6'4" Cop Bullies 4'11" Videographer as She Videos a BP Worker Taken Away in Ambulance

[Subdivisions]

Run time: 09:03 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pi8R_FUGys   Posted on YouTube: July 06, 2010 By YouTube Member: gulfcoastjourney Views on YouTube: 12347   Posted on DU: July 09, 2010 By DU Member: Subdivisions Views on DU: 8939

 
OMG I am shaking right now!

THIS is what we're dealing with. I have nothing else to say about because I'm too damned frustrated, angry, and a little scared.

[ZombieHorde]

1. Recommended. Those women are pretty brave. nt

[Swagman]

14. I agree. Brave girls and we luv 'em for it. Bringing us the truth even

though great big bullies try to intimidate them.:hi:

[chervilant]

16. hmm...

He IS great big... and a bully. Notice the prototypical rapid exuent when she challenged his authority with, "let's call your supervisor."

This video should be posted for a wider venue. Can we get it to Maddow?

[sabrina 1]

2. Why are America's law enforcement agencies working for BP?

I know that the law enforcement agencies of third world countries work for them, but this is the U.S. Who is ordering this? And why? Is it the Republican Governors, Jindal and Barbour? Maybe it's time for the U.S. media to start investigating what is going on. This should be unacceptable in this country.

[livingonearth]

4. Exactly!

Good question: "who is ordering this"? Why isn't the media all over this? Hell, why aren't the tea baggers all over this, they're always so afraid of their rights being trampled on?

[CLANG]

11. The teabaggers don't give a rats ass about anybodies rights.

Except the ones where they have a right to a white president because, after all how can you have 3/5 of a president! DUH!!

[Swagman]

15. tea baggers probably blame the pelicans ..or Obama...anyone but

the real culprit.

[Enthusiast]

19. Right.

The Teabaggers are not in the least concerned about real rights. They are a completely fictitious movement.

[Lorien]

37. The teabaggers aren't in control of the Nation. nt

[defendandprotect]

41. Good reminder ... AND t-baggers are a wholly owned group created by GOP/PR ....

[lovuian]

140. Exactly Exactly

our government isn't for the people

[flyarm]

9. and why i the Coast Guard working for BP and why is Homelamd security working for BP and why is the

FAA working for BP and why are our local police working for BP..who gave BP our beaches? Who gave BP our water ways? Who gave BP our air we breath??

Why is BP running our media ?

Those are just a couple questions those of us who live on the Gulf Have been asking since day one of this disaster!

Where the Fuck is our President and where the fuck is our congress protecting us from a Foreign Oil Corporation????????????

[Lorien]

38. +100,0000. We can't stop demanding that our government take control AWAY from the people

who are destroying our oceans and making us ill. Contact the Whitehouse today and every day until we see CHANGE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

[defendandprotect]

46. Good reminder -- thank you !! Contact White House --

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

[Enthusiast]

18. It's way past time for the U.S. media

to start investigating what is going on.

It's pretty clear they are trying to preserve the BP image. These good ol' boy police officers are doing what they were told. BP doesn't want the media telling the American people the truth, the truth in this instance is the toxicity level of crude oil. Of course you knew that.

[droidamus2]

44. How about this

Since this guy turned around and walked away when they threatened to call his superior I would guess that he was doing this on his own and not under orders from above. The next question would be 'how much is he getting paid under the table to act as security for BP's operation?'.

[Enthusiast]

100. That could be. nt

[nenagh]

146. Agreed....

Very interesting to see him walk away when challenged with a call to his superior..

[LiberalFighter]

150. And I would think the videographer should make that call to the top dog about this.

Both the Mayor and the whichever department that officer works. And even contact the media.

[rabies1]

125. It's also way past time ...

Us, as individuals, take action. Get off the couch and join the Washington dc march on the 17th.
See the Facebook post for 'End the BP Oil'. It's time they hear from us for a change.
If I just sit and listen to any additional reports about this disaster, I'm going to burst.
We must get involved - we can't afford to do nothing because they will just boldly make it worse.

[Ganja Ninja]

25. That's a good question.

This is America vs BP. What is it that makes them so loyal to a company that is causing more damage to America than al Qaeda ever could? I can't figure out what makes these people tick. If it were me I'd ask her if she needs any help getting a better shot.

[toppertwot]

31. BENITO MUSSOLINI

Benito Mussolini would be proud of BP and their law inforcement employees that are paid to work by the tax payers. After a corporate/government police state is established on the coast, perhaps it can be expanded inland.

[waronbanks]

62. Ok heres the deal...

America is now controlled by the corporate crime syndicate. Our government and its agencies, the Supreme court, our Coast Guard. our law enforcement...pretty much everything. And the Media is there to advance the corporate agenda which it does day in and day out. So you wont EVER see the media do the job we NEED them to do.

