The Secret Service said Wednesday it is investigating a man detained for holding a sign reading “Death to Obama” outside a town-hall meeting in Hagerstown, Md. — the latest incident in which passion over the health care reform debate has drawn the attention of law enforcement officials.
The unidentified man was detained Wednesday by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office because of a cardboard sign he held on which was also scrawled the words: “Death to Michelle and her two stupid kids,” referring to Mr. Obama’s wife and family.
Secret Service spokesman Darrin Blackford confirmed an investigation was pending but stressed that his agency grants wide leeway to people expressing political opinions.
“The Secret Service does not prohibit the presence of signs based on content - only those made with materials that could be used as threatening or harmful,” Mr. Blackford said. “We don’t keep the signs out unless of course it’s something vulgar or threatening, but even then it’s up to the host committee to move that sign.”
The meetings in Maryland and across the country have drawn overflow crowds and large numbers of protesters.
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, who has hosted two town-hall meetings on college campuses in the past week, has been booed and jeered during the meetings. But aside from the incident in Hagerstown on Wednesday, there have been no other arrests and his staff said security has not been an issue.
“The local officials and campus police have been very helpful. We think they’ve done a great job,” said Sue Walitsky, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Democrat.
In other areas of the country, the health care debate has spawned violent protests and backlash affecting the daily lives of members of Congress and their staffs — the types of incidents legislators were warned could occur at the forums.
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance W. Gainer sent senators an e-mail Aug. 6 warning them to watch out for “flaring tempers” at public appearances.
“We are aware that there are many valid and varying opinions among the populace about these myriad issues,” wrote Mr. Gainer, the one-time chief of the Capitol Police force, which is charged with protecting members.
“There is no information known to us at this time indicating any criminal activity is being targeting toward any particular Member or event,” he wrote. “However, we do know that sometimes, tempers flare, with the potential for disruptions. Should that be the occasion, notifying local law enforcement authorities is highly recommended while attempts are made to calm the situation.”
Capitol Police sent officers to Sen. Arlen Specter’s Aug. 11 town-hall meeting at the Pennsylvania Democrat’s request.
Six people were arrested Aug. 6 on suspicion of assault and other misdemeanor charges at a health care forum in a Missouri middle school. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Kenneth Gladney, a 38-year-old conservative activist from St. Louis who is black, was attacked by another black man who used a racial slur against him before the attack. Mr. Gladney gave the interview from the local emergency room, where he said he was awaiting treatment for knee, back, elbow, shoulder and facial injuries.
Vandals on Wednesday painted a large, black swastika over Rep. David Scott’s office sign in Smyrna, Ga. At a recent public meeting, the Georgia Democrat was involved in a heated health care debate, though it is unclear whether the two events are connected. Jennifer Wright, a spokeswoman for Mr. Scott, said local police have instructed staffers to travel in groups as a precautionary measure.
“We make sure everyone leaves at the same time and gets to their cars without incident,” Ms. Wright said. “We’re also checking before opening doors for anybody as a precaution.”
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