing in and singing is an area that is restricted for this type of activity,” said Sgt. David Schlosser. “The United States Park Police is absolutely content-neutral when it comes to any sort of demonstrations in these areas.”
Schlosser explained that performances, regardless of content, are banned to “maintain a contemplative and reverent area for the Lincoln Memorial, for the other guests and visitors.”
The incident occurred on June 25 as students were taking a monument tour of the nation’s capital. The decision to sing the national anthem at the memorial was a spur of the moment event, according to Shawn Balcomb, of Richmond Hill, GA.
“We got maybe two lines in and a police officer came over and he was yelling,” Balcomb said in a telephone interview. “He quieted us down.” Balcomb, 17, said the officer told the group they were being too loud. “I was dumbfounded,” he said.
“I didn’t realize there was something wrong with singing the national anthem.”
Schlosser said the students would have been in compliance had they moved approximately 25 steps from where they were standing.
“It’s not the content of their activity – that being the national anthem – it’s the location,” he said. “A couple steps and it would have been no problem whatsoever.”
Instead of doing as they were instructed, Gassman said the students resumed the song – an impromptu form of civil disobedience.
“If their idea of civil disobedience is singing the national anthem, then so be it,” Gassman said. “Let them disobey.”
YAF posted video reportedly shot just after the alleged encounter with the security officer. It shows students loudly singing the anthem.
“That’s the most offensive thing out of all this,” he said.
“They really did not provide the students a reason,” said Gassman. Balcomb, who is a high school senior, said they didn’t intend on creating a ruckus – they just wanted to show their patriotism.
“It’s not like we sounded great or anything,” he said.
“We just wanted to pay respect to our nation – in our capital.”
Schlosser, who commended the students on their musical ability, said the students were not cited and to his knowledge no report was filed.
“We need to make certain that all other visitors that don’t want to be a part of that or just choose to be tourists are able to do so in the same light that probably President Lincoln wanted – which is completely content neutral,” he said.
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Wild Thing's comment........
The “content” is why the memorial is there in the first place!
God forbid you sing America’s National Anthem at a National Memorial in America!
They’re not in a library, or China, for that matter. They’re in America. We have the right to openly express our patriotism in a public place such as this.
Posted by Wild Thing at August 11, 2010 05:55 AM
Comments
"their impromptu performance constituted a demonstration in an area that must remain “completely content neutral.”
Your in America, the Nation's Capital, Singing the National Anthem, during a tour of the monuments of this country, ...What is NOT neutral Who are they afraid the anthem will offend ? Obviously there is somebody they don't want to be offended.
And since when do we even give two shits if someone is offended by the National Anthem in our own country. We have gone from a Tiger to a pussy in 18 months.
Posted by: Mark at August 11, 2010 10:08 AM
Our very own government, that we swore to support and defend has now become the enemy of the people.
Ammo 2 Go just got some more business.
Posted by: Eddie (anti-Obama) at August 11, 2010 12:02 PM
It's getting scary now. Not only do we have too much govt., but it is overly PC and openly becoming anti American. Think I may hit Ammo 2GO also.
Posted by: TomR, armed in Texas at August 11, 2010 12:13 PM
Is that steel case Wolf ammo ok to use in the M1 Carbine? Just asking.
Posted by: Jim at August 11, 2010 01:29 PM
I understand that they have rules, but this issue made me feel quite sad. Did Security not realize how long the song was, and that the end would eventually come?? Was he on tape and would lose his job for violating 1 rule? One inconsequential rule?
Just plain sad. We Americans are all bound up and tripping over our shoestrings. I was born in the wrong century ;(
Posted by: jan at August 11, 2010 03:31 PM
Mark, Amen and ditto to all you said. It really breaks my heart to see all that has been happening.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 11, 2010 05:15 PM
Eddie, never ever would I have believed this kind of thing would ever happen in our country. Never.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 11, 2010 05:17 PM
Tom, I agree, this is huge what happened and I hope people find out about it. So much is only online and there are a lot of people that don't find out about these things happening.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 11, 2010 05:23 PM
Jim, I hope the guys check back and see your question.
Thanks JIm for being here.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 11, 2010 05:26 PM
Jan, I know how you feel. I get angry about these things happening, but at the same time it breaks my heart and saddens me more then I can even express.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 11, 2010 05:31 PM
Jim - Wolf ammo should work well in an M1 carbine. The only complaints I have heard about Wolf ammo is that it is dirtier shooting than US ammo and it is not reloadable. M1 carbines are fun shooters.
Posted by: TomR, armed in Texas at August 11, 2010 06:26 PM
Thanks TomR
Posted by: Jim at August 12, 2010 11:45 AM
