The woman, who gave her name only as "Sage," was forcibly removed for violating the Senate rule that prohibits hats in the chamber.
As she was dragged by two Idaho State Police corporals just before noon Thursday, the woman went limp and yelled, "I didn't do anything" and "You're hurting me."
"I'm so sorry that had to happen," said Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, upon whose authority the woman was removed.
Corps. James Love and Brady Barnes removed the woman from the 4th-floor gallery after the Senate passed House Bill 693, which requires adoption of emergency rules governing conduct on the Capitol Mall within 30 days of enactment. The bill, which was prompted by the Occupy Boise encampment, now goes to Gov. Butch Otter, who supported the measure.
The woman was not handcuffed or arrested, but taken down two flights of stairs and outside to the south steps of the Capitol.
Senate Sergeant at Arms Sarah Jane McDonald said the Senate takes seriously its rule against wearing of hats. "It's the protocol of the Senate. We're very formal here. If she'd taken her hat off, there would have been no problem."
After getting the woman outside, Love told her, "You've been escorted out of the Senate, as requested. Please don't come back or you'll be charged with trespassing."
The gray-haired woman who looked to be in her late 50s or early 60s, said she was from Boise. She said she was wearing a knit cap in the gallery. She said she told one of the troopers, "But you're wearing a hat. So if I have a gun I can wear a hat?"
The uniform for ISP troopers includes a broad-brimmed dark hat, which they typically wear while patrolling all parts of the Capitol.
The woman said she had removed her hat about five minutes after first being asked. Then, she said, a companion put on the hat and officers asked her to leave. She refused to go, prompting her ejection, she said.
Several of the woman's companions videotaped the exchange and jeered at the officers, saying, "Would you treat your mother like that?"
The Senate went briefly at ease during the woman's ejection, after the woman's shouting interrupted debate on the bill that followed HB 693.
Senate Rule 5 gives the president pro tem control of the Senate chamber. Hill's written protocol prohibits the wearing of hats, use of cell phones, eating and drinking, flash photography and the display of banners, posters, buttons or clothing "that advocate or represent a position or distrct from the decorum of the Senate."
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heck no I won't go
"Please don't come back"
***
Gotta be more than 'wearing a hat'.
Was it a HOODIE?
where's hte youtube link to this- ought to be fun to watch and I need some fun today.
I'll assume
that the troopers were also told to remove their hats, as it seems to be an egregious transgression of decorum.
Not great PR for the Idaho Senate or ISP.
I'm sorry this is what we've come to
When the legislature needs to use jackbooted thugs to remove little old ladies for wearing hats then it's a sad day for Idaho. And as the person asked why are the troopers allowed to wear hats shouldn't they have to respect the same rules as the rest of us?
Thugs
Nice way to think or your State Police-jackbooted thugs. Idiot.
If that little old lady
is too stupid to have learned at this late stage of her life that she needs to follow the rules, then by all means drag the idiot out so that civilized people can conduct business. Most three-year olds I know are smart enough to remove a hat when told they're in a place where they can't wear it.
She wouldn't have
been able to wear in courtrooms. The judges would have asked her to remove it or be charged with contempt of court.
So
you're accusing the ISP of being less intelligent that a 3-yr old?
I concur, emphatically!
crybaby
"But that guy gets to wear a hat, whaaaaa"
ISP are allowed to wear uniforms, and carry guns, and arrest people. All of which would be against the rules, and in some cases law, for regular people. That just KILLS you. It just kills you that anyone has authority, or is allowed to do anything you're not.
That's what OWS is about, and it's something that makes a lot of people miserable. I suggest you try to get over it, because law is going to be around for a while, I believe.
I am
a taxpayer, free citizen, property owner, and voter in my Country of birth (USA). I have toiled for decades as a worker in an industry in which you would not last for more than a few moments. I would die laughing if you died trying.
When I see azzbags like you espousing things that they do not fully comprehend, I feel sick at heart for this Country into which I have spent so much of my time, energy, will, and mind to create.
My legacy is nearly complete. I have done the work. I have raised the righteous children that will find their way, despite people such as yourself.
Good luck.
Don't just sit there, subjugate and reform them, daddy.
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"foreignoregonian" is not anonymous
It is my identity and my philosophy
Would you prefer everyone to be called 'Poster'?
Well said!
Thank you!
I object to you
referring to a woman in her 50-60's as a little "old" lady. I'm in my 50's and I'm not old. Maybe not always a lady, but not old.
That's not civil disobedience
It's not all that smart disobedience.
Successful protest involves making a point other than you weren't there to make a point, and made a fool of yourself detracting from the cause.
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"foreignoregonian" is not anonymous
It is my identity and my philosophy
Would you prefer everyone to be called 'Poster'?
Official service uniforms
Official service uniforms have their own rules.
For example, citizens are to remove a hat for the National Anthem, but civic club members in uniform (like the scouts), and military / police service members in their uniform, are to wear the entire uniform. Wearing a hat or head covering for the anthem is reserved for those in uniform.
now that is just for the national anthem. But it would seem reasonable that a dress code would be adopted in the senate that roughly match that.
