Some people are all talk, others get arrested

Update: Comments are now working!

If you spend much time on either EW or the R-G’s website, sooner or later you will run into some comments by MikeWrites. The R-G reported today that MikeWrites, aka Michael Patrick McFadden was one of the people arrested for protesting the closure of the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza. (Ironically for some reason I can’t get the comments to work on this blog post).

McFadden has clarified his position and that he is not affiliated with SLEEPS in his comments on articles in the R-G. The image he is currently using for his MikeWrites discussion account is of Sen. Wayne Morse. For more on Morse, known for having said, “as long as I serve on this job I am going to serve my own master under obligation to no one” go here.

McFaddden explains why he was arrested and not cited and released as the three SLEEPS protester were

I exercised my fifth amendment right to not answer questions.

They sent me to jail to punish me for noncompliance.

At the jail I was threatened to be stripped naked and thrown in isolation if I remained silent to intake questioning.

So I assured them that I was not suicidal and was on no drugs and that I had no medical conditions.

mikewrites • a day ago

Well here it is folks. I am Michael Patrick McFadden, age 26.

I stood up for Wayne Morse yesterday and got arrested. I stood up for the Bill of Rights for every citizen and was treated like an animal. I was taken to jail because I exercised my fifth amendment right and that angered the police. I don’t have to answer their questions.

I expected this to happen to me. But let me say that I am not and never have been involved with SLEEPS. I am not a SLEEPS protester. I work two jobs and live in a house with my wonderful wife who supports my stance. I have never been arrested before yesterday. I am a civil libertarian.

I don’t agree with all of SLEEPS tactics, but I also don’t agree with the corrupt Commission limiting me from lawful behavior because of SLEEPS. Their closure is unfair and unneccesary, the plaza is empty and not a health hazard. The police should address illegal behavior and not infringe on law abiding people. I walked unobtrusively off to the side of the empty plaza and sat underneath the Wayne Morse statue. I did not speak or make a scene or bother anyone.

It was a sad day for Oregon yesterday. There are better ways to solve the problem than this… I may return to go sit under Wayne Morse again today, after my arraignment at 1:00.

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