211:. In October 2013, he admitted to the US Secret Service owning a gyrocopter and identified where it was located but did not admit to specific plans for the flight. Hughes claimed this encounter with the federal police validated his non-violent inclination. In the letter to the government sent at the time of take-off and to the media, Hughes declared the investigation by the US Secret Service and lack of action by the authorities was proof that his non-violent political intent had been established in advance of the flight.
204:
emails were sent to the media directing them to the Tampa Bay Times web site for the story and the Hughes web site for the background. A few weeks after the flight, the
Chairman of the US House Oversight Committee in an official hearing on the gyrocopter flight said, "The guy in the gyrocopter was livefeeding a stream. I have heard a story from one of the major networks where they were watching it in New York, called down to the Capitol, and had staff reporters and producers go down on the grass to watch it happen."
37:
170:
277:
The gyrocopter flight inspired art in a variety of venues. Soon after the flight, street art depicting the flight showed up in Los
Angeles. Two different songs were written, "Ballad of Doug Hughes" by Paul Loether and "Superhero Autogyro" by Curtis Long. An award-winning video, "An American Mailman's
301:
Exactly two years after the flight Doug Hughes mailed the letters to
Congress, conventionally at the Post Office he previously worked at. The letters had been impounded as evidence - Hughes recovered them after he finished his prison term. Within the limits of his probation, which limits his travel,
282:
hosted
President Obama and delivered the "Top 10 Questions Dumb Guys Ask the President". Number One, was the gyrocopter pilot purportedly asking the Chief Executive: "When will you return my gyrocopter?" Unknown pranksters announced the "Doug Hughes Commemorative Postal Stamp" to the press through
203:
web site as soon as the flight began. The reporter was in
Washington DC and saw the take-off on Hughes' web site. At the time Hughes began the flight, an E-mail to the government through barackobama.com was sent automatically which explained the intent of the flight and where it was going. Dozens of
313:
Hughes finished his prison term in
October 2016, then remained under federal probation until October 2017. When probation finished he intended to return to national activism on the corrosive effect of big money in politics and the reform measures he believes are possible and effective. Retired from
187:
According to Hughes, his intent was to deliver a political message by "delivering the mail." Hughes carried 535 letters to
Congress, individually stamped and addressed to each member of Congress. The flight was broadcast over the Internet to Hughes' web site "The Democracy Club". The flight from a
268:
expressed concern over the tax dollars that would be spent in law enforcement and prosecution for Hughes' 'stunt'. The US Postal
Service was unhappy with Hughes' flight. His gyrocopter had carried the US Postal logo, and the Post Office determined that the use of two small corrugated trays to
183:
that his protest had been a response to this, suggesting that his son had, "paid far too high a price for an unimportant issue, but if you're willing to take a risk, the ultimate risk, to draw attention to something that does have significance, it's worth doing."
314:
the US Postal
Service, he currently gives speeches and has published a book "Flight Plan: A Mailman's Aerial Adventure and Special Delivery" in September 2021. He spoke at the 2018 Unrig the System summit where he was presented with an award for his actions.
1201:
1151:
226:
and reduce the influence of wealth on
American politics. Hughes would later reflect that his biggest regret of the flight was not wearing a heavier sweater because of the cold weather.
1249:
199:
to explain his non-violent protest. Interviews and video, including flight video, were arranged in advance with the understanding the story would be posted online at the
269:
transport mail was misappropriation of government property. Hughes was suspended after the flight and fired in July 2015. He appealed the decision and retired in 2016.
338:
720:
290:" over 1300 arrests were made at the Capitol Building in a protest of "Citizens United". Hughes had little direct influence in "Democracy Spring", organized by
1050:
541:
286:
Exactly a year after the Hughes flight, a march from Philadelphia to the US Capitol kicked off a week of peaceful civil disobedience. In the protest dubbed "
1125:
1100:
753:
298:", the women's peace group. Media Benjamin, co-founder of "Code Pink" said of the assembly of thousands: "I think it's fair to say that this is his baby."
1244:
379:
257:(D-KS) teamed up to write an editorial "We Are Gyrocopter," which decried "special interest" and "corrosive big money's" influence on American politics.
122:
Hughes was later charged with six crimes. Hughes pleaded guilty in November 2015 to one felony and was sentenced to 120 days plus one year of probation.
362:
999:
590:
511:
668:
305:
Federal authorities announced in October 2016 they would destroy the gyrocopter which Hughes was required to forfeit in the plea agreement.
