O_o coca cola, wonderbra

In January, 1998, New Braunfels, Texas teenager, John Schroeder, was arrested for wearing his Marilyn Manson t-shirt. John, 18, was in the W-E-B grocery store shopping with his mother. Evidently another shopper complained to store security that she found his t-shirt offensive. John was wearing the "lipstick" t-shirt which has Manson's face on the front and the saying "I am the god of fuck" on the back. The security guard, an off duty New Braunfels cop, put his hand on John's shoulder and said "You're coming with me" and placed John under arrest.



"Making an obscene display" in New Braunfels is a Class C misdeamor punishable by a $500 fine.

It seems that this officer had arrested another person 6 months ago for the same offense. That case was lost because the officer did not have enough evidence.

In order to get enough evidence this time, the officer made John sit on a bench at the door to the store while shoppers were questioned as to whether they also felt the shirt was offensive. Once 'enough' complaints were gathered John was taken to jail. His t-shirt was confiscated and John spent 3 hours in jail until he could come up with $250 bail.

John's mom, Olga Schroeder, was outraged. She said "I firmly believe that his civil rights were violated. I felt that if I didn't do something about this, that if I just laid down and paid the fine, then who else is going to be next? What are they going to be wearing?"

Mrs. Schroeder contacted the local ACLU office who agreed to take the case. John pleaded not guilty at his hearing on January 27, 1998. Diane Phillip of the ACLU of Texas said they plan to file a motion to dismiss with the next two weeks. In 1996 the Massachusetts Supreme Court found t-shirts to be a legal means of expression when the court prohibited high school officials from banning "Coed Naked" sport shirts.

 

During the early part of 1997, the band Marilyn Manson has come under attack at virtually every stop on their tour. Early in 97, rumor had it that the religious right would try to make 'an example' out of Manson. The rumor became truth. The Gulf Coast American Family Association created a web site originally entitled Christians Opposed To Marilyn Manson Concerts in Their Town. This web site was complete with information on the band and their schedule, directions on how to mount a protest, and "sworn" affidavits by teens attesting to "satanic church services", "naked female guitar players", drugs being "constantly passed out from the front to the back", and "real and simulated sex" by band members. These avidavits were not real and as soon as Manson's lawyer asked to see the original papers and threatened a lawsuit against the AFA, the affidavits were removed and no one seemed to be able to find them. Hundreds of news stories and religious protesters preceded and followed the band's trek across the U.S., unrelenting when Manson joined Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest 97, and on to Canada during the summer of 97. This is a story which has not ended. Here is a chronology of events to date.
1997
Date shown is concert date:

Feb: Salt Lake City: protests by religious groups

Feb. :La Cruces, NM - state owned venue: show canceled because New Mexico State University says it can’t find enough security guards to hire.

Feb - present: Mass. M.I.C. begins posting and mailing Action Alerts via Internet email and regular mail with the addresses of city and state officials. We urge people to write to officials citing the importance of the right to free speech. In April Nina Crowley represented the pro-free speech side of the debate, on CBS radio, opposite Dan Tripp.

Feb 5: Oklahoma City, OK - privately owned State Fairgrounds. "Oklahomans for Families and Children" asked for cancellation. Gov. Frank Keating, OK, announces his support of a cancellation. Gov. Keating, "these people are peddling garbage. It’s further proof that society’s moral values continue to crumble." Ultimately the concert was held after a meeting with Manson attorney, Paul Cambria. Cambria met with OK. City officials and had with him a copy of a lawsuit against them. Later that day they met in executive session and un-cancelled the show.

Feb 6: Lubbock, Texas. Protests by religious groups.

Feb 7: Milwaukee, Wisc. - Elmbrook Middle School bans the Marilyn Manson "look" from school.

Feb 8: Omaha, Neb. Mayor Hal Daub warned parents to keep their young ones at home with them on the night of the concert. "Marilyn Manson is a group that promotes themes such as Satanism, murder and date rape."

February 21: Fitchburg, MA - city owned venue: Calls to protest are distributed during local church services. Three weeks of picketing by religious organizations is followed by a heated city council meeting where two petitions are submitted to the council asking for a cancellation. Among other equally absurd notions, local residents are urged to keep their small pets in the house on the night of the show.?! City Solicitor rules that the show cannot be canceled. One councilor accepts, at the meeting, a private check for $5,000 towards canceling the show and proposes that the council and mayor raise other money to pay of the band. Council rejects this idea.

March 4: Anchorage, Alaska - protests by religious groups - City Council passes a resolution that the band’s promoter be notified about the city’s obscenity laws prior to the performance. Anchorage Assembly member Cheryl Clementson says "There won’t be any eating little animals on the stage, or oral sex, or anything else that they have claimed to do." Clementson and church leaders urge parents to buy up the tickets so kids can’t get them.

April 5 : LaCrosse, Wisc. - city owned venue: several weeks of protests followed by a statement by the ACLU - Wisc. and city solicitor that show cannot be canceled. (Arrest rate for this show was down to 4 from a 40 average.)