And yes, ejection for wearing a head covering is extreme. Like all news blurbs, I'm sure we are only getting 10% of the facts of hte case.
2.5% would suffice.
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"foreignoregonian" is not anonymous
It is my identity and my philosophy
Would you prefer everyone to be called 'Poster'?
Well, I guess
you really have to take your hat off to the Idaho Senate.
I hope
the video goes viral.
I don't want a virus.
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"foreignoregonian" is not anonymous
It is my identity and my philosophy
Would you prefer everyone to be called 'Poster'?
Yeah, yeah,
whatever.
Ever get tired of listening to yourself, or the voices in your head?
Got any opinions that are your own? Think about it.
Hemhorroids are treatable and I have no taxes for yours
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"foreignoregonian" is not anonymous
It is my identity and my philosophy
Would you prefer everyone to be called 'Poster'?
HEY! Don't be dissn on our FO!
He has some good points (every now and then). But it sure beats the same ol' "Your bad, I'm good" that everyone else does.
really?
This is maybe the stupidest thing someone in Idaho has done to try and garner some type of attention.
The protocol is NO HATS...been this way for a long time and trying to somehow go against that is idiotic. Stupid OLD lady!
remove your hat
If your asked to remove your hat, remove it. It is not anything to get upset about. However some people want to whine and make a big deal out of anything.
Rules don't apply
to the fringe .0000018%
Red Hot Chili Peppers rule...
Do not remove your sock.
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"foreignoregonian" is not anonymous
It is my identity and my philosophy
Would you prefer everyone to be called 'Poster'?
ISP 1 - OB 0
I applaud ISP for a job well done. The wearing of a hat or cover indoors while underarm’s is proper protocol and a long standing tradition.
Are you calling the senate
Are you calling the senate chamber the armpit of Idaho?
no, but possibly that
no, but possibly that attempt at humor.
Hats
Hopefully the Troopers were not asked to remove their hats. Usually those carrying a firearm are allowed to wear cover!
How
do sidearms and head-wear correlate? Are their hats bullet-proof?
They won't look like BPD
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"foreignoregonian" is not anonymous
It is my identity and my philosophy
Would you prefer everyone to be called 'Poster'?
You...
...never have been in the military, right? Thought so! Duh!
Oh Graymatter
That is no way to act. Just leave your hat at home next time.
Now does the same rule apply to
a toupee? heh
It is so silly when alleged "protesters"
break rules that have nothing to do with what they wish to protest.
What does refusing to take off your hippie hat have to do with the 1%ers?
Then you question why no one takes y'all seriously.
Off message = No Message
anti-authority
It's a general anti-authority movement. You say they can't camp somewhere, they'll fight for their right to camp in the courts. You say they can't wear a hat somewhere, they'll defy that and even pursue legal avenues (if they can find a lawyer willing to risk is bar license over that).
Hey, it can be fun to be anti-authority, but if you want to change the world I think you have to pick your battles.
yes, another
rebel looking for a cause.
Yeah...by not paying your taxes...
What would our legislature know about anti-authority...right?
"No his mind is not for rent, to any god or government." Neil Peart
Pitiful
Occupy = Disrespect
Decorum
I realize that the T.V. and the media has pretty much trivialized proper decorum..like taking off your hat during the National Anthem. The young lady ought to know that the Idaho Legislature has long standing decorum and it is not hard to figure out. That said the Idaho Statesman bit on her outburst and that is what she was really trying to achieve. Occupiers love the media spotlight.
Enjoy the Ride...there is no return ticket.
and politicians
tend to diffuse "the media spotlight". I'm with the one's that have no fear of being "spotlighted".
They should have strip searched her
Maybe even a cavity search. That would teach her for wearing inappropriate attire.
The Occupy'ers should be ashamed of themselves for causing so much focus on cleaning up the grounds when there are much more important things for our legislators to focus on.
Nothing more laughable than
the average LIBERAL dumb-o-crat
Yes?....
We're all waiting for you to say something intelligent..........
Still waiting...................................................
YOU...
tracy59 Are an idiot! I won't hold my breath waiting to hear you say anything intelligent. Get a life!
It's been awhile....
nothing to add to an otherwise semi-intelligent commentary?
Right on Bronco754!
I couldn't have said it better!
That goes
for you Rabbis also. Remove your Kippah and kiss Hills ring when you are in "his" senate.
This from the, "very formal," Senate that sponsored the ultrasound circus at the statehouse.
What happened to common
What happened to common sense and civility on all sides? Each side needs to take ownership for all this ugliness. It's a tragic state of affairs we've gotten ourselves into in this country and our state.
I was waiting for the partisan gun and rocket battles
You're messing it up.
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"foreignoregonian" is not anonymous
It is my identity and my philosophy
Would you prefer everyone to be called 'Poster'?