1025:
460:
879:
829:
404:
214:
Following his return to Florida, Hughes did a number of interviews from his home while under house arrest. These included interviews on "
363:
Former mailman Doug Hughes gets 4 months in prison for gyrocopter protest at U.S. Capitol (w/video): Gyrocopter reformer to be sentenced
115:, protesting what he referred to as bipartisan corruption and dysfunctional government. He surrendered peacefully after landing to the
1181:
778:
294:, which Hughes could not attend by court order but his influence was present. Among the groups supporting "Democracy Spring" was "
1075:
565:
694:
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declared "Kudos to that guy!" after dubbing the incident "Wack Hawk Down". The co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream,
208:
131:
116:
1239:
730:
446:
1051:"Awaiting his sentence for landing on Capitol lawn, gyrocopter pilot Doug Hughes still seeks campaign finance reform"
283:
a parody web site with a convincing photo of postal executives outside the US Postal Museum making the announcement.
229:
Hughes flight triggered media discussion on the subject of money in politics. In an editorial for Huffingtonpost,
264:(R-UT) said that Hughes was "lucky to be alive" and "should have been blown out of the air," while broadcaster
804:
238:
143:
1234:
223:
135:
112:
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150:
617:""It Was Worth Risking My Life, My Freedom": Campaign Reform Activist on Flying Gyrocopter to Capitol"
429:
36:
1229:
616:
519:
222:," among others. In the interviews Hughes argued for the need to reverse the Supreme Court decision,
215:
158:
644:
Can High-Flying Gyrocopter Pilot Douglas Hughes Get Money Out of Politics? (Interview w/ Cenk Uygur)
189:
154:
278:
Flight for Freedom" was produced by Joseph Huff-Hannon. In his last few weeks before retirement,
242:
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Hughes was deeply affected by the suicide of his son, John, in August 2012. Hughes told the
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219:
17:
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100:
1152:"Jennifer Lawrence Calls for Bipartisanship, Tackles Corruption at Political Summit"
254:
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he is active with other leaders in the movement to get big money out of politics.
188:
small airport in Gettysburg, PA across Maryland finished on the west lawn of the
339:"FAA investigating Florida mailman's landing of gyrocopter on U.S. Capitol lawn"
246:
234:
951:
928:
905:
855:
642:
447:
Man taken into custody after landing single-person aircraft on Capitol grounds
138:. He graduated from Holy Cross High School in Santa Cruz and enlisted in the
295:
192:- a distance of about 70 miles and total flight time just under 90 minutes.
139:
485:
111:
on April 15, 2015. Hughes was carrying 535 letters, one to each member of
104:
830:"Gyrocopter 'Should Have Been Blown Out of the Air,' Rep. Chaffetz Says"
907:
Teachr: Street Art in Korea Town and Hollywood - Los Angeles Street Art
1126:"Ruskin man who landed gyrocopter on Capitol lawn is free from prison"
241:, wrote an editorial supporting Hughes' flight as a legitimate act of
291:
430:
Gyrocopter pilot who landed in nation's Capitol has Santa Cruz roots
405:"U.S. Capitol Gyrocopter Pilot Douglas Hughes Sentenced to 120 Days"
169:
566:"Video: Gyrocopter Pilot Reveals Motivation Behind Dangerous Stunt"
1101:"Officials plan to destroy Ruskin mailman Doug Hughes' gyrocopter"
260:
Hughes also faced strong criticism for the flight. Representative
207:
Seventeen months before the flight, Hughes was interviewed by the
168:
1202:"I flew a gyrocopter onto the Capitol Lawn to save our democracy"
103:
and political activist, known for landing a one-man ultralight
973:
1000:"Obama jokes about a future playing dominoes with Letterman"
880:"Postal Service Firing Me, but Letters Will Get To Congress"
779:"Can the Gyrocopter Gang Start a Political Reform Movement?"
486:"The Democracy Club | Because "We the People" own Congress!"
380:"Gyrocopter pilot who landed at the Capitol pleads guilty"
233:
presented asked, "what other recourse did he have?" while
591:"Gyrocopter Pilot Explains Why He Landed on Capitol Lawn"
754:"The Epic Descent into a Money-Fueled Corruption Pit"
86:
78:
61:
43:
27:
1026:"Fake stamp for gyrocopter pilot riles Washington"
1076:"'Gyrocopter Guy' Still Has a Message to Deliver"
695:"How Doug Hughes Took Free Speech to New Heights"
669:"Daring Gyrocopter Pilot Doug Hughes Tells All"
461:"Gyro pilot: Son's suicide motivated protest"
8:
1250:United States Navy non-commissioned officers
195:In 2014, Hughes contacted a writer with the
1182:"Why I won't ask for a Presidential Pardon"
857:Gyrocopter pilot says he sent email warning
245:. Other political personalities, including
974:"An American Mailman's Flight for Freedom"
35:
24:
693:Ennis, John Wellington (May 20, 2015).
323:
157:official said that Hughes had become a
662:
660:
82:Gyrocopter landing on US Capitol lawn
7:
904:Beyond Brutal (September 30, 2015),
333:
331:
329:
327:
1150:Milioto, Misty (February 5, 2018).