April 6 : Normal, Illinois - protests by religious groups

April 10: Columbia, SC - state owned venue: this show was canceled and has not been reinstated. State Treasurer Richard Eckstrom after hearing of Manson’s Satanism at church writes to Univ. of SC (venue) calling Manson "needlessly offensive and dehumanizing" and called for the cancellation of the concert. State Representative Dan Tripp - R introduced a referendum to the SC House of Rep. banning Manson from ever performing in SC on state property. The referendum passed. The state also paid Manson $40,000 not to play. The payment comes form prior concert proceeds at the venue. Manson has not cashed the check. Dan Tripp says he doesn’t know the details of this payment and will conduct an investigation. Governor David Beasely’s office: the governor is "very pleased" the university canceled the show.

April: Nina Crowley, Mass. M.I.C., represents the pro-free speech side of the debate, on CBS radio, opposite Dan Tripp.

April 12: Biloxi, Miss. - State Senator Ron Farris writes to promoter asking that groups with "counter-cultural and/or radical messages" refrain from bringing their "spectacles" to Miss. Protests of this show brought about the Christians Opposed To Marilyn Manson Concerts in Their Town. American Family Association web site.

April 17: Jacksonville, FL - city owned venue: 5,000 people contact mayor’s office asking for a cancellation. Concert is ultimately held without incident.

April 22: Evansville, IN - protests by religious groups.

April 25: Saginaw, MI: city owned venue: Reverend Dana Wilson collected 20,000 signatures asking for a cancellation. The city solicitor ruled that the show could not be canceled. Arguing that the Bill of Rights does not apply to people under the age of 18, the Reverend has asked the city to institute a ruling that minors could not get into the show without a parent. Rev. Wilson, "Someone somewhere has to draw a line and say what these concerts are exposing our youths to."

April 25: Internet group, POAAFA, Portrait of An American Family Association, is formed by fans of Marilyn Manson to gather concert reviews, issue statements, generate letter writing campaigns, etc. The rapidly growing organization has chapters in many US states and abroad.

April 28: Paul Cambria, Atty. for Marilyn Manson files suit in federal district court in Newark, New Jersey to allow Ozzfest concert organizers to bring their concert to Meadowlands. Judge signs an order to show cause.The Sports Authority must demonstrate, by May 6, why Manson should not be allowed to play. Ozzy Osbourne prepares prepares papers to add his name to the suit.

April 29: Fort Wayne: religious protesters issue a statement that they have the power to "bind" evil spirits (meaning they can tie them down, restrict them, slow them down). They publish on the Internet a prayer which should "bind" the demons at the upcoming Fort Wayne MM show. The statement says, in part: "It is not yet a general attack on Marilyn Manson or his demons. Instead, it is a demonstration surgical strike against this concert."

April 30: Paul Cambria, sends a cease and desist order to the American Family Association in regards to "sworn affidavits" on their anti-manson web site. Cambria announces that they are preparing a lawsuit against the AFA for defamation of character.

May 6: Utica, NY: Publicly owned venue: Two Utica council members pressure town to cancel the concert. The Utica Common City Council cites Satanism that might "tend to pollute the minds of our youth" as the reason why the show should be canceled. ACLU - NY issues a statement that canceling the show would be a First Amendment violation.

May 9: Washington, DC: publicly owned venue: Nadine Winter - D, former city councilor plans a protest of upcoming show. Winter: "Any band that sends a message like the Marilyn Manson band’s, we don’t need it. The time is now to stop creating platforms for people who say, ‘Kill you mother,. Kill your father." She plans to raise the issue of banning the Marilyn Manson band and other bands before the DC chapter of the National Political Congress of Black Women.

May 10: Richmond, VA - City owned venue: this concert was canceled by city manager Robert Bobb "Satan worship and animalistic type of programming is not consistent with the image we’re building for our community". Concert was reinstated after Manson's attorney, Paul Cambria, and the ACLU-VA announced their intentions to sue the city. Manager Bobb is now asking the city to institute a ratings system for concerts.

May 27: 26 Free Expression Advocates Urge Support of Marilyn Manson's Firts Amendment Rights

