posted on May 20, 2007 07:27:36 AM new
Vet Prosecuted for Opposing Recruitment in Library
>By Matthew Rothschild
>May 14, 2007
>Tim Coil served in the first Gulf War and now suffers from Post Traumatic
>Stress Disorder.
>On March 12, he and his wife, Yvette, went to the Stow-Munroe Falls
>Public Library in Ohio. At 37, she is a student at Kent State and
>needed to study for a biology test. Tim, 40, was reading some books.
>Then they noticed two military recruiters trying to enlist someone in a
>nearby room, with a large glass window.
>She decided to take action.
>She took out some 3x5 cards and wrote messages to the man being recruited
>and then put them up on the window sill.
>His wife was putting up 3x5 cards on the window of the room used by the
>recruiters.
>“Don’t fall for it! Military recruiters lie,” said one.
>“It’s not honorable to fight for a lying President,” said another.
>Then the police came.
>She says she cleared it all first.
>“Before I put those cards up, I went to a volunteer and I asked her
>if it was OK if I put those cards up in the window, and she said she
>didn’t have a problem with that but talk to someone who works there,”
>Yvette says. “The next person said it was fine so long as there is no
>confrontation. And she said, ‘Between you and I, I wish they weren’t
>here, either.’ ”
>The recruiters were none too happy with the cards.
>One of them came out and asked Coil who put them up.
>When she admitted she had, he asked for her name, which she didn’t give
>him.
>He told her that she and her husband couldn’t put the cards up.
>“My husband asked him if he was trying to keep us from using our freedom of
>speech,” Coil says.
>He didn’t answer that, she says, but he did tell her again to stop.
>He took the cards and went to find the library director.
>In the meantime, Coil put some more card on the sill:
>“Don’t do it.”
>“My husband is a Gulf War Veteran. He can tell you the TRUTH.”
>“To the military, you are cannon fodder.”
>“Recruiters: You’re fighting for my freedom of speech, too!”
>The library director, Doug Dotterer, told them that if they put up
>one more card, he was going to ask them to leave, Coil says. He told
>them they couldn’t display things that were disturbing other people in
>the library. She told him that the Army had its brochures out on a
>nearby table, and they were disturbing her, she says.
>“My husband said that the library was a public place and we are
>allowed our freedom of speech,” Coil says. “The director said it was
>his library, and so we would have to follow his rules.”
>When he left, they knocked on the window and urged the man being recruited
>not to join up.
>Soon the police arrived.
>They asked the Coils to leave the building.
>“We said, ‘Gladly,’ ” Yvette recalls.
>But on his way out, Tim called the director a name.
>“One more word from you and I’ll arrest you,” the police officer told Tim.
>Then Tim shouted, “Don’t let the military recruit people in the library.”
>Whereupon the police arrested him and took him to the station and
>booked him for disorderly conduct. A little while later, Yvette came
>and picked him up.
>The district attorney did not return phone calls for comment.
>Library Director Dotterer would not talk except to say: “I contacted
>my board president, who is an attorney, and he indicated that because
>this is an ongoing case we’re not going to comment. What I would refer
>you to are the official police reports.”
>The police report says Coil was arrested for “causing a disturbance within
>a library.”
>At an April 30 pretrial meeting, Coil was asked if he wanted to make a plea
>and settle the whole thing.
>“No, I’m not guilty,” he said, according to his wife.
>She explains: “We’re Mennonite. To lie about that would be wrong. I
>don’t want him to go to jail. Neither does he. He doesn’t need that.
>But I believe that God’s going to take care of it. We’re OK with
>whatever happens. The point is if we don’t stand for these freedoms and
>we don’t allow ourselves to be put on the line for those things, there
>won’t be an option anymore.”
>Attorney William Whitaker is representing the Coils.
>“If a statute punishes this conduct, then that statute is
>unconstitutional since it sweeps protected speech within its orbit,” he
>says. “They were engaged in protected First Amendment speech. It’s
>legitimate to use the public library in the same way that the
>recruiters were using it.”
>On May 10, Yvette Coil says that her lawyer was advised that the state
>would drop charges if they would pay $100 in court fees.
>“Tim said he should not have to pay for being harassed,” says Yvette. “No
>one has the right to take your freedoms away.”
>The case is scheduled for June 5.
