State of Texas Nonexistent, Claims “Child of God,” in Court for Driving with “Republic of Texas” Plates

In the wake of the large boost given to the Texan independence cause by President Barack Obama’s reelection last year (discussed recently in this blog) and the more than a hundred thousand Texans who signed an online White House petition for peaceful separation (as also discussed in this blog), the activist stunts continue.

Freedom fighter.

On March 18th, in Liberty County, just outside Houston, an elderly Texan reputed to be a member of the sometimes violent separatist organization Republic of Texas demanded to be tried in an international criminal court, saying the United States’ “State of Texas” does not exist.  The man, Lionel Marmen Lamell, was charged with driving his Cadillac with a “fictitious” “Republic of Texas” license plate instead of the required state-issued plates.  Lamell, who needed all court proceedings to be shouted to him because of a hearing impairment, claims that the Republic of Texas (which joined the Union in 1846 after ten years of de facto independence) was never formally dissolved.  The proof of this, he said, ridiculously, was Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 53, which simply refers to laws enacted during the Republic of Texas period and which Lamell misinterprets as meaning that the entity that enacted those laws is extant.  Displaying a misunderstanding of the modus tollens rule of inference, Lamell told the court, “Unless you can prove in the Bible that I am wrong, then I am right.”  He added, to the judge, “I am washed in the blood.  I am a child of God.  You have no jurisdiction.  Amen.”

The text of Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 53, taped to the window of Lionel Lamell’s Caddy.

Despite supporting arguments from Albert Thomas, whose t-shirt identified him as “chief counsel for the Republic,” Lamell, who rejected court-appointed counsel, was found guilty.  Judge Tommy Chambers sentenced him to 180 days in prison, suspended upon completion of one year’s probation, and a fine of $1,500.  I hope someone clarified for him: that’s 1,500 U.S. dollars.

A Texan separatist at a recent rally

[For those who are wondering, yes, this blog is tied in with my new book, a sort of encyclopedic atlas just published by Litwin Books under the title Let’s Split! A Complete Guide to Separatist Movements and Aspirant Nations, from Abkhazia to Zanzibar.  (That is shorter than the previous working title.)  The book, which contains 46 maps and 554 flags (or, more accurately, 554 flag images), is available for order now on Amazon.  Meanwhile, please “like” the book (even if you haven’t read it yet) on Facebook and see this special announcement for more information on the book.]