At the AFP presser telling our story of union violence in Lansing. #rtw #tcot #righttowork
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(@jmlefler) December 13, 2012
Scott Hagerstrom, director of Americans for Prosperity’s Michigan chapter, led a press conference this afternoon to denounce union goons’ despicable conduct earlier this week.
Remnants of the destroyed tent: ow.ly/i/1fb0Q #RTW #SaveMI #NoRTWMI—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Pro-RTW Santa stops by the press conference ow.ly/i/1fb4W #RTW #SaveMI—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Solitary protester at the press conference: ow.ly/i/1fb8Y #NoRTWMI #SaveMI #RTW—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Maybe he’s an associate of this jackass:
Americans for Prosperity is holding a presser at 2:30 demanding "justice". For their tent. Aye, aye, aye #saveMI link: is.gd/WgYjwC—
Chris Savage (@Eclectablog) December 13, 2012
No, tool. This isn’t about justice for a tent; it’s about justice for innocent men and women who were verbally and physically assaulted merely for exercising their right to free speech and assembly. Union thugs may not think much of accountability, but Hagerstrom and AFP are absolutely right to demand it.
"We are calling on union leaders, Mayor @vbernero, and others to condemn this sort of violence and intimidation.” bit.ly/Sjl3Nm…—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Mayor Bernero was so busy gushing over the “beautiful” thugs who descended on downtown Lansing, he forgot to look out for his constituents:
Hagerstrom announced that he has filed a police report and intends to press charges.
Press conference about RTW violence in Lansing. AFP state director says he filed charges after their tent was destroyed.—
Brian Jodice (@BrianJodice) December 13, 2012
#AFPMI State Director has filed a police report re Tuesday's violence: ow.ly/i/1fbbm #RTW—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
#AFPMI State Director @followscott: "People were inside this tent when it was destroyed… We were literally chased from the Capitol lawn."—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Horrible.
Hagerstrom also revealed that numerous 911 calls had been placed while the assaults were taking place, but no calls were returned and there has so far been no follow-up:
"Why were 911 calls ignored? Why was there no follow-up? This need to be investigated." @followscott #AFPMI #RTW—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Absolutely.
Other victims of vicious thuggery stood up to give accounts of what happened to them:
Activists assaulted in union violence speak out: ow.ly/i/1fbhp #RTW #SaveMI—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
#AFPMI Activist: "After 2.5 hours of profanity and intimidation I was spat at twice. I didn't say a word." #RTW—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
One man even said that a union goon threatened to go to his house.
"What happened on Tuesday was not a dialogue, it was a monologue." #RTW #SaveMI—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Union protesters "speared" pro-#RTW activists with flag pole. #SaveMI #NoRTWMI—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Is that what civility looks like?
#AFPMI Activist Rose B: "It's my House too." #RTW #SaveMI ow.ly/i/1fbuj—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
She also called on the media to do its job and report the truth. Fat chance of that, unfortunately.
Clint Tarver, who watched his hot dog stand get destroyed as racial epithets were hurled at him, spoke up as well:
Clint Tarver: "I was here to do a job… They called me 'Uncle Tom' & the n-word… My equipment was destroyed." #RTW ow.ly/i/1fby2—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Stu Sandler: "We went through the proper legal channels to reserve our space on the Capitol lawn." #RTW #SaveMI—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
It’s the anti-right-to-work protesters who broke the law. But will they be punished? According to activist Tim Bos, not unless something changes. He described feeling helpless as police looked on while the assaults took place:
Tim Bos: "Cops saw these assaults on free Americans by other Americans, and did nothing." #RTW #SaveMI—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
Tim Bos: "Is this America?" #RTW #SaveMI #NoRTWMI—
AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 13, 2012
It’s certainly becoming more difficult to recognize. Thankfully, pro-freedom advocates like those at AFP are bravely willing to take a stand against tyranny and for our American principles. AFP has done its job when it comes to protecting citizens; it’s time for Mayor Bernero and the city of Lansing to step up and do theirs.



