This video is the perfect example of our rights being trampled on by the corporate crime family. Its perfectly clear that BP is calling the shots and our government is eager to serve their needs. So what do we Americans do to stop this obvious destruction of our constitutional rights by the corporate criminals.

We know its happening...the evidence over the last 10 years is inarguable. The question is what to do about it.

WHAT DO WE DO?

[sabrina 1]

123. "WHAT DO WE DO"?

I don't know. I wish I did. But this is like reading about some third world country when Corporations, backed by the corrupt governments, abuse the citizens and their environment. BP has a history of doing this in third world countries. Are we really that far gone?

[waronbanks]

189. It sure as hell feels like we're that far gone sabrina.

I mean we are fucked. Until the press does what it was supposed to do we are fucked. And I dont see that happening anytime soon.

[rabies1]

192. Here are some suggestions...

One thing you can do from home is sign the new Moveon petition to put serious changes into effect about how Washington works. Right now it's NOT working for us - just the lobbyists with their wads of cash. Find one that says NO to all offshore drilling or supports clean jobs now. Aside from signing petitions .. (I think another one is SaveTheInternet they are working their butts off to change that situation) here are several other ideas.
Next weekend I plan on going to DC to join the march that says this disaster should be taken out of BPs hands cause they endlessly lie and screw up and don't give a rats hoo ha about life in the gulf. I say the only thing we can do is get SOOOOOO mad that we tell people, call people, sign petitions and physically get off the couch. Last weekend they had the 350.org hands across the water thing in many places in many states. I so understand your rage at this. You will find others out there who are just as mad and determined to help as yourself. I hope this has been of some help.

[sabrina 1]

210. Thank you, I will sign any petitions that are for changing

things. I agree that the American people do have to get 'SOOOOOO mad' that those in power begin to worry about it. Right now, they don't care what we think. We are the only group who does not have anyone lobbying for us in DC. The American People.

Good for you for going to DC. I wish I could go too. Thank you, it just feels so hopeless sometimes, they are so powerful. But I know we have power if we organize. Anyone, thanks for your post, it does help to know others feel the same way :-)

[rhett o rick]

77. Our law enforcement works for CorpAmerica which is aligned with BP.

Our government is an oligarchy (CorpAmerica).

[JDPriestly]

134. Bribery????? Payoffs????? I don't know. But such things have

been known to happen. There have been some stories of corruption in Louisiana in the past -- to say nothing of corruption in New York City. There is no proof, but we can't rule it out.

[Atticus]

3. Damn! Makes me want one of those "Question Authority" tees we wore back in the sixties!

If we had more people like these two, we'd have less people like Bush and Cheney.

Damn fine job! Please accept my heartfelt gratitude.

[niyad]

36. northern sun has them

http://www.northernsun.com/n/s/search.html

[defendandprotect]

48. Thanks --

UNITED we bargain

DIVIDED we beg

Love it!

[peacetalksforall]

5. It makes me sick that the police and the coast guard are working for BP.

Why does the White House allow cover-up.

PS I hope the citizens follow up at the hospital.

Are they offering family members money to keep quiet about the sick? We don't know if it's sun exhaustion or chemical sickness or a personal existing problem, but we do have the right to know.

She had a uniform on.

I know that cops won't say much on the scene of a problem, but it's obvious that everything was vague here and BP is winning. They could have said someone is sick and we don't know why. The person is going to be taken to a hospital. We can't expect more. But is filming against the law?

Where is the line between corporate and our city, county, state and federal employees? Where is that line?

It doesn't look good from here whether they are on beaches or in boats. They give every impression of following BP orders, not citizen orders and laws.

Protecting the corporations must be in a hidden paragraph of the Patriot Act - the Patriot Act is what they always quote from for the new world of police and military actions not that don't respect the citizens because we find out what the new rules are incident by incident with nothing official or proved.

I am sorry folks. I don't like the way the White House is allowing the opaque curtain on the truth.

[herbm]

6. Brave or stupid, it worked.

[Subdivisions]

8. The word is BRAVE. Unfortunately, that's a trait that is nearly extinct in this country. So,

enjoy a rare bit of bravery while you can.

[chervilant]

17. hmm...

"Stupid" is a word that came to your mind upon viewing this?!

Sigh... this nation is in deep yogurt if standing up for your rights is 'stupid'!

[Raineyb]

33. The word you're looking for is brave.

Stupid would be the word to use to describe you even bringing up the word stupid.

