Lancaster Post Schedules Press Conference

The following was receive at 9:50 AM from the Lancaster Post.


Post Publisher Pummeled by Franklin & Marshall Cops

Press conference calling for Federal actionTime: 2:00 pm
Place:19 N. Mulberry St., Lancaster
Date: June 04, 2008

Lancaster Post co-Publisher, Ron Harper, Jr., was brutally assaulted by a half dozen Franklin & Marshall police yesterday. Mr. Harper sustained injuries to head, back, and arms that required medical attention.

The incident was captured on videotape until the camera was ripped from Harper's hands. It took place on a public road in Lancaster Township nearly 3/4 of a mile from the campus at approximately 2:00 p.m. June 3, 2008.

Mr. Harper and co-Publisher, Chris Hart Nibbrig, met on Marietta and School Lane in order to place one of their newspaper boxes on a public right of way. A box had been stolen over the previous weekend.

After the box was legally installed, a phalanx of Franklin & Marshall security vehicles descended on the journalists. Approximately six officers surrounded Harper and took his video camera, which he was using up to this point.

Mr. Hart Nibbrig was taking pictures of the encounter. His camera was also confiscated and when the camera was returned pictures of the assault were deleted.

Mr. Harper, who is recovering from a vehicle accident, was then body slammed to the ground by four of the officers, although he could be heard saying, "I am not resisting."

Both Harper and Hart Nibbrig were handcuffed separately and taken to Franklin & Marshall College for "processing."

Mr. Harper was detatained for more than two hours and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Mr. Hart Nibbrig was given a "Defiant Trespass Warning," which prevents him from entering any Franklin & Marshall-owned property.

The journalists are calling for a Federal investigation of the violation of their Constitutional rights.

A press conference has been scheduled.