Beep beep: No Kings Day honking ticket withdrawn

GATE CITY — In less than a minute, Richard Lusk's legal fate was decided in Scott County General District Court on Tuesday. Lusk was the only driver cited for misdemeanor "unlawful use of a horn" by the Gate City Police Department during a March 28 No Kings rally in downtown Gate City. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Preas conferred with town Police Chief Terry Sivert and Officer Kevin McKinney — the officer who ticketed Lusk — just before court resumed after lunch. Eighteen of Lusk's supporters sat to watch the proceedings. As Lusk and his attorney, Brandi Hurley, stood to hear the charge against him, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Preas told Judge Rob Hines that the police and prosecution believed that an "infraction" occurred during Lusk's honking. He then asked to withdraw the charge and Hines dismissed it. Hines then smiled and invited the crowd to stay and watch further court proceedings. Lusk, his wife Susan McGriff and their dog Baxter were driving by the protest with their pickup truck bearing posters when they honked in response to a "Honk if you're not in the Epstein files" sign held up by rally participants. Another driver, Sharon Hensley of Gate City, told the Times News that same day that she had been stopped by a Gate City officer for honking at the rally but was released after telling the officer she was recording him. "In this situation, I think the officer did the right thing," Hurley said of Tuesday's dismissal, "and it took a little community pressure and all these people showing up helped. I also think it was a little intimidating that (Lusk) had representation." "What I worry about is the people that don't, " said Hurley, "who end up getting caught up in political bias and issues like that, so I'm glad the officer did the right thing. I hope, going forward, that the right thing is always done so I don't have to drive back over the mountain." "It wasn't so much the money or the fine," Lusk said after the hearing. "I wanted to make a statement, and I'm a little disappointed we didn't get to talk about our First Amendment rights." "And selective enforcement," McGriff added. Several supporters — some who participated in the March 28 rally — added to Lusk and Hurley's comments. "Scott County really is a great place," said Becky Coleman. "We have a lot to offer. It's the home of Natural Tunnel State Park, the home of Carter Fold and almost the home of where you have to be very careful how enthusiastically you express your political views. Fortunately, that was stopped today, and we're glad for that." Dan and Lynn Manweiler have helped coordinate No Kings rallies in Southwest Virginia. "To me it's a victory for the America that I know and grew up with," Dan said. "I didn't understand such a thing as a citation for honking your horn, so this is great." "To this selective enforcement, this stuff has to go and everybody needs to start speaking out about that," Lynn said. "If it can happen to the old white guys in town if they feel like it, imagine what our Black and brown friends would think. I just worry what would happen when a young Black child came through town with their new car and honked the horn. What would they do to him?" "Any assault on any of our rights is a beginning," said Anita Gardner. "We cannot tolerate any erosion of our rights at all."