[niyad]

34. exposing lies, showing the truth, is "stupid"? wow, what a strange world you inhabit

[Downtown Hound]

42. Why is it whenever somebody takes a stand for truth and justice

Somebody inevitably has to call them stupid for it? "Don't be stupid, just shut up and go along with the program. Don't be stupid, don't rock the boat, don't question authority."

The only stupid here is people that can't see why actions like this are necessary.

[sabrina 1]

43. It was brave, but it didn't work. We still do not know why

those ambulances were there because our law-enforcement agencies now work for the Corporation that so far, is responsible for the deaths of 26 Americans, 11 from this latest disaster, and who knows how many more as a result of their use of a banned chemical in their country of origin, a chemical they were ordered to stop using here, but simply ignored the order.

It will take many more acts like this to send the message that this country is NOT Colombia where activists against BP's destruction of THEIR country, have sometimes ended up dead with the backing of Colombia's law enforcement agencies.

Are we all Colombia now? Or is BP so accustomed to paying off elected officials in third world countries that they think this is a third world country?

The real question is, why, if we are not a third world country, are our law enforcement agencies acting like we are?

[herbm]

194. It was brave. It worked. It was not stupid. My point is either way - it worked. Standing up

for stupid stuff is what has kept the teabaggers in the limelight and it has shown us all including some now former teabaggers to see it for what that crap was about. The same works for moral ideals, the longer it is in the light, the more it is seen and realized by people. I hope when the time comes I will not be intimidated by some goon and if I was as scared as that woman was I would have the same incredible presense of mind and the courage of being right to stand up just as she did.

Clear?

[sabrina 1]

195. I don't think you understood my post. I am fully in support of what

she did and wish the MSM would be as brave and persistent. My point was that they are hiding something and that is why they would not answer her questions. It's not her fault that even when someone is as persistent as she was, we are not going to get answers because our country is in the hands of Corporations. Sorry you misunderstood, it happens though.

[herbm]

213. I couldn't figure out how to respond directly to the above posts that misunderstood

my post and i was hoping when you responded to me maybe it would alert one of the ones above yours, he'd respond and it would travel up the line. You and I (I think) are on point.

[sabrina 1]

216. Lol, it's not a perfect medium, misunderstandings often

happen ~ no problems :-)

[Rozlee]

7. She's spunky, that's for sure.

I'm the same size and build she is, but the only way I could have taken on that bruiser would have been if he'd gotten a crick in his back bending down to talk to me. And props to CBS News--who usually don't deserve any--on highlighting the health problems of cleanup workers during Exxon-Valdez. They also mentioned that Exxon paid for several health studies for different kinds of plant and animal species affected by the spill, but on human health studies--zero. Yeah, it'll probably be a more common sight as time goes on; workers on the oil spill collapsing from sickness or injury connected to it. What won't be so apparent is what's going on underneath the surface in the DNA. As I wrote in a different post, that whole area of the coastline is called Cancer Alley. It's got the highest rates of non-smoking related cancer in the nation and people have always blamed the refineries for it, although studies, some funded by the oil companies themselves, have shown no connection, to "inconclusive." This area of the country also has the highest rate of miscarriages and, in some pockets, Corpus Christi, etc. the highest of certain birth defects. Yeah, I'm probably veering into conspiracy nut territory here, but, at the very least, people are going to get really hurt by this.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

23. The part of the CBS report that stunned me was that they've only done 7 human health studies

out of over 400 spills.

This is what our government agencies have become:


There are various meanings ascribed to the monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action. In the western world the phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by looking the other way, refusing to acknowledge it, or feigning ignorance.

If you haven't seen it, this is a good link to the Exxon Valdez health consequences and the fears of what could happen to the GOM.

Short excerpt:

Cho is worried about another phenomena from the spill-- the orange sheen seen on the surface of the gulf.

"That orange sheen is a result of a chemical reaction involving the sun, the crude oil and the oil dispersants," Cho said. "But nobody knows what's in that color and how toxic the chemicals are. Companies keep the chemical makeup of the dispersants secret.



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100624104806.htm

[CLANG]

10. Damn, that woman is righteous and very brave!

[girl gone mad]

12. Don't be afraid!

That's the worst thing you can do.

[Subdivisions]

13. In Texas we have a sayin': 'If yer skeered, say yer skeered!'

A little fear isn't a bad thing for me. Fear is what motivates my fight.

[Turborama]

20. I'd like to bully the two top rated posters in the YouTube comments

In fact, there's a whole load of despicable YouTubers in there who deserve a good bullying.

[Duppers]

22. I had a go at them this morning.

Got called some names too. LOL.

At least I had my say with a bunch of 'em.

[Turborama]

24. Unbelievable

I just can't my head around why people would react to this video like that. They must be trolls employed by BP, or something.

