Big Brother at the SLC rally Aug 22 >>>

[helderheid]

[ronnykmarshall]

1. What's up with that shit?

I remember in San Francisco during several protest against then Gov Wilson, the SFPD video taped and took pictures of us. I made it a point to dance, smile, wave and make out with various guys in the crowd.

[MadHound]

2. Oh this is nothing new

Big Brother has been all over even the smallest of anti-war protests, even here in the small cities and towns of the Midwest. I must have had my picture taken dozens of times, each and every anti-war gathering that I show up at. One does have to wonder why though. Are we being targeted for future round up as "enemy combatants"? Or is this merely another failed attempt at intimidation?

Screw 'em is what I say. I am exercising by Constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech and free assembly.

[Junkdrawer]

12. They videotaped anti-nuke rallies in the 70s...

intimidation tactics as old as the hills...

[i miss america]

3. Those protestors sure look mightly dangerous, don't they?

:mad:

[bryant69]

4. Well if anything happens they have proof

Or I suppose that must be the rationale - It is a bit intimidating, I suppose.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[helderheid]

5. A friend talked to the officer and this is what she emailed me about it

I asked the officer wielding the videocamera what his name was, and he said:
"I'm Detective Silver, SLC PD."
And as to why he was videotaping, he said:
"I'm videotaping the crowd in case we need to make a response. Please stand back on the curb, ma'am."
So I did, and he went on videotaping. Within 10 min, there appeared an entire RANK of motocops at the SE corner. I had to leave (my daughter's first day at High School - orientation - was today, & I can't be late to get her. Heard KCPW saying crowd estimate was about 1000 people. Folks were still trekking in as I left & it looked like it had reached about a steady number, with incoming = outgoing.
(Sorry, Sheryl).
Thanks for all your efforts - it was a great demo.
June

[Catrina]

6. Do they videotape

pro-war, anti-peace demonstrators? And if not, why not? Wouldn't it make way more sense to be concerned about those who support violence rather than those who don't?

I think this could be challenged in court ~ I do not want my picture to be taken without my permission. To some cultures it is a theft of soul.

If you are engaging in a legal activity, what right do they have to take your photo? That is harrassment, imo, and should be challenged. Seems to me citizens need to organize and get legal action committees going to challenge these infractions, before they get worse. Just my opinion ~

[crikkett]

7. they videotape traffic stops and interrogations.. so...

bring your own recorder and videotape them back.

And then file a FOIA request for your file so you can have a neat scrapbook to show your grandkids.

[i miss america]

8. According to the Utah reports, they seized all the cameras they could get

I hope you saw the one they didn't get. Frightening stuff.

[helderheid]

10. that was the Rave they busted, not the Peace Rally on 8/22

[i miss america]

13. Yes, but it was still a peaceful (and legal) assembly

[helderheid]

14. I'm not defending them - just thought you had confused the events

Yes, I saw what video they hadn't taken and my GOD it was scary. I talked to someone at the rally who had been there. Apparently an officer got into the rave with drugs and then they released all hell on the ravers.

[i miss america]

15. Thanks, but the point I was trying to make was the similarity of the

Big Brother-esque police action at a public gathering.

[helderheid]

16. got it now :)

[Catrina]

9. That's different,

Attending a peaceful rally is not a crime.

A traffic stop or interrogation has to do with some involvement in a crime. That was my question. To me, a police officer is a stranger ~ I have no more reason to trust him than anyone else. I don't like strangers taking my picture ~ and thanks for the tip, but I like to decide what goes into family albums. We would prefer not to have to depend on a police file or court action to fill up a family album, particularly when there are no criminals in the family. Is this a police state?

And I'd still like to know if they video-tape pro-war, anti-peace rallies, and if not why not?

[helderheid]

11. do we sue?