Here is Yvette's Posted Request:
Dear Concerned Patriot: My husband, Tim Coil, was arrested in March, 2007 for
>counter-recruiting at the Stow Monroe Falls Public Library in Stow, Ohio. I
>am on to the next phase of the process of keeping Tim from going to jail
>for the crime of exercising his right to freely and appropriately speak to
>victims of the predatory recruitment tactics of the US Army. See below for
>details on how you can continue to support Tim and myself. I will work
>tirelessly until the city of Stow, Ohio drops the charges against my
>husband, Tim, and ceases in their attempts to force us to pay for the court
>costs of all parties involved. Tim, a Gulf War Veteran diagnosed with PTSD,
>has made clear that he can not be expected to pay money he and I do not have
>for the "privilege" of being victimized, yet once again, by the
>machinations of a Pentagon gone completely off the rails. Here’s how you
>can help Tim and I further:Call Mr. Dotterer, the library director who
>called the Stow, Ohio police, at 330-688-3295, or email him at
>[email protected]. Remind Mr. Dotterer that the public library is
>a taxpayer funded institution established for the public good. Suggest
>strongly that the vast majority of the American public sees no goodcoming
>out of predatory recruitment activities taking place at a public library to
>staff a war that is at best dubious, and, at worst, a criminal enterprise.
>Regardless of his loyalties to any particular political party or partisan
>philosophy, while on duty as the library’s director, Mr. Dotterer has an
>obligation not to inflame the passions on either side of the
>contentiousissues of preemptive wars of aggression, criminal violations of
>the UN charter signed into law as a treaty by the US Senate, or recruiting
>personnel to participate in either of these two illegal and immoral
>activities. The public library is not an appropriate place to offer an
>unchallenged forum for propaganda, and certainly not for propaganda that
>advocates individual citizens break international, or domestic, laws or
>treaties. A reasonable and lawful reconciliation of this issue would be for
>the city of Stow, Ohio to drop all charges and court costs against Tim Coil
>immediately, and for the library’s director to issue a sincere public
>apology to the people of Stow, Ohio and the citizens of the United States
>of America.Thank you, Yvette and Tim Coil [email protected]
Tim Coil's court date: June 5 at 8:30 am
Second floor fo the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court
2310 2nd St, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221.
[ edited by aintrichyet on May 21, 2007 02:39 AM ]
It will be very interesting to see if the court/judge/jury sees this as them disturbing the peace....or not. Since it appears it will be going to trial.
Are you contributing to their 'cause' aitrichyet?
And here I thought libraries were for QUIET studing....not protesting.
Just goes to show how times have changed.
=================
edited to add: info from another liberal blog site said this, in addition to giving the same story... as it is posted on most all liberal blogs:
"Gulf War 1 veteran andconscientious objector, Tim Coil, was arrested for what he considered to be Free Speech in an Ohio public library."
And again from another link to another progressive blog was this plea from the wife:
"Our Situation:
Mr. xxxxxx is our attorney and he is the best in our area for First Amendment cases. You may contact xxxxxxx at xxxxxx if you want to know how the is law being compromised, the free speech aspects, and so on."
"We have to raise $5,000 to cover legal fees. Tim and I are on a fixed income. Tim is a Gulf War 1 vet and a conscientious objector. He receives a social security disability, for 100% PTSD disability, and is in the process of having his ratings evaluation for a PTSD diagnosis from the Veterans Admin (a diagnosis he received in October of 2005 from the VA). I am a full-time student at Kent State University studying Conflict Management with plans to open a non-profit organization for spouses and family members of veterans with PTSD."
"If you would like to help us with our legal fees you can send your very much appreciated contributions to:
Tim and Yvette Coil
[and their address]"
"Since Tim has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from Gulf War 1,as well as social anxieties, he might find it difficult to talk about our situation but I am always willing to talk. Please email me at [her email address and their phone number]"
======================================
The above was included with a letter of protest to the library's manager, recommending all who support them would sent to the admin. of the library.....saying these taxpayers have a right to protest in the library. lol I don't believe when one is on military disability one EVEN pays taxes. Not sure about their taxes on SS income...And she is a student with no mentioned income.
Just wondering what taxes it is they DO pay? lol
And also WHY a CO would volunteer and join up in the first place.
Questions....questions....so many questions....but no answers.
But hey....if they can earn enough of an income to put HER through Kent State
....while he pulls down military disability AND SS benefits...maybe he can get all his 'social issues' cleared up too.
lol
[ edited by Linda_K on May 20, 2007 08:51 AM ]
posted on May 20, 2007 11:57:59 AM new
Linda, if the Coils are disturbing the peace, as you suggest, George Bush is, as well, invading another country.
Why would the library allow recruiting of any sort? If it's supposed to be a place for quiet reading and study, why have war recruiting going on there? Would the library have allowed anti-war recruiting as well?