Good on you for getting stuck in. :fistbump: They need to be voted down and flagged as spam, too.

[Duppers]

21. Go to the youtube view of this and help out

The rethugs are out in force on it.

Vote 'em down & comment.

[KurtNYC]

26. I guess I have a different perspective -- cop never threatened her

did not call her names, did not touch her, did not say he would arrest her, and answered her questions even as she interrupted him.

Meanwhile she lied to him, failed to comply, and asked accusing questions.

[trumad]

28. Ah bullshit

the cop was bullying her from the start for no reason at all. She wasn't breaking the law and she did nothing to warrant that cop from even approaching her.

[Supply Side Jesus]

160. Would you prefer he approached on bended knee?

:crazy: :silly:

[Yeahyeah]

183. He's busy bending his knee to British Petroleum.

[chervilant]

30. Really, Kurt???

That huge man used his physical bulk to intimidate her, and to move her away from the event she was attempting to film. His statements were confrontational, at the very least. Threats do not have to be overtly stated. Threats can be exactly what this hulking cop did to dissuade her filming this event.

[KurtNYC]

47. he asked her to move further back and she kept taping

he didn't stop her from taping. Never put his hand over the lens or any of that.

Cops have guns and sticks (and sometimes tazers and flashlights) -- and all of that is intimidating. He talks to her a very calm voice. She seems more annoyed than frightened. She argues with him and lies to him.

[Subdivisions]

51. He had NO GODDAMNED BUSINESS even approaching her! n/t

[KurtNYC]

55. Except for the medical emergency, the privacy of the victim,

the fact that he is paid to protect people (including the victim) and 230 years of legal precedent, you're right.

[fascisthunter]

88. exactly how was she endangering the victim?

[jberryhill]

163. He's an American citizen, he can talk to whomever he wants

A cop has no right to approach someone and talk to them?

Really?

[LiberalFighter]

151. Are you serious? The cop lied to her. And how did she lie to him?

Are you one of those that think law enforcement should take their orders from corporate scumbags instead of treating all the citizens fair and impartially?

[sabrina 1]

32. He couldn't threaten her with arrest since she DID comply with

his requests to move further away from the ambulances AND he knew he was being filmed. He told her it is perfectly alright for the American people NOT to get the truth about what is happening in their own country. He did NOT answer her questions, he refused to tell her why the ambulances were there.

When she asked to speak to his superviser, he finally left. Who is his superviser? BP? Or does he work for the American people who pay his salary?

Do you know why the ambulances were there? Did he answer that question? He argued with her and told her she had no right to be there, when in fact she did. Since when do American citizens not have a right to ask questions of the people they are paying to protect them?

Your take is extremely flawed. And this is not the only person who has experienced what she experienced. The press is being kept away from the scene, from speaking to the clean-up crews that are bussed in and then leave after the President visits, from speaking to those who have become ill from working there, from going out on boats to look at the damage to this country.

This is the U.S. BP has already caused the deaths of 11 American citizens. Your take is very much in the minority. For once the MSM has actually reported on the cover-up attempts by BP with the help of U.S. law enforcement agencies.

[KurtNYC]

54. She didn't seem too interested in the truth when she told him she

was a tourist. She did not identify herself as media or a journalist -- she said "tourist." There is someone in every police department who handles questions from the media and the rest of the cops direct media questions to them. That is part of their job.

Yes his salary is paid by tax dollars including those of the person who was in the ambulance. Where is their right to privacy now? Their medical emergency has been videotaped and logo'd by this woman for her website. She doesn't seem concerned with their health or their privacy.

[Subdivisions]

56. WTF are you talking about? That cop had no business with this woman

until the BP guy sicced him on her. She was on a public beach, not BP's private property.

[KurtNYC]

63. Margret says it is BP guy telling the officer what to do but how does

she know? and what evidence is there for that? In the whole 9 mins, that is the key thing. Someone in a black truck says something to the big cop. Margret says it is BP in the truck and you buy that but what evidence is presented in this video?

If someone needs medical assistance in a public place do they lose their right to privacy? Should EMTs and others in public safety delay aid while they answer questions from every "tourist"? I hope not.

[Subdivisions]

69. I'm sorry you feel that way. And I won't waste my time with anyone who

supports a police state and police state tactics. So, I'm putting you on ignore in an effort to maintain my blood pressure.

[KurtNYC]

79. What if the person in the ambulance is having a miscarriage???

Do they deserve some care and privacy?

It seems that if people disagree with you, you call them names, put words in their mouths and then put them on ignore.

[Supply Side Jesus]

158. too hell with their privacy!!

I GOTS TO GET A MILLION HITS ON YOU TUBE!!!!!!!!!!

