War Protest Has Captive Audience

[IChing]

By Eric Bailey, Times Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO — Morning begins on Marty Way. Sprinklers slap across crew-cut lawns, and the rising sun angles through a thick canopy of trees. As neighbors head to work, they hardly glance anymore at the block's oddest sight.

The soldier is still there.


Affixed under the gingerbread eaves of Stephen and Virginia Pearcy's place is the figure of a U.S. serviceman in desert camouflage and helmet. A balled-up American flag forms the head. A noose is cinched around the neck, just above the sign reading, "Bush Lied. I Died."

Early on, TV news cameras caught young vandals tearing down the effigy. Talk radio buzzed over a clash of free speech and neighborhood norms. Internet blogs called the Pearcys seditious creeps.

Their persistent stand never attracted the media horde that chronicled Cindy Sheehan's summertime vigil in Crawford, Texas. But the Pearcys' home-front display, which first appeared in January, has proved an improbably enduring presence on Marty Way.

Whether they loved, hated or merely tolerated the display, most neighbors figured the couple would exhaust their 15 minutes of fame and the soldier would disappear.

They underestimated the Pearcys' stubbornness.>>>>>snip

http://www.latimes.com:/news/local/la-me-effigy24oct24,0,3080143.story?coll=la-home-headlines&vote20130952=1
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YOU CAN VOTE ON THE LINK TO SAY IT IS FREE SPEECH

[DesertRat]

1. It's free speech

I voted.

[meganmonkey]

2. I'm glad they still have it up

I remember the controversy about this when they first put it up. Wasn't there a video of some jackass taking it down in broad daylight?

Persistence is key. It's not like we're all going to forget that the war is still happening!

The Pearcy's are true patriots!

:patriot:

[IChing]

4. It was according to the article, did you see it?

"Early on, TV news cameras caught young vandals tearing down the effigy. Talk radio buzzed over a clash of free speech and neighborhood norms. Internet blogs called the Pearcys seditious creeps."

Don't forget the poll

[meganmonkey]

5. Ooops - that's what I get for skimming. But I did vote in the poll

Free Speech all the way!

[hippiegranny]

3. cool house.

excellent message too.

[Cerridwen]

6. Read and voted - 3 cheers for the Pearcys!

Does the display of an effigy of a U.S. soldier with a noose around its neck constitute free speech or hate speech?
71.9%
It's free speech and must be protected at any cost.
(427 responses)

6.1%
It's hate speech and ought to be prohibited.
(36 responses)

17.5%
It's offensive, but the homeowner has the right to display it.
(104 responses)

4.5%
Who cares?
(27 responses)

594 total responses

[lonestarnot]

7. Putting up halloween stuff soon. tehehehehe

[AlCzervik]

8. Good for them, i have to go downtown on thursday, i will try and take a

picture of it.

[kostya]

9. Kick: free speech votes rising, keep it up!

:kick:

[stillcool]

10. done

i don't understand why this would be thought of as 'hate-speech', or 'offensive' to an ordinary mind.

[IChing]

11. please vote kick

[FtWayneBlue]

12. done

Does the display of an effigy of a U.S. soldier with a noose around its neck constitute free speech or hate speech?
72.2%
It's free speech and must be protected at any cost.
(1725 responses)
5.6%
It's hate speech and ought to be prohibited.
(133 responses)
17.2%
It's offensive, but the homeowner has the right to display it.
(412 responses)
5.0%
Who cares?
(119 responses)
2389 total responses

[Judi Lynn]

13. Thanks for the article. 72% voted "free speech"

Does the display of an effigy of a U.S. soldier with a noose around its neck constitute free speech or hate speech?
72.2%
It's free speech and must be protected at any cost.
(1737 responses)
5.6%
It's hate speech and ought to be prohibited.
(134 responses)
17.2%
It's offensive, but the homeowner has the right to display it.
(415 responses)
5.0%
Who cares?
(120 responses)
2406 total responses