Marine Detained, Institutionalized for Facebook Posts
Marine veteran detained for posting
about 'conspiracies' on Facebook
The
Rutherford Institute: District Court Refuses to Stop Transfer of Marine
Brandon Raub to Salem Psych Ward, 3 Hrs. Away, for Posting Political
Views, Song Lyrics to Facebook
Virginia Copblock
virginiacopblock.org
*******BREAKING NEWS*******
Breaking News from Brandon Raub’s Legal Counsel at The Rutherford Institute:
“For Immediate Release: August 21, 2012
District Court Refuses to Stop Transfer of Marine Brandon Raub to
Salem Psych Ward, 3 Hrs. Away, for Posting Political Views, Song Lyrics
to Facebook
CHESTERFIELD, VA— Special Justice Walter Douglass Stokes for the
General District Court for the City of Hopewell, Va., has denied an
emergency motion filed by attorneys for The Rutherford Institute to stop
former Marine Brandon Raub from being forcibly transferred to a
psychiatric facility more than three hours away from his family, friends
and legal team. Raub, who was arrested, detained indefinitely in a
psych ward and forced to undergo psychological evaluations based solely
on the controversial nature of lines from song lyrics, political
messages and virtual card games which he posted to his private Facebook
page, is being transferred from John Randolph Psychiatric Medical
Hospital in Hopewell to the Veterans Hospital in Salem, Va., on the
other side of the state. Raub was arrested on August 16, 2012, and has
since been detained against his will due to alleged concerns by
government officials that his Facebook posts are controversial and
“terrorist in nature.” Rutherford Institute attorneys are challenging
Raub’s arrest and detention on the grounds that the detainment order was
procedurally improper, the result of an unlawful detention, and was
based entirely on statements made by Raub that constitute protected free
speech under the First Amendment.
The Rutherford Institute’s information on Raub’s case is available at www.rutherford.org.
“This is not how justice in America is supposed to work—with
Americans being arrested for doing nothing more than exercising their
First Amendment rights, forced to undergo psychological evaluations,
detained against their will and isolated from their family, friends and
attorneys. This is a scary new chapter in our history,” said John W.
Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. “Brandon Raub is no
different from the majority of Americans who use their private Facebook
pages to post a variety of content, ranging from song lyrics and
political hyperbole to trash talking their neighbors, friends and
government leaders.”
Brandon Raub, a former Marine who has served tours in Iraq and
Afghanistan, was detained by FBI agents and police officers at his home
in Chesterfield County based upon the nature of content posted to his
Facebook page in recent months. Like many Facebook users, Raub uses his
FB page to post songs lyrics and air his political opinions, as well as
engage in virtual online games with other users. On Thursday, August 16,
police and FBI agents arrived at Raub’s home, asking to speak with him
about his Facebook posts. They did not provide Raub with a search
warrant. Raub was cooperative and agreed to speak with them. Without
providing any explanation, levying any charges against Raub or reading
him his rights, law enforcement officials then handcuffed Raub and
transported him first to the police headquarters, then to John Randolph
Medical Center, where he has been held against his will. Outraged
onlookers filmed the arrest and posted the footage to YouTube.
In a hearing before Special Justice Walter Douglass Stokes on August
20, government officials again pointed to Raub’s Facebook posts as the
sole reason for their concern and for his continued incarceration.
Ignoring Raub’s explanations about the fact that the FB posts were being
read out of context and his attorney’s First Amendment defense, Stokes
sentenced the former Marine to up to 30 days’ further confinement in a
psych ward and signed a court order for Raub’s involuntary admission to
the Veterans Hospital in Salem. Rutherford Institute attorneys are in
the process of filing various emergency motions and procedural appeals
to challenge Raub’s detention.”
Read original here:
http://virginiacopblock.org/259/the-rutherford-institute-dist...
Read More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIlL1pq1Fhc&feature...
Top Opinion
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marky 2012/08/22 14:34:28+5There a two sides to every story but if he is inciting violence or murder then he should go to prison not a hospital, but if he is getting detained for speaking his mind then America is no longer the land of the free and many people believe the US has become shadow of its former self where the US was respected across the world for its principles





















Also for people who were told to not discuss anything they sure do talk a lot..
I wonder if that would taint a possible trial to post about the events though..
when is Alex Jones, Ted Nugent, Jesse Ventura, Adam Kokesh next? Ted came close.. I can't believe he isn't in Gitmo for his concert.
and here's a definite terrorist that was released.
NOW. . .the First Amendment doesn't need 'defining.' It is self-defining. Take particular note of the emphasis (mine) within the quoted text below:
CONGRESS shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Please note the word CONGRESS. *ONLY* CONGRESS is prohibited from retaliating against the citizenry for the exercise of their first amendment rights. The president/executive is not. The judicial branch is not. Private employers are not. . .etc.
"So," while CONGRESS may not exact a price for anti-government speech, everyone else down the chain MAY.
AGAIN, free speech is anything BUT free. Best to learn that early.
Now, if you'd be so kind as to instruct 'LibFraud.' :-)
The law would have to be created by congress after all...