[Yeahyeah]

184. British Petroleum's privacy.Drink some oil.You know you love it.

[Supply Side Jesus]

198. So you have a right to that man's health information

merely because he, possibly, works for BP? Oh, but why bother having an discussion about it when you can directly resort to insults.
stay classy.

[Name removed]

203. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sabrina 1]

59. I see, you are more concerned about BP rights than

the rights of the American people. She was invesigating a story that is of interest to the general public and their welfare. She did NOT ask for the identity of the person or persons who were in the ambulance.

She photographed an ambulance, do you see a photo of anyone in the ambulance? Their ID?

Our right to know whether or not Americans are being harmed by BP supercedes THEIR right to prevent even a regular citizen, never mind the press, from asking questions and from getting truthful answers.

Your defense of this thug, who seems to have forgotten who is paying his salary, unless he was just dressed like a civilian PO and is actually working for BP, is disturbing to say the least. I hope you are never in any position that would involve the safety and wellbeing of the American people as opposed to the interests of a corporation.

[KurtNYC]

65. Who, if anyone, in that video works for BP? I certainly don't know

I have said nothing about BP. Your personal attack is unwarranted.

I have been hassled by cops. I have been threatened (overtly btw). This cop was calm, didn't touch her and didn't threaten her. I think that characterizing what happens in this video as bullying does a disservice to legitimate cases of police brutality and abuse.

And I think that characterizing the videotapers as any kind of journalists is extremely generous.

[sabrina 1]

68. She is a citizen journalist. A major tragedy affecting the lives

of millions of Americans and the environment has occurred. He was determined to prevent her from getting any information about why there were ambulances at the scene. Why? If the ambulance had nothing to do with the tragedy in the Gulf, he could have said so. Instead he told her that lying to the public is not relevant.

If you have been hassled by cops you should have filed a complaint. Citizens are not supposed to be hassled, unless they are doing something wrong. What would have happened if she had refused to back away? She complied with his orders as she pointed out.

Why have law enforcement agencies been preventing the MSM from getting answers to their questions? This is not the only incident of law enforcement, local police, the NG eg, preventing journalists like Anderson Cooper from doing their job. You might have a point if it was.

'who was working for BP'? The question is 'who was working for the American people'. That is the growing question about the cover-ups that have been revealed. I thought our law enforcement agencies work for the American people. Can you explain why they are helping to cover up for BP?

This is still a free country and we have a free press. No law enforcement agency has a right to stop them from doing their job. Not unless the laws have changed.

[KurtNYC]

73. so where did I argue for BP's rights ?

you had some pretty strong words for me up thread (bc of something you imagined that I wrote) and now you want to change the question. So much for accountability.

[sabrina 1]

75. Where have I changed the subject? The subject is

law enforcement agencies covering up for BP. By siding with those who are doing that, you are 'arguing for BP'.

[KurtNYC]

81. We don't know who is in the ambulance or why but they have a

right not to have their medical issue video taped and posted on the internet. I am arguing for decency and civil behavior.

[sabrina 1]

102. When someone is injured in a public place, the press can and

often does, publish the cause of the injuries and often the names, including the addresses of the injured parties. They do this without consulting family members. This I know for a fact since it happened to our family. Often the information is given to the press by the Police. Read accident reports or see them on the news and check how often anyone has been able to sue because their privacy rights have been invaded.

Worse than that, if someone is fatally injured on a public road, an autopsy will be performed over any objections by the family. This too happened to us and we were unable to stop it. The reason for this gross invasion of privacy regarding autopsies, is because of laws passed in favor of Insurance Corps. They do this to try to find out if they can diminish damages by finding drug or alcohol in the victim's system. Ask about 4th or 5th Amendment rights regarding this, and you will be told 'the dead have no rights'.

There is no regard for privacy when an injury occurs on public property. There IS recourse under certain circumstances, but you can be sure the press is aware of the boundaries and generally does not cross them.

You are arguing for rights that do not exist especially when the public interest supercedes the privacy of the individual.

Having said that, this woman did not go anywhere close to what the press is free to do. She asked questions. If this was an injury NOT sustained in a public place, such as cleaning up the Gulf Oil spill, all the cop had to do was to say 'this is a private matter'. He did not say that, he said they could lie, and 'so what'!

Here are some rules on when a person can claim their privacy rights have been invaded:

Does the average member of the public have any privacy rights?

Yes. The average member of the public is entitled to privacy protections, although the strength of those protections will vary depending upon the particular factual circumstances.

Generally, there are four different actions that an injured plaintiff can allege to recover for an unlawful invasion of his privacy. The first concerns the unlawful appropriation of another's image. The plaintiff could make this claim, for example, if the defendant, uses plaintiff's picture in a commercial or advertisement without permission.

