Police Issues

There have been lots and lots of reduction in our rights as photographers to make images in the past 7 years. I am amazed at some of the stories I read and hear about these days.
As American citizens, we have THE RIGHT to make any photograph at any time in public. We have the RESPONSIBILITY to make sure those who work for us (police especially) are doing their jobs, and there is a long-standing, historical interest in documenting our society.
Recently, there have been a number of camera confiscations, photographer detentions, arrests, and outright harassment cases in NYC and elsewhere.

Asheville City Police Officer Russell Crisp and Sergeant Randy Riddle believe in your freedom of speech - if they like what you say.

Asheville Police arrested a protestor for "impeach Bush, Cheney" sign - citing him with dubvious charge of "obstructing a sidewalk" this Wednesday. Since he wasn't actually blocking the sidewalk, they are looking for something else that could stick - and said Thursday "a N.C. Department of Transportation violation would be more fitting."

Charges against ‘highway blogger’ will changeby Adam Behsudi, August 17, 2007

ASHEVILLE — Police said Thursday that it would change charges against a man who held an “impeach Bush, Cheney” sign from a bridge over Interstate 240.

Jonas Phillips, a 35-year-old West Asheville resident, said he had recently taken up “highway blogging,” a protest practice of displaying signs of political discontent from highway overpasses.

Police cited him Wednesday for obstructing the sidewalk but said Thursday a N.C. Department of Transportation violation would be more fitting.

In other words, as soon as they can trump up something that might stick.

A message from Phillips was forwarded to the Veterans for Peace list serve:       (read more below the fold, fp by gf)

On Wednesday morning, a Buncombe County deputy decided to enforce a long-unused NC law in Asheville, using some unlawful means to do so. The main story from the local paper said that Deputy Scarborough was writing a citation for flag desecration, since Mark and Deborah Kuhn were flying their flag upside down on their front porch, with signs pinned to the flag. The deputy either kicked in the front door, or had it slammed on his hand, depending on which story you believe. Either way – he had no probable cause of a serious crime being committed, and no search warrant and he clearly was not invited into the home. The deputy just decided to act like a fascist thug. There is a picture of the couple on the link to the local paper above, and there is a sign saying Ron Paul for President in the photo.