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on May 20, 2007 12:31:54 PM new
Not as I suggest. As was reported was the charge against them...disturbing the peace. You'll find it on most progressive sites.
And if you pull up that particular library they have all kinds of different events they hold there. It looks like a very community friendly place to me.
posted on May 20, 2007 06:27:51 PM new
sybil....NO WHERE on any of those liberal blogs did it say anything about why he's filing for disability.
Most only gave his wife's side of this issue.
I'd like to see the other side....AND know why a religious menninite who is a CO, by his WIFE'S statement...would join the military.
Too many questions left unanswered.
I NEVER thought YOU'd have the answers....LOL LOL>>>>> never ever.
Having served in the military during the gulf war does NOT mean he served in COMBAT.
duh
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on May 20, 2007 06:39:47 PM new
I haven't assumed ONE THING about him.
You're crazy.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on May 20, 2007 06:42:37 PM new
"""I'd like to see the other side....AND know why a religious menninite (MennOnite) who is a CO, by his WIFE'S statement...would join the military""
Forgot to ask, what the hell difference does it make to the situation? You won't answer so I will....NOTHING!
posted on May 20, 2007 06:45:44 PM new
You're NOT the only one who gets to point out ALL that's NOT mentioned in this VERY BIASED article that appears to ONLY be being discussed on progressive blogs. LOL LOL
You are free to believe only one side....it's so fitting for you. No need to have the full story....never has been something you've required to form all your false positions.
I like having the full story.
IT NOT THERE.
But guess we'll find out what the procecutors have on THEM when it goes to trial.
THEN, without the BIAS from progressive blogs. LOL
posted on May 20, 2007 06:56:53 PM new
Yes, helen, we understand that those like you and your ilk would LOVE to stop all military recruitment, eveywhere. We read about it all the time.
It's not EVER going to happen. It's your anti-war socialist DREAM.
It will never be anything more than that. America will NEVER allow itself to be without a military...nor with one not capable of defending our Nation.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on May 20, 2007 11:59:54 PM new
ok... for a more 'unbiased' report, here is what was released in the small town's weekly newspaper on this, this weekend.. it DOES "read differently" at tad, from Mrs. Coil's account, however, I feel like Mr. Coli is rather unstable, and I don't want to see him incarcerated or fined. Just restrict him from using the library since he can't 'keep it down' .... and, it's Mrs. Coil that started his brouhaha, by placing the notecards:
------------
Man arrested for disturbance in local library-
by Andrea Cole
Associate Editor
Stow -- A Hudson man awaits trial after being accused of causing a disturbance in the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library two months ago for protesting what he believed was a military recruiting effort.
Timothy L. Coil, who has pleaded not guilty to fourth-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct, is set to appear in Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court June 5 for a trial.
Stow Police Chief Louis Dirker said Coil, 40, was arrested March 12 after he allegedly refused to leave the library.
"Police gave him four or five warnings," said Dirker.
Coil declined to comment on the case. His attorney, William Whitaker, did not return calls by press time.
Coil's wife, Yvette, said while she and her husband were at the library, she noticed two men, whom she believed to be military recruiters, in a meeting room.
"I heard the recruiters talking to a young guy," she said. "My husband is a Gulf War veteran, who is 100 percent disabled with post traumatic stress disorder. When I heard the pitch, I thought, I have spent the last 16 years taking care of my husband, I don't want that for anyone else."
Dirker said it is not clear whether the two men in the meeting room were military recruiters, stating they were dressed in army fatigues.
Representatives from both the Cuyahoga Falls and Ravenna Army recruiting offices say they did not have recruiters at the library that day. Officials from the National Guard did not return calls by press time.
Yvette Coil said she and her husband placed a notecard that stated "Don't do it -- military recruiters lie" in the window of the meeting room.
They placed another notecard that stated, "There's no honor in fighting for a president that lies" in the window.
According to Yvette Coil, 15 minutes later a man in fatigues asked who placed the notecards in the window. When she admitted to doing it, the man asked for her name, and Coil said she refused to give her name.
Coil said a library employee gave her permission to place the notecards in the window.
However, Coil said, Library Executive Director Doug Dotterer told her that she could not place the notecards in the window because they may be offensive.
Dirker said Dotterer, who declined to comment on the case, then called police after which Timothy Coil "became loud and belligerent."
According to Yvette Coil, two Stow police officers arrived and asked her and her husband to leave. Coil said that after her husband yelled, "Don't recruit in the library," he was arrested outside.
"We're not trying to bridge the right to free speech," said Dirker. "[He was] creating a disturbance."
[ edited by aintrichyet on May 21, 2007 02:37 AM ]