The second type of wrongful invasion of privacy is in the nature of intrusion. If the plaintiff can prove that the defendant intruded into his or her solitude, seclusion or private life in a manner that would be considered highly offensive to a reasonable person, the plaintiff is entitled to recover damages from the defendant. The issue of what actions are considered highly offensive depends greatly upon the factual circumstances under examination.

The third type of a privacy claim is the public disclosure of private facts. This cause of action requires that facts having no link to a legitimate public concern be disseminated by the defendant resulting in embarrassment, humiliation or offense to the plaintiff. Whether the public has a legitimate concern in otherwise private facts about the plaintiff is always dependent upon the particular circumstances.

A fourth type of privacy right is the right to be free from being placed in a false light in the public eye. This cause of action is very similar to a defamation action. In short, the plaintiff alleges that a communication about the plaintiff was made by defendant, it is untrue, and it was made to the public. The main difference between this cause of action and defamation is that for the invasion of privacy tort, the communication need not be defamatory, it need only be false and highly offensive to a reasonable person.

For very personal reasons, I wish that we had had a right to what was published in the newspapers after the death of our family member, or to anything being published at all, but we did not. Worse to me was learning that our family had no say in whether or not an autopsy can be performed on an accident victim.

Trumping privacy we are told, is what is in the public's interest. This situation clearly allows the press to publish facts about clean-up crews being sick from what they are being exposed to. That is most definitely in the public's interest as lack of information could cause injury to anyone volunteering to help. Covering up this information is criminal in itself, imo and I hope our law enforcement agencies start understanding who they are working for. To save the lives of Americans, or to help BP's PR? It's not a difficult choice.

Edited to say I am sorry if I misunderstood your reasons, which you have now explained and which are honorable imo. However, even though I wish we, my family, had had such rights, I also understand the public's right to information that affects the common good. I still object to the autopsy without permission though since that is for the benefit of insurance corps, not the public good.

[KurtNYC]

141. That is terrible about the autopsy

Grief and loss are hard enough without having to deal with an audience. I remember when my friend was killed while working for a major ski resort and I happened to see his final time card -- there was a big red slash across it and in writing "Dead - Do Not Pay." It was very disturbing to see a friend's life reduced to a few dollars.

I knew I ran a good chance of being misunderstood when I responded to this thread. Thanks for hearing me out.

[sabrina 1]

147. No problem, To be honest, I admire your wanting to protect

the victims. And yes, the autopsy was very upsetting to our family. Sorry about your friend also, it is a real wake-up call to see how a person that you love is reduced to just dollars and cents.

[jberryhill]

143. Wouldn't it be simpler to set up at the emergency room

...of a public hospital and film the patients when they come in?

[sabrina 1]

149. I think the police generally provide the information of an

accident to the press. Unless the family has agreed to talk to the press, it's usually just the name, age and I think, the address of the victim and where the accident happened plus names etc. of others involved.

If I had to do it over again, I would talk to the press as it is the only opportunity the family has of presenting their loved one as a human being rather than just a statistic. For obvious reason, I would not want the press to be able to photograph the victim as they are taken to the ER. There was a photo of my family member on a stretcher being lifted into a helicopter. When we saw that, it's difficult to describe how upsetting it was.

Having said all that, if the normal procedures were to be followed in this case, the police would be supplying the information to the press as they always do, NOT preventing the press from reporting it.

[JDPriestly]

176. An accident is news. Accidents can be prevented.

Knowing how an accident occurred, who was involved, why the accident occurred, those details can help people learn from the accident.

I am sorry sabrina 1 that your family suffered as a result of the publication of personal details of a loved one. Actually, publishing the name, etc. is not always so important. Publishing information about what happened is very important.

If a crime occurs, the name of the victim may need to be published after a certain point. The police releases the information in the hope that they will receive assistance in solving the crime and in preventing future similar crimes.

That is also the case with accidents -- to prevent future accidents and to find out what really happened. Accident and crime reports are a public service.

[sabrina 1]

180. Thank you, JDPriestly.

We did understand the reporting of the accident. It was the autopsy over which we had no control that was so upsetting.

I only mentioned this because I agree with what you said, that accidents are news and the press does have a right to report them. I also understand KurtNYC's point, wanting to protect the victims. I was just pointing out to him that the press does have an obligation to report the news, even if sometimes it is not what the victims would prefer. The press does try to reach the victim's family, but if they cannot, they simply use the information given to them by the police.

This cop in the video was very wrong, imo, according to normal police practice, which is to give the press information on accidents, if the patients in the ambulance were injured while helping with the clean-up. That is news.