1245:People from Santa Cruz, California
1180:Hughes, Doug (November 26, 2016).
14:
950:Tommy Dodson (November 3, 2015),
927:Tom Carroll (February 21, 2016),
512:"A special delivery for Congress"
641:TYT Interviews (July 15, 2015),
1:
1200:Hughes, Doug (May 15, 2015).
953:Superhero Autogyro 80 seconds
752:Cohen, Ben (April 30, 2015).
803:Picard, Joe (May 22, 2015).
132:San Mateo County, California
16:For the stage director, see
249:and former representatives
1266:
15:
930:The Ballad of Doug Hughes
667:UNKN (December 7, 2021).
34:
1004:sandiegouniontribune.com
542:"Flying Under The Radar"
449:, CNN (April 15, 2015).
1156:The Hollywood Reporter
224:Citizens United v. FEC
174:
99:is an American former
860:, CNN, April 22, 2015
733:on September 18, 2015
173:Doug Hughes July 2014
172:
142:, serving aboard the
109:United States Capitol
490:thedemocracyclub.org
216:Good Morning America
159:rural letter carrier
1206:The Washington Post
805:"We are gyrocopter"
465:OrlandoSentinel.com
434:Santa Cruz Sentinel
190:US Capitol Building
155:U.S. Postal Service
130:Hughes was born in
107:on the lawn of the
1240:American activists
1006:. Associated Press
673:The Stamp Stampede
516:video.tampabay.com
243:civil disobedience
218:", "Hannity," and
175:
151:electrician's mate
71:Political activist
1080:POLITICO Magazine
522:on April 18, 2015
459:Walden, Tiffany.
445:Alexandra Jaffe,
436:(April 16, 2015).
369:(April 22, 2016).
209:US Secret Service
165:Gyrocopter flight
134:, and grew up in
94:
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54:September 7, 1953
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729:. Archived from
721:"Wack Hawk Down"
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1105:Tampa Bay Times
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758:Huffington Post
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280:David Letterman
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266:Anderson Cooper
197:Tampa Bay Times
180:Tampa Bay Times
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153:third class. A
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1030:postalnews.com
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719:Stewart, Jon.
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621:Democracy Now!
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597:. May 18, 2015
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1209:. Retrieved
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981:. Retrieved
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957:, retrieved
952:
945:
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929:
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911:, retrieved
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887:. Retrieved
884:rollcall.com
883:
873:
862:, retrieved
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838:. Retrieved
833:
824:
812:. Retrieved
808:
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786:. Retrieved
782:
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761:. Retrieved
757:
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735:. Retrieved
731:the original
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702:. Retrieved
698:
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676:. Retrieved
672:
648:, retrieved
643:
636:
624:. Retrieved
620:
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599:. Retrieved
594:
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573:. Retrieved
569:
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548:. Retrieved
536:
524:. Retrieved
520:the original
515:
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494:. Retrieved
489:
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468:. Retrieved
464:
454:
441:
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428:Calvin Men,
424:
412:. Retrieved
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387:. Retrieved
383:
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346:. Retrieved
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255:Dan Glickman
228:
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200:
196:
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129:
121:
96:
95:
90:Alena Hughes
68:Mail carrier
22:
1230:1953 births
253:(R-MD) and
247:Ralph Nader
235:Jon Stewart
62:Occupations
29:Doug Hughes
1224:Categories
318:References
309:Later life
231:John Ennis
146:Enterprise
136:Santa Cruz
126:Early life
105:gyrocopter
50:1953-09-07
1211:March 17,
1191:March 17,
1135:March 16,
1110:March 13,
1085:April 20,
1060:March 15,
1035:March 15,
1010:March 15,
983:March 15,
959:March 15,
936:March 15,
913:March 15,
889:March 17,
864:March 15,
840:March 15,
814:March 14,
788:March 14,
763:March 14,
737:March 17,
704:March 14,
650:March 15,
626:March 15,
601:March 14,
575:March 14,
550:March 13,
526:March 14,
496:March 14,
470:March 13,
414:March 13,
389:March 13,
384:USA Today
348:March 13,
296:Code Pink
239:Ben Cohen
161:in 2003.
140:U.S. Navy
834:ABC News
570:ABC News
409:NBC News
113:Congress
809:TheHill
1186:Medium
292:99Rise
273:Impact
149:as an
87:Spouse
978:Vimeo
545:(PDF)
201:Times
1213:2017
1193:2017
1163:2023
1137:2017
1112:2017
1087:2017
1062:2017
1037:2017
1012:2017
985:2017
961:2017
938:2017
915:2017
891:2017
866:2017
842:2017
816:2017
790:2017
765:2017
739:2017
706:2017
680:2023
652:2017
628:2017
603:2017
577:2017
552:2017
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498:2017
472:2017
416:2017
391:2017
350:2017
144:USS
44:Born
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659:^
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326:^
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818:.
792:.
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