A political activist is fighting back against the Department of Transportation and Virginia State Police, whom she believes are violating the First Amendment rights of peaceful protestors in Shenandoah County.
Freeda Cathcart, a Roanoke resident and the founder of Indivisible Virginia, used the backdrop of Constitution Day to hand deliver letters to the VDOT office in Staunton and the VSP office in Edinburg. She attempted to deliver a letter to the Shenandoah Commonwealth Attorney’s office in Woodstock today, but it was closed.
In her letters, Cathcart raises issues with signs that were recently erected to prevent protestors from gathering on interstate overpass bridges. She is also angry over the arrests of peaceful protestors by VSP.
Last week, Cathcart delivered similar letters to Attorney General Jason Miyares, the VSP superintendent and the VDOT commissioner.
The signs in question were placed on both sides of a bridge over I-81 at exit 283 in Woodstock. In part, they read that the “bridge is for travel purpose only” and “any non-travel purpose is prohibited and is considered trespassing. No stopping, standing, loitering or assembly.”
Jessica Cowardin, VDOT assistant director of communications, previously told AFP that the signs were placed at the bridge “in response to safety concerns”, and the sole reason for the sign is to protect pedestrians and motorists. She said that pedestrians have stood in or stepped out into the roadway in several cases.
The bridge has been used as a weekly gathering place for the Shenandoah County Democratic Committee and others who oppose the president. Approximately 50 people attend each weekly protest though some rallies have drawn hundreds of people.
After the initial signs were posted in August, six people were given warnings for violating the order, and one person was issued a citation for loitering.
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Shortly thereafter, another group of people held a small rally at an overpass in Quicksburg that resulted in the arrest of two protestors, who were allegedly held for hours at the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office. The pair were eventually charged with obstruction of justice, and after consultation with the commonwealth’s attorney, additional charges for trespassing and traffic violations were obtained, according to Matthew Demlein, the public relations coordinator with Virginia State Police.
The protestors are now gathering on one side of the bridge in a grassy area until the matter is resolved. They are only crossing the bridge while they walk to the designated meeting area.
Cathcart believes there should be a solution that ensures everyone is safe and people’s constitutional rights are protected.
“The courts have consistently ruled for the rights of the people to peacefully demonstrate in places where they can be seen, town squares, parks and along the streets,” she wrote.
In her letters, she is demanding that:
- The trespassing signs are removed from bridges
- VDOT employees are instructed that people have a right to peacefully demonstrate anywhere they are publicly allowed to be
- Charges are dropped against the peaceful protestors arrested at the Quicksburg overpass
- The officer who was “overly aggressive” in his arrest on Sept. 1 at exit 269 be investigated
In Shenandoah County, it is worth noting that more than 70 percent chose Donald Trump for president in the November election.
After a day on the road, Cathcart attended the weekly Wednesday demonstration in Woodstock that began at 5 this evening before returning home to Roanoke.
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AFP previously requested from VDOT the number of these signs installed at bridge overpasses since November, as well as how many were installed prior to the presidential election. We also requested more information on who requested these signs be erected. We did not receive responses to these questions.
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Crystal Graham