[JDPriestly]

175. The police could have explained what was going on -- what kind

of medical emergency was taking place. They could have done it courteously. They could have explained in great detail without naming the person who was having the medical emergency.

Rapes are reported every day. The victim's name is not released, but the fact of the rape is released. Reporters, the American people, have the right to know what is going on down in the Gulf.

We have the right to assume the worst -- that the injured person was the victim of something caused by BP and the spill -- unless we are told the honest truth that the cause was other than BP and the spill. The vague statement that there was a medical emergency was insufficient. It was a violation not just of the reporter's rights but of yours and mine.

[JDPriestly]

174. Kurt, have you heard about the frog that was placed in water?

The frog was very happy.

The water was slowly heated. The frog remained very happy. It did not notice that it was dying, that it was being killed by the slow heat in which it was being cooked.

That's what is happening in the US.

First there was Guantanamo.

Then there was torture.

Now the press is being repressed, controlled, not just prevented from reporting the truth, but prevented from learning the truth.

If you accept this, you are accepting the death of your own freedom.

I do not live anywhere near Louisiana. All I can do is speak out here on DU. Please support everyone who is speaking out against the violation of the Bill of Rights. Speak out and support freedom of the press, freedom to learn the truth.

We are all being boiled alive.

[niyad]

209. thank you--the frog analogy is very much spot on

[BetterThanNoSN]

78. NO, he didn't try to intimidate her?

Q: What law am i breaking? A: You aren't doing what i told you to do.

You may be right, maybe he wasn't with BP, maybe he's with Xe!

[fascisthunter]

99. thank you

it's pretty simple really

[JDPriestly]

173. Journalists perform a civic duty. They are known as "the third estate."

They should let people with press credentials do what they want.

What is going on down there is no different than what goes on in totalitarian states. It's wrong.

[fascisthunter]

87. Indeed... there is no viable argument against our rights as citizens

the woman did nothing but excersise her rights and by doing so, she exposed today's attitude towards those rights.

[fascisthunter]

89. he spoke no truth... and she doesn't need to identify herself as a journalist or part of the media

but you know that already.

[LiberalFighter]

153. How was anyone's privacy invaded? There was absolutely no video showing the person being treated.

All that showed were EM people doing something inside the vehicle.

[JDPriestly]

172. Had no one interfered with her access to what was going on,

she would not have felt moved to lie.

As for privacy, reporters often learn private things. That is a part of their job. They don't print everything they know. A responsible reporter finds out everything that he or she can, but uses judgment to print only what is of genuine interest to readers. That is how it works.

[Raineyb]

35. He invaded her space with the bulk of his body. Do you think he wouldn't

have arrested her if she'd stood her ground and NOT backed away?

WTF is wrong with you?

[Voice for Peace]

45. agree. I am never one to defend coverups of any kind

but the cop was not bullying and my impression is that she was looking for confrontation. Hiding the illness and injuries being caused is simply wrong. But she's not doing any favors for increasing transparency. If I were the injured party I wouldn't particularly appreciate gawkers with video.

[Subdivisions]

52. She was NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG! People like you are the

reason they get away with this shit!

[KurtNYC]

57. "People like you..." So who is bullying now?

The irony of this thread is that anyone who mildly disagrees with the headline of this video is subjected to bullying by some who claim to oppose bullying.

Police can be aggressive and can use excessive force and there are videos out there to prove that but THIS video isn't one of them.

[Voice for Peace]

60. this is the irony of politics in general and this forum in particular

(though I'm sure it's just as bad or worse elsewhere.)

We clamor for peace and justice, but attack one another without good cause. The world isn't going to change until people start examining their own ignorance and making peace inside themselves.

There are plenty of good occasions for outrage at what BP is doing. But in this case the outrage is being manufactured by the woman in the video, and now magnified by the posters here.

Something there is in human beings that loves to hate and blame. It's in everyone, and it's in me too. That thing is the real enemy.

[Raineyb]

121. I think making excuses for a fat ass cop pushing himself into a much smaller woman

in order to keep her from filming in direct opposition to his orders (as he quickly ran off as soon as they threatened to call his supervisor) is a GOOD cause to attack someone.

It is the acceptance of this kind of bullshit that allows the powers that be to turn against we the people in the first place.

If the woman with the camera had not backed up how long do you think it would have taken that cop to (ab)use his authority to arrest her for assaulting an officer? That cop knew exactly what he was doing and it damn sure was bullying.

[Voice for Peace]

127. I just disagree with people's perceptions here that the cop was bullying. We are seeing different

things in the same video. It seems like everybody here is jumping on a bandwagon of blaming the cop, and making huge assumptions. She wasn't providing any service to anybody. It's not breaking news that people are getting sick.

