Iraq vet fights repression abroad only to find it back home

July 12, 2009 @ 12:23AM

Iraq vet fights repression abroad only to find it back home

By Carlos Miller -...

(AP Photo/Susan Willems)

Vito Congine Jr. fought in Iraq as a Marine in 2004 because as we were constantly reminded by our former president, “they hate us for our freedoms.”

But now the 46-year-old Wisconsin resident is learning the Iraqis are not the only ones who hate us for our freedoms.

The people who run the village of Crivitz do as well.

Congine had been flying the American flag upside in front of his restaurant since last June to protest against village officials for not granting him a liquor license. Flying the American flag upside down has long been an accepted form of distress.

Congine’s distress is that he is headed for bankruptcy after spending nearly $200,000 to buy and remodel a downtown building for an Italian supper club.

His protest had gone ignored until the Fourth of July when four cops stepped onto his property and removed the flag – under the advice of Marinette County District Attorney Allen Brey, who obviously doesn’t specialize in First Amendment law.

The cops returned the flag the following day. And Brey has refused to comment on his decision.

Marinette County Sheriff Jim Kanikula said it was not illegal to fly the flag upside down but people were upset and it was the Fourth of July.

“It is illegal to cause a disruption,” he said.

Then perhaps Brey should be jailed.

Village President John Deschane, 60, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, said many people in town believe it’s disrespectful to fly the flag upside down.

“If he wants to protest, let him protest but find a different way to do it,” Deschane said.

Nobody ever said protesting had to be respectful. As long as it remains within the legal boundaries, a disrespectful act is very subjective.

Congine, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq in 2004, said he intends to keep flying the flag upside down.

“It is pretty bad when I go and fight a tyrannical government somewhere else,” Congine said, “and then I come home to find it right here at my front door.”

As it is right now, the ACLU is considering legal action against Crivitz, which had a population of 998 in 2000.

Perhaps a $200,000 lawsuit could save him from the distress of bankruptcy.

Comments

Anonymous

2 years ago

I am getting really sick of these hypocritical statements from people who seem to think that they have the right to declare exemptions from established laws. “You have free speech, you just can’t say that. You can protest, but only in ways I permit. You can photograph what you want, just not that.”
A $200k lawsuit? perfect idea, and perhaps he’d be able to settle for the liquor license.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Official Press Release

There were threats of property damage and violence. Sounds like distress to me.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn’t the cops have arrested those people that were threatening bodily harm? Isn’t that there job to PROTECT?

Anonymous

2 years ago

Correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn’t the cops have arrested those people that were threatening bodily harm? Isn’t that their job to PROTECT?

Anonymous

2 years ago

I wonder if the people who run the Town of Crivitz also own or have an interest in competing restaurants which is why they are preventing him from getting a liquor license? They should all be investigated for that as well.

Anonymous

2 years ago

AARRGGHH. This is a textbook case of a pure violation of Freedom of Speech. This is *exactly* the type of speech that is supposed to be protected, no matter how unpopular it might be.

Chris #4, I completely agree.
NYCPhotorights #5, that would be a very, very interesting investigation since this is such a small town.

Everyone reading knows this, but repeat after me: The Constitution isn’t a suggestion to use if you feel like it.

I close with AARRGGHH.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Maybe he can start a website called Flying the American Flag Upside is not a Crime, It’s a First Amendment Right and raise money for his bar.

Anonymous

2 years ago

I’ll start off by writing that I care neither for flag-burning nor this use of flying-in-distress. However, my feelings do not matter. We based this country on inherent rights, not given rights. Free speech, specifically political, does not have to meet my or even your sensibilities. In fact, much the opposite, it may offend, sometimes it must offend.
I hope he wins his case. (And I will still criticize those who protest in this manner, as is my right.)

Anonymous

2 years ago

Ariel #8,

You get the exact point. I don’t believe I would ever burn our flag, but I’ll be damned in someone is going to tell me I’m not allowed to do so. It’s the entire point of the 1st Amendment.

Anonymous

2 years ago

@Wicked Feleena: Sounds like the perfect loophole to get around that pesky first amendment. Why, we’re doing it to protect him! IT’S FOR HIS OWN GOOD!

The rising temper and anxiety of the large volume of people in the immediate area quickly reached near riot conditions.

Near-riot in Crivitz = some guy saying “Why does that durn fool have to fly our flag like that”

Anonymous

2 years ago

Found bit more information.

http://www.peshtigotimes.net/?id=11845

3rd letter down.