LuvBigRip
10-12-2007, 01:42 PM
This is total BS
Report: Man Charged for Public Burning Defends Right to Torch Mexican Flag
Friday, October 12, 2007
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A Texas man facing charges after publicly burning a Mexican flag defended his actions, according to a report.
David Bohmfalk, 46, has been charged with burning without a permit after he torched a Mexican flag in front of the Alamo in San Antonio after the May 2006 immigration rallies, KENS-TV and MySA.com reported.
"I just got angry," Bohmfalk told KENS-TV on Tuesday. "I decided I had to do something, make my statement, and that's what I did."
No one in San Antonio issues permits to burn flags, the station said.
"In America, every day we see people burning the American flag and it's become desensitized," Bohmfalk's lawyer, Jason Jakob, said. "If we can allow that, we can certainly say that the Mexican flag can be burned."
Burning the U.S. flag is protected under the First Amendment.
Calls to the city attorney's office in San Antonio by FOXNews.com were not returned.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301486,00.html
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/mexico/stories/MYSA100907.Mexflagburn.KENS_.155c25557.html
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.
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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."
More coverage
KENS video: Watch the broadcast
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.
Report: Man Charged for Public Burning Defends Right to Torch Mexican Flag
Friday, October 12, 2007
E-Mail Print Digg This! del.icio.us
A Texas man facing charges after publicly burning a Mexican flag defended his actions, according to a report.
David Bohmfalk, 46, has been charged with burning without a permit after he torched a Mexican flag in front of the Alamo in San Antonio after the May 2006 immigration rallies, KENS-TV and MySA.com reported.
"I just got angry," Bohmfalk told KENS-TV on Tuesday. "I decided I had to do something, make my statement, and that's what I did."
No one in San Antonio issues permits to burn flags, the station said.
"In America, every day we see people burning the American flag and it's become desensitized," Bohmfalk's lawyer, Jason Jakob, said. "If we can allow that, we can certainly say that the Mexican flag can be burned."
Burning the U.S. flag is protected under the First Amendment.
Calls to the city attorney's office in San Antonio by FOXNews.com were not returned.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301486,00.html
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/mexico/stories/MYSA100907.Mexflagburn.KENS_.155c25557.html
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.
advertisement
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."
More coverage
KENS video: Watch the broadcast
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.