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So it begins: Pre-RNC, police confiscate artist/videographers' equipment. More.
It seems that things aren't much different in Denver.
ABC Reporter Arrested in Denver Taking Pictures of Senators, Big Donors
Does anyone trust the police anymore? Should we? They create the issue then arrest you for not following an order to do something you have every right to do. If this isn't a police state what is?
I think it's time for some Ice Cube.
Police confiscating equipment of journalists documenting free speech activities...sadly ironic.
Remember those controversial "no nukes" posters from the Union of Concerned Scientists NWA made Clear Channel take down in the airport?
We went out and bought some space of our own, including a billboard on eastbound 94, just past Snelling.
Suck it, Big Oil.
cjc and I were talking about this yesterday. Just as I start to trust the police and get really good feelings about them, they do this sort of thing, and I get pissed.
I mean, at least pretend to follow protocol. Don't lie. Provide receipts for the confiscated equipment. Arrest or detain people you believe are committing crimes.
I know these officers won't be disciplined, but they should be. They clearly violated the rights of the citizen journalists. Where is RT on this? Oh, right, the DNC.
bob...Hazelden called. your posters are insensitive and they want them taken down. oh, and about your drinking...
heh, grote. Other RNC news: Did you hear about the "smoking rooms" being built in the Xcel Center for the RNC? City Pages investigates.
I would be pretty flippin' outraged if police officers confiscated my equipment. I'm a cooperative person, if they asked to see what I was doing I'd have no problem showing them pics or video I've taken. I think that's reasonable, but if they actually took it away, they'd probably be able to press charges for me going ballistic.
That said, I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the Xcel arena last night, but they did let me carry around my camera in its bag.
"smoking rooms" being built in the Xcel Center for the RNC
Big Tobacco votes Republican, bob...and they need their fix. you oughta know that.
Haven't we been discussing this the last couple of days?
Cam Gordon reports that the journalists' equipment has been returned (second paragraph).
Kwatt, there's a big difference between being inside/non-public space vs. being in a public place. It's perfectly reasonable for a event host/property owner to impose restrictions. Not so in public.
And I don't think it's reasonable to be expected to show the police what you have on your camera without a search warrant. What if you have a scoop on a story? What if you have evidence of police /public official crimes? What if you have nekkid pictures of yourself or your girlfriend/boyfriend on there?
The 4th and 5th amendments are there for a reason.
What if you have nekkid pictures of yourself or your girlfriend/boyfriend on there?
I'm going to have to see those...
bob, did you read the Paul Schmelzer report about CBS pulling a series of billboards?
I guess I'll cancel that long lens I was going to rent from West Photo. I'll still go down to the convention area with my camera to see what fun I can find, but no way I'm going to take a chance on getting a $1600 lens -- that isn't mine -- confiscated.
And I don't think it's reasonable to be expected to show the police what you have on your camera without a search warrant. What if you have a scoop on a story? What if you have evidence of police /public official crimes? What if you have nekkid pictures of yourself or your girlfriend/boyfriend on there?
Then I wouldn't show them, b/c I don't have to be cooperative if I don't choose to.
No, but I have now. Clear Channel is one thing, but CBS running scarred is another. Chilling. I'll let you know if we run into any flak re: our billboards and skyway posters.
PS: Watch for our teevee spots, too, on KARE and Jason's Stations. David Gillette (the animation dude from TPT's Almanac) did them for us.
This is one of the those topics that I really like. Not because of what the police did, but because pretty much everyone thinks the police overstepped their bounds, left and right.
We may disagree on a lot of things, but pretty much everyone thinks the police don't have the right to take peoples' stuff without a crime being committed or a warrant.
Hooray for America.
[wondering whether kwatt knows the definition of "confiscate"]
are you done with your commercial yet, bob, or should we refrain from posting for a bit so you can finish up?
My name is Bob Moffitt, and I appove this message...
oh, the horror! those nasty photographers are going to bring down america!
I just read Second Ward City Council Member Cam Gordon's great blog post about it, and also read the accounts of the two other incidents with the MPD and journalists that he cites.
I hope that someone keeps an ongoing list with links/documentation of every single infraction of our protected rights that happens preceding and during the RNC...I imagine there are going to be loads.
And I don't think it's reasonable to be expected to show the police what you have on your camera without a search warrant.
I agree wtf. Who do they think they are. This is all in the name of democracy. This country is fucked. Part of the problem is the right and the Left have been fighting over little things for so long that none of them see the big things happening in this country. It's about feeling good but not about what is right or wrong. Freedom of speech is not saying what "they" want you to say, it is saying what should be said. We need to protect each other on this one. I and you pay for the gad dame side walk. WE PAY TAXES it is our money it is our side walk, it is our excel energy center, the god dam tax payer paid for it so leave us the hell alone. Man I am getting pissed about this. IF this keeps up I will be protesting with the nut bags soon.
oooh - a good link from Robin Garwood on Cam Gordon's staff - it's the Police Practices Resolution, passed last month. See page 574, section 27 for the prohibition of taking cameras, etc. Entire section about "Adopting police policies regarding public assemblies" starts on 572.
Seems like a good couple of pages to print and keep on your person if you go out protesting or documenting protesters.
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