Please notice from a Sunday News article excerpt below that Fry admits that I had/have the right to put my box where I did. That didn’t stop my newspaper box from being stolen and ending up for days at the security offices at F & M. And when I was replacing it? His police assaulted me and hauled me off to their jail… all while John Fry stood there and watched.
The quote from the story is also a glimpse into Fry’s motivation for such an egregious act. According to John Fry, the inanimate box was ‘taunting’ him!
Never mind the constitution, if John Fry has a box taunting him, the box has to go!
I’d like to remind everyone that the ONLY legal proceeding between F&M and myself was won by
me. They had their high-priced Barley Snyder lawyer and I stood by myself.
Truth wins sometimes!
Ron Harper, Jr.
Excerpts from the Lancaster Sunday News, June 8, 2008:
“Fry said he realizes the box is constitutionally protected. Yes, he said, it is in the public right-of-way. But it’s also there, he believes, to taunt him.”
“Fry said he was in Philadelphia that day, returning to his home just as the incident was taking place. He saw the flashing lights, and his first thought was that there might have been a traffic accident. So he approached — and saw Harper. Fry said he walked away, opting to let security handle the situation.”
“Russ Eshleman, a former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who teaches journalism at Penn State and writes a column for the Sunday News, said that ‘all of us who worked as reporters have at one time or another staked out public officials.’ While covering Harrisburg, he said, he used to try and ascertain when the governor was walking to his car so he could ‘ambush’ him with a few questions.”
Funny how Harper compares himself with Russ Eshleman and other “reporters”. Real journalists don’t go out of their way to make themselves the center of the story like Harper does.
I agree that F&M security acted inappropriately, but it is clear that Harper has been baiting them (as he does so many others). I believe he’s actually glad all of this happened so that he could garner publicity and ammunition for a lawsuit. This is not how a bona fide journalist acts.
Joe P.
Lancaster, PA
I suggest that the ‘Joes of Lancaster expand their horizons more to realize that because everyone YOU know in the newspaper business is not like Mr. Harper, that it doesn’t mean there’s not another way of doing things. Check out
Hunter Thomas was most famous for developing the technique Harper uses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson
Actually, if I recall my early days, Hunter S. Thompson was most famous for his stint with the Rolling Stone Magazine and eating acid while exploring American culture [Fear and loathing in Las Vegas].
Secondarily for his internal investigation into the Hells Angels – riding with Sonny Barger. Not exactly Harper’s MO [Lanc Bible College and all].
I do agree with your contention. In fact there are examples like 60 minutes which better illustrate the style Harper extends.
I have found interesting the style here in Lancaster. The reporters get with the politicians, or mega folks ahead of the press conference and whisper to each other. The exact opposit of 60 minutes. The impression could be drawn they are way too cozy when this is the pattern.
Of course they run and call the cops if me or Harper point a camera at them and ask uncomfortable questions. They are actually so accustomed to the “cozy” that they believe investigative reporting is illegal.
BTW To keep the light of day and transparency as well as asking the tough questions qualifies as “legitimate purpose”.