The Orion Online

Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: Online Exclusives

Aaron Jones visited Chico to get a feel for the area and search for the philosophically conservative.

Conservatives were tough for him to find, but he did meet libertarian-minded students at the Thursday Night Market, he said. After two days, he left Chico with a sense his services are needed.

"I noticed that there was a sizable following for Ron Paul (in Chico)," he said. "Well, one of the groups students can form is a new group that came out of the Ron Paul movement called Young Americans for Liberty."

A field representative for the Leadership Institute, an Arlington, Va.-based conservative think-tank, Jones is spending the next three months at college campuses in Northern California and Reno, Nev. recruiting students to start conservative student groups and publications.

The Leadership Institute is a base for the conservative grassroots movement, said Ian Ivey, the group's communications director. College campuses tend to lean to the left, so the Leadership Institute offers resources for students to start conservative groups or publications.

"Basically, my job is to help support student groups who support a philosophy of limited government which includes libertarians as well," Jones said. "I can help new or existing student groups get grant money for speakers - up to $3,000 and $800 to start a publication on their campus."

A great thing about the Leadership Institute is that they are non-partisan, Jones said. They deal with philosophy and principles, so for those who believe in defending the Constitution and limited government, the Leadership Institute is there to help get the resources and training needed.

"One of the hardest things for students to understand is that L.I. doesn't want to control the groups we help and associate with," Jones said. "We just want to energize and inspire students to become leaders within their own groups."

Jones is one of 50 Leadership Institute-trained field representatives who are posted all across the country to start conservative student groups and newspapers.

A libertarian himself, Jones, 29, wants students to explore the Constitution and learn to protect their rights. He practices what he preaches.

Jones arrived in Chico late Aug. 27. He explored the campus to post fliers and figure out where he could engage in political talk with students, Jones said.

Around 2 a.m. Aug. 28, he sat in his parked car on the corner of West Second Street and Normal Avenue using wireless Internet to search for a hotel, he said. The red and blue lights from the flashing police siren caught his eye immediately. Then Officer Michael Swithenbank appeared by his window.

When asked by Swithenbank to show his driver's license, Jones questioned why he should show identification if he hadn't done anything illegal, he said. Because he thinks he has "the right not to show papers," he refused to give the officer his driver's license.

"I'm not the kind of guy who is always paranoid about the police - they are there to protect us, and I respect that," Jones said. "But they are also there to protect our Constitutional rights."

In the dispatch recording of the incident Swithenbank, who was on DUI patrol that night, is heard saying: "Be advised - he's a Constitutionalist."

A little more than 20 minutes into the incident Jones clicked on a pocket-sized video camera he had in his car, he said. Swithenbank returned to Jones' car asking him if he is Aaron Lawrence Jones, of Gridley, who has a warrant out for his arrest for a parole violation.


Video courtesy of Aaron Jones

Swithenbank took Jones' Leadership Institute business card and accepted he was Aaron Robert Jones of Springfield, Miss. Sgt. Brian Farrell tossed the card into the car and said, "You win this round, man."

Lt. Matt Hansen of the University Police Department said that Swithenbank acted within the boundaries of the law, but "perhaps he could have done a better job explaining the situation."

"Consider your source. You're aware (Jones is) a political activist, and he informed us he was a Constitutionalist," Hansen said. "Constitutionalists have an ax to grind with government, and they see police as an extension of government in which they don't recognize their authority, because they think their authority is the Constitution."

Jones said a prior experience with police framed the way he handled this situation. After being pulled over in the small town of Ash Grove, an officer insisted on searching his car for drugs. There weren't any because Jones doesn't use drugs.

"After that experience I vowed not to give in to violations of privacy by the police -especially if the police can provide no rational reason for their demands," he said.

Jones isn't letting one incident with the police ruin his plans for Chico, he said.

"The sense of community here in Chico is amazing," he said. "At the farmers' market, I noticed right away that Ron Paul has a strong following here in the community and just by talking to folks enjoying the market, I got four people signed up to join Chico State's Young Americans for Liberty group."

This election and particularly the campaign of Ron Paul motivated him to become politically active, Jones said. Since graduating with a degree in music from Indiana University, Jones has held numerous odd jobs.

"Last year, I never thought I'd be doing anything like this job," he said. "I'm a musician who studied piano and harpsichord at Indiana University, and I have my own experimental band."

Jones is returning to Chico Thursday to man a table and recruit students who support the philosophy of limited government.

"Anyone who is interested in defending the constitution should talk to me," Jones said. "I'll see what kind of help I can provide."

Bryce Benson can be reached at
bbenson@theorion.com

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