3 Arrested for Selling Lemonade on Lawn of U.S. Capitol
Three people were arrested by police in Washington, D.C., for setting up a lemonade stand on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol building on Saturday.
The three were apparently participating in “Lemonade Freedom Day,” a national event being spurned on by a website and accompanying Facebook page created in protest of government officials that won't let children sell lemonade for lack of the proper permits and licenses.
“Recently, we have seen many news reports of lemonade stands being shut down by police and other government workers,” reads a post on the event's website. “When kids sell things, such as lemonade, they are learning some very important lessons ... Selling lemonade is not a crime.”
Get Our Latest News for FREE
According to the website, the three protesters who were arrested during the Aug. 20 event were Meg McLain, Kathryn Dill and Will Duffield.
A sign that they had posted by the stand read “Lemonade Liberation” and “Support Freedom.”
The video shows the trio selling cups of lemonade to Capitol Hill visitors for 10 cents each. Shortly after, a police officer shows up on a bicycle and tells them that, because they didn't have the proper permit, they would have to leave.
“This is vending without a permit ... so you guys want to be arrested for your cause of 'Lemonade Liberation,'” one officer says later in the video. Shortly after, the video shows the three protesters being arrested and put into the back of police vans.
Before the arrest, officers told visitors not to purchase from the stand, while those running it told them, “Don't be intimidated.”
According to the event's Facebook page, between 5,000 and 6,000 people participated in the Lemonade Freedom Day event nationwide.
The website seems to send a contradictory message, however. An earlier post titled “What To Do If Someone Tries To Shut Down Your Lemonade Stand” says that people should “Always be respectful of any officials, follow their instructions even if they are wrong, and do not antagonize them.” Yet, posted over the video of the arrest, it says, “Great job guys!”
In a post on Free Keene, a blog for like-minded “Liberty” activists, McLain wrote that their court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 4.
“While being arrested is not something I enjoy,” she wrote, “I am honored I had the opportunity to participate in such a beautiful demonstration of innocence and peace; and shine light on how it is under attack by the very people sworn to protect it.”
She also praised several children who ignored the threats of police to buy the drink, saying their actions were “inspirational.”
Sergeant Kimberly Schneider of the USCP told The Christian Post in an email on Monday that the three were not arrested simply for selling lemonade, but for “Failure to Obey a Police Officer, Unlawful Conduct,” and “Vending Without a License.”
