Former Marine Unlawfully Detained for Facebook Posts

From Survival and Beyond

Get ready for the great dissident round-up folks. Standing as proof positive of what myself and many of us in the patriot movement have suspected all along, it appears that the First Amendment of the Constitution is no longer in effect in America.

Last Thursday, former Marine; 26 year old Brandon Raub was arrested and unlawfully detained by FBI and Chesterfield County (VA) police after being questioned about song lyrics and political messages posted on his Facebook page.  From there he was placed under indefinite detention at a psychiatric facility for “observation”.   Raub was NOT charged with a crime, nor was he informed of his rights.

From Freedom Broadcasting Network:

Although the FBI and Chesterfield County police have not charged Brandon Raub, a resident of Chesterfield County, Va., with committing any crime, they arrested Raub on Thursday, August 16, 2012, and transported him to John Randolph Medical Center, where he was held against his will due to alleged concerns that his Facebook (FB) posts were controversial and “terrorist in nature.” In a hearing held at the hospital, government officials disregarded Raub’s explanation that the Facebook posts were being interpreted out of context, sentencing him up to 30 days’ further confinement in a VA psych ward. In coming to Raub’s defense, Rutherford Institute attorneys are challenging Raub’s arrest and forcible detention, as well as the government’s overt Facebook surveillance and violation of Raub’s First Amendment rights.

“For government officials to not only arrest Brandon Raub for doing nothing more than exercising his First Amendment rights but to actually force him to undergo psychological evaluations and detain him against his will goes against every constitutional principle this country was founded upon. This should be a wake-up call to Americans that the police state is here,” said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. “Brandon Raub is no different from the majority of Americans who use their private Facebook pages to post a variety of content, ranging from song lyrics and political hyperbole to trash talking their neighbors, friends and government leaders.”

Brandon Raub, a former Marine who has served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was detained by FBI agents and police officers at his home in Chesterfield County based upon the nature of content posted to his Facebook page in recent months. Like many Facebook users, Raub uses his FB page to post songs lyrics and air his political opinions, as well as engage in virtual online games with other users. On Thursday, August 16, police and FBI agents arrived at Raub’s home, asking to speak with him about his Facebook posts. They did not provide Raub with a search warrant. Raub was cooperative and agreed to speak with them.

At hearing before a judge earlier today, government officials indicated that Raub’s Facebook posts were their only cause of concern and the sole reason why he has been unlawfully incarcerated. Despite Raub’s insistence that his Facebook comments were taken out of context and his attorney’s First Amendment defense, the judge agreed that Raub should be detained for another 30 days at a VA hospital for further psychiatric evaluation.

When Americans and especially those who served our country are denied their Constitutional rights, it is an affront to the freedom and liberty of ALL Americans! Please spread this story as far and wide as possible and please donate to Brandon Raub’s defense fund HERE.

There is also a rally going on Richmond, VA in protest of Raub’s gestapo incarceration.  It is expected to go on for several days, so if you live in the Richmond area, please show up and support the patriot community!

The police state is very real and it’s here.  It is time for all of who stand for freedom and the Constitution to stand together!  Or you could be the next one who’s arrested for exercising your rights!

Read More at Survival and Beyond