[Vision2020] 09-15-04 Fox News: Two Sue Feds Over Anti-Bush T-Shirt Arrest

[Art Deco aka W. Fox]

Two Sue Feds Over Anti-Bush T-Shirt Arrest

Wednesday, September 15, 2004



CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A couple arrested for wearing anti-Bush T-shirts (search) to 
a July 4 presidential appearance filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday alleging 
their First Amendment (search) rights were violated.

Nicole and Jeff Rank were removed from the event at the West Virginia Capitol in 
handcuffs after revealing T-shirts with President Bush's name crossed out on the 
front. Nicole Rank's shirt had the words "Love America, Hate Bush" on the back 
and Jeff Rank's said "Regime change starts at home."

Their lawsuit was filed in federal court by American Civil Liberties Union 
(search) attorneys.

"What is at stake here transcends politics," Jeff Rank said at a news conference 
at the Capitol. "What is at stake is the right of all Americans - Democrats, 
Republicans and independents, all Americans - to peacefully voice their dissent 
to their government."

Trespassing charges filed against the couple were later dismissed. The City 
Council and Mayor Danny Jones have publicly apologized.

The lawsuit names Gregory Jenkins, deputy assistant to the president and 
director of the White House Office of Presidential Advance, and W. Ralph Basham, 
director of the U.S. Secret Service, as defendants.

The couple wants a judge to declare unconstitutional any policy that led to 
their arrest. They also are seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Spokesmen for the Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Justice, to whom a 
White House spokesman directed questions, declined to comment. Both said their 
agencies do not comment on ongoing litigation.

The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit last September against the Secret Service, 
seeking an injunction against the Bush administration for segregating protesters 
at his public appearances. The Secret Service agreed to stop the practice.

Jeff Rank, 29, said he and his wife wore the T-shirts because, "When you see the 
president speak on TV he is usually shown surrounded by fervent supporters only. 
While we wanted to hear him out and while we wanted to see him in person, we did 
not want to be added to the tally of Bush supporters that day."

Nicole Rank, 30, initially was dismissed from her job with the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, but was rehired after the charges were dropped.
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