Paging the ACLU

I've laid off the story about the couple ejected from a Bush appearance in West Virginia on the 4th of July for wearing "anti-Bush" t-shirts because, well, I've seen a few anti-Bush t-shirts that might be considered less than 'family friendly' and possibly inappropriate for a public gathering. Today, Holden, subbing for Atrios over at Eschaton, provides a pointer to a Charleston Gazette article that points out exactly how outrageous the harassment of two American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights was.

A worker with the Federal Emergency Management Agency who wore an anti-Bush T-shirt at the president’s July Fourth rally in Charleston has been sent home to Texas.

Nicole Rank, who was working for FEMA in West Virginia, and her husband, Jeff, were removed from the Capitol grounds in handcuffs shortly before Bush’s speech. The pair wore T-shirts with the message “Love America, Hate Bush.”

The Ranks were ticketed for trespassing and released. They have been given summonses to appear in court, Charleston Police Lt. C.A. Vincent said Wednesday.

That's right, not only were they shackled and removed from public property, but Nicole Rank's employer, a federal agency, followed up the outrage with punitive retaliation. I'm sure the flood victims she had traveled half way across the country to assist will feel better about being protected from her dangerous ideas.

A few more relevant facts:

This was an official 'Presidential visit,' not a Bush campaign event (in other words, you and I helped pay for it).

In order to enter the so-called 'no-trespassing area', the Ranks had aquired tickets authorizing their presence.

"Dozens" of attendees wore pro-Bush apparel, some of which was sold on the Capitol grounds.

I wonder if the supervisor that sent her out of town will be paying her passage back for her court appearance...