HUNTSVILLE —
Huntsville police interrupted a protest by members of the LaRouche Political Action Committee outside the post office on 10th Street on Tuesday after posters depicting President Obama as Adolf Hitler prompted a confrontation with local residents.
Ian Overton, a LaRouche follower from Houston, said he believes Obama is turning America into a dictatorship because of the new “Super Congress,” a 12-member panel made up of six lawmakers from each chamber as well as each political party, that one is part of emergency debt legislation passed on Capitol Hill earlier this week.
The LaRouche movement is made up of followers of frequent presidential candidate and radical activist Lyndon LaRouche.
Overton said he also opposes cutting Medicare spending. He compared Obama to Hitler because the president is killing elderly people with recent policies.
The LaRouche followers asked people if they had heard about the new Super Congress and urged their help in an effort to impeach Obama.
But some members of the community took exception to an illustration of the president with a “Hitler-mustache” on protest posters.
Dr. Richard Watkins of Huntsville — Vietnam veteran and former prison warden — said he received numerous phone calls from people who had been offended by the posters.
Watkins, along with a few friends, approached the LaRouche followers with their concerns.
“I fought for this country so that people can believe whatever they want,” he said. “We only had a problem with the pictures. You draw the line at the commander-in-chief.”
Overton claimed Watkins and others attempted to rip flyers and disrupt their booth. Watkins said only one woman grabbed the actual poster, which was securely taped to the table.
Other citizens accused the LaRouche followers of being racists. But Overton claimed the issue was strictly about political policies.
“This is not about being a Republican or a Democrat. This is obviously not a race issue,” he said. “Being black has nothing to do with making policies.”
Eventually, the Huntsville Police Department arrived to the scene. Officers threatened to issue citations to both parties, but after speaking with the postmaster, decided instead that illustrations of Obama as Hitler had to be removed because of incitement.
“You could put up any sign you want that says ‘Impeach Obama’ or you disagree with his policies, but referencing the man to Hitler is obviously in the wrong,” Officer Chris Myers told Overton.
The LaRouche followers left the post office soon after speaking with police but also appeared at Tuesday’s City Council meeting delivering the same message.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Huntsville police question Houston followers of the LaRouche movement at Huntsville’s central post office on Tuesday to protest President Obama’s role in debt legislation with posters some residents found offensive.
Discussion
Huntsville police shut down Obama protest after public confrontation
- Local News
-
-
Aiming for the future
-
Library reopens after renovation
Hang a picture here, fix a shelf there – the Huntsville Public Library is ready to lift its veil for the public to see.
The library has been completely revamped and is now more than three and a half times larger than its former building. - HISD student packs BB handgun at school
-
Two weekend events focus on Huntsville youth
Two weekend events will bring the spotlight to Huntsville teens.
A Teen Summit is planned from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and the Huntsville Independent School District Buyer's Group will host a steak dinner to benefit youth at 6:30 p.m.
Teens from seventh through 12th grades will be able to attend several different sessions throughout the day focusing on topics relevant to their age group. -
Area schools take part in tornado drill
Practice makes perfect so Walker County emergency officials wanted to make sure area youngsters have down pat what they need to do when tornado conditions pop up.
-
Handheld cell phone use banned in school zones
Cell phone calls and texts messages are going to have to be put on hold when citizens are driving near local schools during the week.
-
Huntsville man stable after accident
A Huntsville man suffered a serious injury during a freak car accident at a local gas station Tuesday.
-
Reagan Dinner to feature Attorney General
Now in its ninth year, the Walker County Republican Reagan Dinner is set to host a full house of area republicans on Thursday.
-
City to apply for grant for more firefighters
Fire Chief Tom Grisham told the Huntsville City Council on Tuesday night that his department was “not destitute” and would continue to provide the community with top-notch service.
- Best Bets: Feb. 21
- More Local News Headlines
-
GOP Rivals Pass Contraception Debate, Hit Obama
Romney, Santorum Swap Charges in 20th Debate
Raw Video: Guilty Verdict in UVa Lacrosse Death
$5 Gas Coming to Pumps Near You?
Raw Video: French Police Release Strauss-Kahn
Ga. Spa Shooting Leaves 5 Dead, Victims Related
2 More Western Journalists Die in Syria
7 Killed As Afghan Quran Protests Turn Violent
Santorum Goes After Obama on Energy
Judge Says Lindsay Lohan in the "Home Stretch"
Father Accused of Using Leash on 11 Year Old
Obama Helps Break Ground on Black History Museum
Raw Video: Dozens Dead in Argentina Train Crash
Wounded Vets Regain Some Camaraderie in Kitchen
Man Accused of Repeatedly Running Over Lover
Raw Video: Obama Belts Out Blues
FDA: New Suppliers to Ease 2 Drug Shortages
Raw Video: New Orleans Revels in Mardi Gras
'Super PACs' Overtaking Campaigns' Fundraising
Mild Weather Could Affect Syrup Production
