Peaceful Sign Carrier Musolf Hustled Away From Recall Table

John Musolf tells us that he peacefully sat with a sign near the table the recall folks had set up at the Farmer's Market in Steam Pump Ranch on Saturday January 25.  He had done this, together with others, the prior Saturday.  There were no incidents at that time.  Everything seemed to be just fine.

That Saturday, it was different.  As John describes it:

"...sat adjacent to the PAC Recall table with a sign protesting the Recall PAC activities. A lady [Roxanne Garcia?] who said she worked for the leaseholder came up to John Musolf and volunteered a booth separate from the PAC Recall table because I was being “aggressive” and “confrontational”.  [John was just sitting with a sign.]   I responded I was excercising his first amendment rights and this was the most effective place.  The lady left and called the leaseholder Manish Shah [Heirloom Farmers Markets] who talked to me by phone. He repeated the offer of a booth elsewhere in the Farmers Market. I declined.   

Manish Shah came to the Farmers Market and repeated the offer to me. I again declined. Manish Shah called the Oro Valley Police who arrived shortly afterwards. 

The two officers said if I did not leave the leaseholder could have me arrested. I told them that the Steam Pump Ranch was public property and that I didn’t think he had the right as a leaseholder to have me arrested for trespass. At this point I volunteered to take his chair and sign and leave. The PAC Recall people were allowed to stay."

John was most certainly not trespassing.  Also, according to Council Member Brendan Burns, who was at the market, John was not causing a ruckus.  The fact is, the recall people and Heirloom Farmer's market, simply wanted him out of their. The question is: Did the Officers, who were quite pleasant and accommodating, violate John's rights to peacefully protest?

Recall Table At Steam Pump

Later that morning, we arrived at the Farmers Market, camera in hand, to see what has happening.  When I arrived at the recall petition booth, I was told to keep moving by PAC leader Jane Burge.  So, I did.

Note in the picture that we have displayed at right that the person in the foreground is Roxanne Garcia, of Heirloom.   She was patrolling the area and she also told me to move along.

John Musolf peacefully removed himself and his "Don't Sign The Petittion" sign from Steam Pump Ranch; and I was told to move past the recall table.  I too walked away.

(View another report on this situation.)
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