After spending $1,500 of their own money, printing out 25,000 fliers and getting approval from the Election Commission twice, the scout’s donation boxes were removed from the polling stations because they were “too pro-war.”
One person, an election worker (guess the party), complained that the scouts were being too pro-war by collecting goods for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Massachusetts…
The scouts had an idea and spent $1,500 of their own money to help those serving overseas.
Wicked Local reported:
The Cambridge scouts earned some money in an unexpected fundraiser and at first they thought about spending it on trips to Water Country, Six Flags, white water rafting or skiing. But then the discussion turned toward a service project — collecting donations for the troops at the polling sites on Election Day. The adults were somewhat amazed to the fact that these kids were choosing to spend the money on others when they could very easily just go on a fun trip.
But on Election Day, Marsha Weinerman, executive director of the Election Commission, removed the boxes from all the polling stations because one woman, a poll worker who does not deserve to be named, complained it was a political statement.
Marsha Weinerman, executive director of the Election Commission, refused to talk to local Fox 2 about her decision.Now, after the scouts got approval from the Election Commission twice, made 25,000 flyers and distributed them, e-mailed everyone they knew, putting up flyers in city buildings, schools, libaries and local businesses and distributed boxes the day before the election, the youths’ work — not to mention over $1,500 in advertising and materials — were all for naught.
The scouts donation boxes for the troops were “too pro-war” for the people of Cambridge.
Weasel Zippers and Wicked Local reported:
Cambridge – Was it just too pro-war for Cambridge?
A troop of Boy Scouts is wondering why their donation boxes meant for troops in Iraq were thrown out of polling stations last week.
Election officials ordered the removal of donation boxes set up by a troop of Cambridge Boy Scouts of America during last Tuesday’s municipal election.
The boxes were set up inside the 33 polling stations around the city to collect donations for soldiers serving overseas in the war in Iraq.
Marsha Weinerman, executive director of the city’s Election Commission, said the boxes were removed after a resident complained to commission workers about their implied “pro-war” message.
“We contacted the law department, and it was determined that the best course of action would be to remove the boxes,” Weinerman said.
In a column that appears in this week’s Chronicle, Troop leader Jamisean Patterson said the commission twice granted the scouts permission to set up the boxes at the polling stations.
“We have never seen anything like this decision in Cambridge before,” Patterson wrote. The city is changing for the worse if decisions like this are allowed to be made.”
But… Please don’t question their patriotism.
Fox 2 has video on this amazing story from Cambridge.
STACLU has the video on YouTube.
