Soldier's Uniform Display Ignites Freedom of Speech Battle in Sacramento

by Dan Bacher

A display of a soldier's uniform on the gable of a house in a quiet neighborhood in the Land Park District of Sacramento has ignited a battle between anti-war activists and Bush administration supporters over the First Amendment. The conflict has created a media circus of TV cameras, newspaper reporters and talk show radio hosts in front of the house many days over the past week.

Stephen and Virginia Pearcy, both lawyers who work in Berkeley, decided to put up a uniform of a U.S. soldier hanging on a noose, with the sign "Your Tax Dollars at Work," at their house in Sacramento. After a group of right wing opponents of the display gathered at the house last week while the Pearcys were absent, two individuals, captured on TV cameras, took the display down.

On Saturday, a group of supporters of the Pearcys and their opponents argued heatedly while Steve Pearcy, with the support of members of Veterans for Peace, put a new uniform display on the house. However, this time the uniform was placed with a new sign saying "Bush Lied I Died," and the noose was no longer there.

"It is important for the public to know that violations of our Constitutional rights won't be tolerated," said Virginia Pearcy, "It is important for all Americans - not just those who disagree with the war - to support our right of free expression under the First Amendment.

Stephen emphasized that the purpose of the First Amendment is to protect "unpopular speech" - and this is a clear case of free speech that is unpopular with supporters of the bush Administration's war on Iraq.

"We put up the display seeking to engage our neighbors to start speaking to one another about the war," said Virginia. "For example, one ex-military guy came from Marysville who was opposed to our display. In spite of our disagreement, we spoke civilly. This is the kind of conversations that we want."

However, opponents of the display said they felt there were more appropriate methods for the Pearcys to use to get their message across. "Why don't they attack the Bush administration responsible for the war rather than putting up a uniform of a U.S. soldier?" said James McKee. "There are other ways of making your point than hanging up a soldier's uniform on a house."

On the other hand, the actual veterans there on Saturday - as opposed to neo-con chickenhawks backing the war - supported the display.

Dan Buckley, a Vietnam War veteran and member of the Nevada City chapter of Veterans for Peace, stated, "Freedom of speech is very important and I consider myself more patriotic than the people opposing this display because I don't blindly follow someone like they do. The Administration has people running the war who haven't experienced war - like the soldier represented on the Pearcy's house."

Buckley emphasized that during the Iraq sanctions, over 1.5 million Iraqis died, including 500,000 children. "Did the people who started the war and the sanctions pay the penalty for their crimes?" he asked the crowd of supporters and media gathered in front of the house..

Dan Daniels, another member of Veterans for Peace, had even harsher words for the individuals taking the uniform down. "The people who took this display down and support them - that's what a fascist state is all about," he said. "There is no sound reason for us to be in Iraq."

On Monday, a man identifying himself as"Mike" was captured by TV cameras taking down the display for a second time.

Surprisingly enough, Mark Williams of KFBK Radio, who has been berating the Pearcys for their anti-war display during his weeknight program, also blasted the individuals who trespassed on the Pearcy's property and took the uniform down. In fact, he is offering a $100 award for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals.

And after the noose was removed and the sign changed to "Bush Lied I Died" the second time the display was put up, Williams claimed that the display was no longer "hate speech," as he had earlier described it, but was "political speech," guaranteed under the First Amendment.

A Sacramento-based group called Move America Forward has called for a candlelight vigil outside the home at 7 p.m. tonight opposing the display. Siobhan Guiney, executive director, was quoted in the Sacramento Bee today saying. "We believe this family has the right to free speech. but speaking freely does not mean all sentiments should be warmly embraced."

Samantha McCarthy, a local peace activist and supporter of the Pearcys, has called for a big turnout of people supporting freedom of speech and opposing Bush's war at the Pearcy's house tonight.

"What Stephen and Virginia are hoping is that enough of us will be willing to again gather in support of free speech like we did on Saturday," said McCarthy on Monday. "I will be there and I am also happy to attempt to organize car pools from Davis. All friends and supporters are welcome."

The address is 2732 Marty Way in Sacramento on Tuesday, February 15, 7-10 pm.

Directions: Take I-80 to the 15th street exit, turn right on 15th, then left on Broadway, then right on Land Park Drive, then left on 2nd Avenue, then right on Marty Way to 2732.