New York City – When President Bush ducked an Iraqi reporter’s footwear, a man in Queens got an idea. The transit rider wanted to grab the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s attention.
He did, but he got more than he bargained for.
“And one more thing, where is Elliot Sanders?” Stephen Millies said during an MTA public hearing on Wednesday.
Then, just as he said, “Mr. Sanders, this is for you,” Millies was tackled.
Millies said he was just trying to show the MTA his shoe — when he got the boot. The 54-year-old was hauled away in handcuffs and cited for intending to cause “public annoyance.”
“What’s the point of having one of these public hearings unless you can annoy some of these $300,000 bureaucrats? Annoyance is not a crime,” Millies said.
Whether or not it’s a crime, he appears to be facing an unexpected punishment.
Millie’s protest got him thrown out of the meeting. It got him into the headlines. But when he showed up for work the next day at Sunnyside Yard in Queens, his employer, Amtrak, told him to go home.
“I have no idea why because I was just exercising my first amendment rights of freedom of speech,” Millies said.
The New York Civil Liberties Union said as an Amtrak employee Millies actually works for the government. And because of that:
“If Amtrak suspends Millies because of his protest, ultimately, he could sue them for violating his constitutional rights,” said Chris Dunn of the NYCLU.
Amtrak declined repeated requests for comment.
Straphangers are understanding of Millies’ frustration but divided on his tactics.
“I think that’s a little extreme,” Maria Riggs said. “I don’t think it’s going to get you anywhere. I don’t think that’s the way to go.”
“If they go up and triple their rates I might be tempted to throw my shoes at somebody,” Adam Vajda said.
Fare hikes will likely bring more protests. The question is will anyone follow in Millies’ shoes?
The fare hike and service cuts Millies was protesting could begin next year — unless the state comes up with more funding for the MTA
Its about time someone stands up to the MTA & for that matter the whole govt. Stop this taxation, cut spending stop giving benefits to illegal aliens stop taxing the legal citizens on every move,every breath we take
Get a lawyer and sue – innocent until proven guilty.
The MTA is corrupt and wasteful and picking our pockets like every Democrat run organization or should I say crime family.
C’mon people get your shoes and mouths over these barbaric animals. GO SHOES GO!!!
this is hillarious
These forums are a waste of time. When was the last time people showed up at the MTA to give suggestions and the MTA listened? The MTA will always do what they want period.
After this story, I think the USA government should make it not legal to sell shoes in America, shoes will be considered a dangerous weapon,when the law goes into effect, if you are caught with shoes you might be facing up to 20 years in jail. Even though there are many Halochos regarding shoes so us Yiden will have no choice but to purchase shoes on the black market. lol
I predicted right here on VIN a few month ago that soon the airlines will one day not allow us to board a plane with shoes, open up your eyes, see it happening right in front of you it’s only a matter of time.
We live in crazy world, a mad-man in Iraq took off his smelly shoes trough is at a man called Mr.Bush and the whole crazy world will proceed to follow him. Same as most clothing styles, a Goyish designer in France decides that some idiotic way of dress is “nice” few days later millions of people including many Yiden follow her style of dress.
The Ramban in Parshes Kedoshim says; there is something called “a Novol Birshus HaTorah” meaning, for example, some times a garment is border line in Hilchos Tznius, A Rav cant say its 100% prohibited, also can’t say its 100% O.K. to wear it. So what should we do with it?
As Yiden we should always remember that the torah says Kedoshim… be holy Jews, one way of being holy is taking extra precautions in Tzniys, for example when a person goes shopping, comes home, tries on a new outfit, a friend comments “this looks goooood on you” the statement is telling you, this outfit will make heads turn, will attract people to look at you, that’s something we have to realize that Hashem is NOT happy with. Being that we live in Moshiaches times we have to get closer to Hashem keep the Mitzvos of the Torah with Mesirus Nefeah.
I am sure the madman in Iraq did not through his smelly shoes at the President of United states just for the fun of it, we see that he missed him, there has to be a lesson for all of us, perhaps some VIN readers would like to share their thoughts and feelings shad some light on this exciting topic.
No taxation without representation…..We’ve been scammed
When President Bush ducked an Iraqi reporter’s footwear, a man in Queens New York got an idea. The transit rider wanted to grab the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s attention, to protest fare hikes, so he took off his shoe and….. he made the headlines.
Following this incident perhaps one day the USA government might make it illegal to sell shoes. Even though there are many Halochos regarding shoes for us Yiden, will have to purchase shoes on the black market to be practice the Halochos.
I predicted a few months ago that airlines will one day not allow us to board an airplane with our own shoes, open up your eyes, see it happening right in front of you it’s only a matter of time, shoes might be considered a weapon in the future.
We live in funny world, a mad-man in Iraq took off his shoes trough is at a person called Mr.Bush happens to be the President of USA and the whole world will proceed to follow his daring actions. Same for many clothing styles, a Goyish designer in France wakes up one day, decides that some idiotic way of dress is “nice” few days or weeks later millions of people including many Jews unfortunately follow her style of dress.
The Ramban in Parshes Kedoshim says; there is something called “a Novol Birshus HaTorah” meaning, some times a garment is border line in Hilchos Tznius, A Rav cant say its 100% prohibited, same time can’t say its 100% O.K. to wear it, what should we do with the garment? How should our reaction be to the half answered Psak?
As Yiden we have to remember that the torah says Kedoshim…… be holy Jews, one important way of being holy is taking extra precautions towards Tznius, where we have Tznius we have the holy Schinah with us, for example a person who went shopping, comes home, tries on a new outfit, a friend comments “this looks goooood on you” the statement “gooood” is telling us, this outfit will make heads turn, will attract people to look at you, that’s something we have to realize that Hashem is NOT happy with. Being that we live in Moshiachs times we have to get closer to Hashem keeping the Mitzvos of the Torah with Mesirus Nefeah, returning the garment to the store even though it looks “goooood” is an obligation.
I am sure the madman in Iraq did not through his smelly shoes at the President of the United states just for the fun of it, we see that he missed him, there has to be a lesson for all of us Yiden, perhaps some readers would like to share their thoughts and feelings, shed some light on this exciting topic.
As we are Zocha to celebrate Chanukah and look at the beautiful candles burning, feeling the Simcha of the Mesirs Nefesh we had in the Bais Hamikdosh towards Hashem, thanking him for saving us from the Greeks who tried to take away from us the ability to practice Mitzvos of the Torah, an amazing thought comes to mind: if one closes their eyes they can imaging and view objects of great distance, at times it might gives us a feeling of being closer to Hashem, like help us have Kavonah by Davening etc. however as soon as we reopen our eyes our vision is limited, perhaps one can say, when we close our eyes we are disconnected from this Gashmius world, when we are disconnected Hashem gives us the power to see the light of Torah even in the darkness of the gigantic world, as soon as we open our eyes connect back to a daily life style of pleasures our vision is limited, because this Gashmius world is blinding to our Neshomah, unless we fight the Yatzer Hora on a daily basis, we can’t feel the closeness to Hashem, on Chanukah with open eyes looking at the Mitzvah of the shining Menorah in this dark world, it still gives us the yearning towards the Geulah which we hope for in the very near future, because it remindes us of the Mesirus Nefesh we have to have for Hashem Yisboruch.
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I’m Amtrak can fire him for committing assault, even if they can’t fire him for protesting something.
Mr. Millies actions may have been bit too extreme but if Amtrak fires him Mr. Millies may have the last laugh after all.