[Page H1216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS' GRAFFITI

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, a week ago, the anti-war rally in Washington 
made headlines across America. Lost in most of the coverage, however, 
was the complete lack of basic decency displayed by some of these 
protesters. The anti-war protesters defaced our Capitol by spray-
painting graffiti on the Capitol's west terrace.
  Mr. Speaker, it never ceases to amaze me how nonpeaceful these so-
called peace protesters can be. There is no question that Americans 
have a constitutional right to peaceably assemble, but when you 
brazenly deface cherished public property, you are no longer assembling 
peacefully. You are committing a crime.
  Mr. Speaker, we can have a thoughtful public debate on our policies 
overseas, but we must remember this. Our freedom was not earned by 
protesters with poster paint. It was earned by the thousands of brave 
men and women who courageously stand up to fight for it, many of whom 
paid with their lives.

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