"During the past six months, there have been many efforts to prevent the rock group Marilyn Manson from performing in public venues. Conservative religious groups have pressured government officials to ban Marilyn Manson concerts in public facilities, to use state or city funds to buy out concert contracts, or at least, to bar minors from attending the concert."
"The First Amendment to the US Constitution extends freedom of speech for all Americans. The First Amendment protects the right of those who dislike Marilyn Manson to protest its songs and even call for its suppression. But the First Amendment also protects the right of artists to produce controversial material."
"Critics of Marilyn Manson urge censorship as a way to protect children from "harmful" values. But respect for the rights of those with whom we disagree is a value that is central to our society. If we take away Marilyn Manson’s freedom to speak about government, religion, and sexual preference or values we may ultimately be sacrificing our own rights under the First Amendment."
"We, the undersigned First Amendment supporters, urge government officials to resist the temptation to act as censors with regard to Marilyn Manson, other controversial rock groups, or any other material that may offend their constituents."
"Censorship cannot eliminate evil, it will only kill freedom."
Nina Crowley, Massachusetts Music Industry Coalition
Lee Ballinger, Rock and Rap Confidential
Steve Bloom, High Times Magazine
Robert Chatelle, National Writer’s Union-UAW Local 1981 AFL-CIO
Kelly Curtis, Curtis Management
James D’Entremont, Boston Coalition for Freedom of Expression
Reebee Garofalo, New England Free Expression Network
Bob Guccione, Jr., Spin Magazine
Mickey Granberg, National Association of Recording Merchandisers
Marjorie Heins, ACLU Arts Censorship Project
Judith Krug, American Library Association
Jennifer Maguire, Feminists for Free Expression
David Marsh, Rock and Rap Confidential
David Mendoza, National Campaign for Freedom of Expression
Mary Morello, Parents for Rock and Rap
Skip Porteus, Institute for First Amendment Studies
Steve Proviser, Radio Free Allston
Victoria Reis, National Association of Artist’s Organizations
Paul Russinoff, Recording Industry Association of America
Ricki Seidman, Rock the Vote
Sarah Stephens, Artists for a Hate Free America
Oren Teicher, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
Roz Udow, National Coalition Against Censorship
Richard White, JAMPAC
John Woods, Rock Out Censorship
Brigitte Wright, Curtis Management



June 1997, issue of American Family Association Journal runs two stories entitled "Hate-rock rolls across country" and "Manson fans commit suicide".

June 1: The "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" organization writes to Manson's managment to make sure no animals are being injured during Manson shows.

June 15: E. Rutherford, NJ - New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority announces they will stop ticket sales and will not allow Ozzie Osbourne’s Ozzfest 97 to play the Meadowlands unless Ozzie removes Marilyn Manson from the bill. Manson files suit against the Sports and Exposition authority. A federal judge orders that the show will go on. The show is held without incident.

June 22: Somerset, WI - After many protests by religious and community groups regarding Marilyn Manson the June 22 Ozzfest is moved from Somerset to the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN. The show goes on without incident.

June 24:14 fans of Marilyn Manson win a legal victory in Utah. The Utah State Fairpark agreed to pay the Manson fans $9,300 to settle a lawsuit filed in January when the Fairpark canceled a Manson concert after tickets had already gone on sale.

July 28: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - The show scheduled for the Winnipeg Convention Centre is moved to a much smaller venue after citizens protest about Manson habit of ripping up a bible and impaled angels on stage.

Statements regarding shows by venue managers:

Beth Wade, Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis. The show "was about as plain as rock ‘n’ roll show as I’ve ever seen. We specifically took the local obscenity ordinances to Marilyn before the show . . . they were very cooperative."

Art Boerke, Rockafellas’, venue manager at previous SC shows. "It’s all an image. It’s all a show, and anybody who doesn’t see that has a problem."

Ollie Harper, Jr., Spectator Management Group, Richmond Coliseum. "Our focus is public safety. The research we’ve done hasn’t shown any public safety problem."

Bill Reid, Cellar Door Productions, Virginia Beach. "There’s nothing illegal in this show. I think people are reacting to hearsay and speculation and not the facts."

Ben Ruggles, Wallace Civic Center, Fitchburg, Ma. states the band was very cooperative, there were no problems, and he would be glad to act as a reference for the band with future venues. Brad Roosa, PACE Concerts LTD. "We’ve done quite a few shows with Manson on this tour and there have been no incidents of immoral, lewd or lascivious acts on stage. No one in the band has been arrested." Of the band "They’ve been a pleasure to work with and fully complied with all of our requests."

 

This is a classic example of whats wrong with ignorant hicks from small town america....

 

mmmmhhhhmmmm

 

Exactly , but it happens also where i live but they have less support. I even heard a rumor saying that marylin manson was banned of canada wich is not true cuz in did a show in montreal in december 2004...

 

and why is MICHA not in your sig?

 

WTF is wrong with these people?

 

I don't even like Marlyn Manson's music, but thats only becasue I don't like that genre' of music. That is messed up though I mean you should be able to wear whatever t-shirt you want. Freedom of speech and expression. Who the fuck do these po dunks think they are.

 

I suppose you're not offensive enough to religious fundamentalists.

 

well technically it is a private business, and the shirt did say "fuck" on it, so he probobly could have asked him to leave, and banned him for a period of time...but holding him to "gather evidence" is wrong...if the kid was walking aroud, and they were getting complaints, then yeah, its ok...but the only thing i saw wrong in the first post is that the guy held him and "got enough complaints" to arrest him

 

im sorry but what does this have to do with wonderbras?

 

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o/ why does it matter?

 

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so......what does it have to do with wonderbras?

 

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i thought this was about wonderbras

 

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And in conclusion ihavethreeguns is a flaming moron...