Jockeying for “control” of Lafayette’s highly visible El Curtola Bridge appears to be entrenched and underway Tuesday as a flag display intended as a show of support for former president Trump came down – to be replaced by Israeli and American flags flown in support of Israeli hostages.
CalTrans workers and California Highway Patrol officers informed a small team of pro-Trump supporters that their flags would have to come down early yesterday afternoon and they were eventually brought down. A short time later pro-Israeli supporters moved onto the bridge and installed a new set of banners. As of 5:28p.m. they remain in place.
I stand with Israel. But more to the point I greatly admire and respect the people who come out to the bridge every single week to keep the public’s attention on the agonizing and ongoing plight of the hostages still held by hamas terrorists. As long as they continue to end their vigil with the overpass being just as it was before the vigil I say leave em be.
Read the story of the young man with Down’s who was mauled and left to die by an IDF and their K-9. Him and the 40k other Gazans like him…is that what you stand with? “Hamas using human shields” is a nice scapegoat. Is 40,000 a fair price for 7,000?
Ask Hamas leadership, who they all voted for.
Oh yeah, and then there was that story about how the IDF is training dogs to rape palestinian women. Yeah absolutely awful. The stories written by al jizzera “journalists” with Israeli hostages in their basement are quite compelling indeed. Urban combat with non uniform terrorists who don’t worry about “international law” or have any sort of rules of engagement in a densely populated area certainly does take it’s toll. Maybe hamas should have thought about that before October 7th? Aside from that would you care to know how many of that 40,000 are hamas kills as well as “civilians” who were actively helping hamas like the ones holding hostages in their homes? Or how about the 20% of rockets shot at Israel but that misfire and end up falling on gazans instead? So Will, I would ask you who you stand with but that’s pretty obvious at this point.
So Will are you saying that Hamas doesn’t use their own people as human shields?
After they rape your wife any your daughter and kill them, what is a fair price? Just asking…
Hello Will.
A couple of questions regarding your disturbing “fair price” mindset:
1). Israel is not retaliating. There is no “price”: Israel is fighting a legitimate war against a terrorist/ state enemy who has committed atrocities against its population; who has vowed to continue doing so in perpetuity; who is holding Israeli civilian (and military) hostages – all against any international law or basic human morality – while Israel has both the legal and moral right and duty to take actions to combat the aggressor and defend its people.
2). What do YOU think is a “fair price” for a human life? I don’t know the answer for that. I’ll ask you this – what would be the “price” that YOU would set in order to rescue your baby/daughter/mother from captivity in the hands of Hamas, the same terrorists who have murdered, burned alive, raped, butchered YOUR family, relatives, people?
Moral humans should not be put in a situation they have to answer this questions. It’s diabolical.
Terrorist do that; Hamas does.
And at the same time – governments and militaries do have to consider this question:
American generals and military experts have stated that the way Israel has been conducting the war against Hamas is exemplary in respect to the combatant – to – civilian casualty ratio (Yes: this is something military scholars document and study); the ratio is lower than any ever recorded in the past the past, somewhere in the range of 1:1 (between 10 to 20 thousand of the casualties are Hamas) (e.g.: the US in Iraq, Afghanistan had a 1:4 ratio at best); they have stated that Israel’s doctrine and tactics will be studied and learned from by military in the future.
Israel does this at the cost of it’s own soldiers and civilian lives; to protect Palestinian lives.
So before going any further – how about you post what is the “price” YOU will be willing to accept top save YOUR loved one?
(BTW – Hamas themselves have established the concept that some lives, Israeli lives have a higher “price”; otherwise why not accept 1 to 1 hostage exchange deals?)
I agree with David. History proves this current war is another case of good vs evil, and the fine people bringing awareness at the overpass are to be commended. Am Israel Chai!
We are a nation of laws – unless we choose to ignore them.
This is a PEACEFUL vigil to raise awareness for hostages. No crime here.
They’re blocking the passageway. How are pedestrians supposed to cross? Doesn’t matter if the Pro-Israel or trumpanzees.
They aren’t blocking anything. There is a road, and two sidewalks. Look at the photos.
This is what free speech in Americas oooks like, like it or not.
PatMac, you’re getting the people advocating for the release of the hostages confused with the pro hamas crowd. Ya know the ones who regularly carry out protests in which they chain or glue themselves together and sit on road ways or on bridges like they’ve done couple times on the Bay Bridge already. And despite the massive rush hour traffic disruptions they never really seem be held accountable for their illegal actions. At least not when it comes to DAs like Brooke jenkins who didn’t feel like there was sufficient evidence to prosecute even though we all saw it play out live on the news.
Are you serious PatMac? Or are you just talking out the other end of yourself?
This is not free speech, this is election interference! Who would order them to remove election materials? It’s never been done for any candidate before…
Pedestrian overpasses are recognized public forums. In 2003 Judge Whyte of the 9 th Circuit Court issued a permanent injunction in Brown v CA Dept of Transportation mandating equal treatment without viewpoint nor content discrimination.
Lafayette Council has pursued restrictions on El Curtola since 2021. They’ve been informed on the 2003 injunction as have Cal Trans, the CHP, Lafayette Police Department and Senator Glazers office.
They have chosen to violate the injunction.
Some viewpoints and speech have not been forced to remove their content but others have. The violations against free speech are meant to discriminate, chill and suppress free communication. George Orwell’s line, “ Some animals are more equal” sums this up well.
The MAGA Patriots of Contra Costa will continue to exercise their 1st Amendment rights. 7 anti-Constitutional forced removal of our flags and message does not deter us.
Be informed citizens vs regurgitating, gaslighting activists.
Read Brown v CA Dept. of Transp. 9 th Cir. 2003, Ovadal v City of Madison, Wisconsin. 7th Cir. 2005, Friday v Schultz, 1988, Faustin v City, County of Denver, Colorado 10th Cir. 2001 for starters.
Then read former mayor Susan Candell’s letter acknowledging the legal 1st Amendment public forum protected by the Constitution. She acknowledged violations could cost the City significantly.
Unless 1st Amendment rights are protected citizens must take legal action. Does the city have excess funds that they want to risk at this time? Shouldn’t taxpayers and citizens needs cause the Council members to respect the very Constitution they swore an oath to protect and defend? Yes. The protection of liberty of Americans, even those you disagree with, is our first freedom and foundation.
See you on the beautiful El Curtola and other overpasses.
Trump for President 2024
LisaDisbrow