竟敢 在播放“上帝保佑美国”的时候需要上厕所? 警察会把你赶出去!
(2009-07-08 05:47:19)
下一个
昨天我还在跟四季妹妹讨论美国政教分离的问题,今天就看到这条新闻。美国真没有我想象的那么自由。
新闻里这位老兄就因为在播放“上帝保佑美国”的时候需要上厕所,结果被警察赶出体育场。这可不是什么天方夜谭,而且就发生在2008年的纽约著名的Yankee Stadium。
还好,这位也不是好惹的。跟警察没道理可讲,自有可以讲道理的地方,咱们法院的干活。
2009年七月六号,纽约市与他私了此案,付给他本人一万美元,并付给纽约人权自由联合会一万两千美元的法律诉讼费。而纽约Yankee棒球队也发表声明,声称一贯的的政策是,在播放“上帝保佑美国”时,球迷们可以“自由移动”。
下面是从雅虎转来的这条新闻。
NY baseball fan settles 'God Bless America' suit (ZT)
NEW YORK – A baseball fan has settled a lawsuit that claimed he was kicked out of Yankee Stadium by a police officer because he left his seat to use the bathroom during the playing of "God Bless America."
Bradford Campeau-Laurion had named the Yankees and New York City in his federal lawsuit, which argued that he was a victim of political and religious discrimination and that his rights were violated at the August 2008 game.
The city did not admit liability in the settlement, which was finalized Monday. But it will give the Queens resident $10,001 and will pay $12,000 in legal fees to the New York Civil Liberties Union.
For its part, the Yankees will pay nothing but said in settlement papers that fans at the team's new stadium are allowed to move freely during the song and there are no plans to change that.
"Policy remains as it always has been: Fans are free to move about during the playing of 'God Bless America,'" said Alice McGillion, spokeswoman for the Yankees.
But fans may not always have felt completely unfettered. Ushers used handheld chains to block off some exits while it was played at the Yankees' old stadium, although chief operating officer Lonn Trost has said they were instructed to let through spectators with emergencies.
In May 2007, Trost told The New York Times that the practice was inspired by complaints of fans who were upset that spectators were not respectful enough during the playing of "God Bless America."
The song, written by Irving Berlin in 1918, was played at big league ballparks throughout the country when baseball resumed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was discontinued in some cities the following seasons but remained a fixture at Yankees games.
"This settlement ensures that the new Yankee Stadium will be a place for baseball, not compelled patriotism," NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said in a statement. The city Law Department had no comment.
Police spokesman Paul J. Browne earlier claimed the on-duty officers ejected Campeau-Laurion because he was drunk and disorderly. But the Red Sox fan said he had two beers, an hour apart, and enjoyed the game quietly.