There was recently a massive theft of Webb yard signs throughout the Woodley, Westgate, and Straftford precincts. These signs were stolen from inside people's yards, not merely the right of ways along roads. Many of the signs were taken from my elderly neighbors, who have difficulty replacing the signs themselves. (I'll make sure it's taken care of, but the point remains that our elderly citizens are being harassed and victimized.)
Here is the point - Westgate precinct is where the home of George Allen is located. Yes folks he is in our backyard. We have done alot of canvassing, fundraising and communication in the very "red" area of Northern Virginia. They are so scared they have to result to sign stealing - as if that would stop his campaign's down hill slide.
Plus an 88 year-old in Westgate precinct had installed a huge 4x4 Webb sign very securely high in a tree on his property along Mount Vernon Highway, past the estate. Apparently thieves with a pickup truck and a ladder appeared late a few nights ago and stole his Webb sign. These people are literally criminals: theft and trespassing. The man's grandson promised to stake them out this time!
What we need to do is blitz the local media with letters to the editor pointing out this systematic sign stealing. That will discourage future problems, as well as point out to our neighbors how low some Republicans will go to suppress free speech.
1. It is a gross violation of our fundamental First Amendment rights here at home, at a time when our troops are dying abroad to protect our freedom.
2. James Webb himself was seriously wounded in Vietnam defending the Constitution of the United States, so it is especially heinous that someone would take away the freedom of speech Webb fought to preserve for all, including the thieves.
3. These people are stealing from their own neighbors, not the Webb campaign. The signs were taken from people's yards and they were paid for by MV residents; they do not belong to the campaign. We don't have millions to throw away like the Republicans.
4. This was clearly a systematic, planned effort to remove Webb signs (others were not taken), not just a random prank by teenagers. We refuse to be bullied in our own homes and in our own communities by thugs who want to deny us our freedom of speech.
5. We call on Senator Allen to condemn this action and to promise that he will punish anyone in his campaign who participates in sign stealing.
Just wanted to say that this information was cut and pasted from an email from a great friend in our committee. She does a wonderful job - and has encouraged all of us to write a letter to the editor.
Update: Here is a picture from the poor older gentlemen that the Allen campaign has stolen. I think they have a great idea! We should put Christmas Lights around our signs at night...
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