[niyad]

136. just as a matter of curiousity, what is your size? maybe a 6'4" person isn't physically

intimidating to you--but to a 4'something person, that one certainly is (although I have a very handy way of dealing with obnoxious people that size)

you claim that people are jumping all over you for your opinion, overlooking the fact that, on a discussion board such as this, people will express their opinions, AND, often, get called on them. so you are challenging people for doing exactly what you are doing.

[Voice for Peace]

137. "you claim that..."

um... no I don't.

I've been intimidated, and I've seen intimidation. Didn't see it in this video.

[niyad]

169. and I asked your size, that you think a 6'4" person isn't intimidating to a 4'11 person

you say you have been intimidated, but you don't see intimidation in the disparity of these two people? I find that very interesting indeed.

[Voice for Peace]

185. I know a happily married couple, and friends, with such size disparity & there's no intimidation.

Watch the video again. The zooming in of the camera makes it appear that he comes in closer to her than he actually does (which you can see when it zooms back.) He is polite and reasonable with her. She's the one who is being pugnacious.

I have personally been through actual police intimidation and abuse. It's not what's happening in this video! The woman makes this all about herself and how traumatized she is. I think it's kind of ridiculous.

I'm as upset as everybody else by what's going on with BP security & coverup. But this video is simply not an authentic example of it.

[niyad]

196. are you actually that clueless? a "happily married couple" has a size disparity, and there is no

intimidation--so friggin' what???? what in the name of sanity does that couple have to do with a huge police officer and a short woman? NOTHING, NOT A DAMNED THING.

it is obvious that you will twist whatever necessary in your mind to defend this cop--go right ahead. most of us can figure it out for ourselves.

[Voice for Peace]

205. you asked about my size, as if the size disparity itself was evidence of bullying.

You insult me for no good reason. You are the one who is twisting; please take a look at yourself.

Edit to add:

I do suggest you watch it again, if you honestly have an open mind. If you just want to prove you are right, by making me wrong, that's something else.

[hatrack]

70. Lick that boot - tasty, isn't it?

Welcome to ignore.

[Subdivisions]

72. Hi, hatrack! Good to see you. =) Yea, I had to put the

guy on ignore too. Reminds me of those authoritarians vadawg and that other one that got banned. They were always defending the police state and their tactics.

[snort]

152. funny

[Voice for Peace]

58. and wars begin because of attitudes like yours. nt

[fascisthunter]

93. LOL.... what "wars" are started by concerned citizens

you sound very Orwellian... is up down today? You have no argument at all. You are defending the indefensible...

[Voice for Peace]

126. When one person insults another for no good reason, and with intention

it is fueled by the same ugliness that is the root cause of all war. If we don't stop the ugliness within ourselves, we're perpetuating and propagating it. That, more than political activism for good causes, becomes our contribution to humankind. Maybe this is too subtle a subject for a lot of people. Most everyone is accustomed to assigning blame to others for everything.

[Subdivisions]

109. LOLZ!!! I'm starting a war! Yayyyyyy! n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

83. Actually, he did ...

Just as she had rights to make this video, which I think makes more of a point that she was intimidated than the point of her surveying the area.

Look, the video is nice in terms of editing and music, but substance is sort of lame. I'm not saying that she shouldn't have concern for what is going on, I'm just noting after seeing many good examples of reporting what is going on, that this one looked like the purpose became "look how we're intimidated". Why wasn't there a quest to look further than few seconds of the shore. Why wasn't there an interest in interviewing the workers? Now, that's an issue I'm more interested in. If someone has had a medical emergency, I'm not interested in it becoming about that episode of care, which is protected to be private under federal law.

Frankly, I stayed away from making any comment when I saw this last night on DU's home page, but a day later, it's still there, I'm weighing in with my observation as a reality check. What is our real interest here, folks?

In the end, the cop didn't bully her and she didn't force her way into a medical emergency that would have no business being filmed anyway.

Now, do a video we can have a real conversation about.

[BetterThanNoSN]

80. they didn't want filming?

how do you know that? i bet that woman KBR contractor held in a shipping container for days wished she was filmed.

[JDPriestly]

177. If BP and the Coast Guard and police generally held press conferences

and disseminated honest information about what is going on down there, people like this woman would not get much attention.

The problem is not what the woman is doing. The problem is what BP and various government agencies are doing. They are hiding facts that people need to know.

The precise identity of the person in the ambulance was not what people want to know.

[Voice for Peace]

186. agree. and I don't think there is any good defense for lack of honesty.

At the same time, people like this woman can easily become a problem when there are genuine safety issues. I'm afraid even press conferences wouldn't be helpful, because who these days can be trusted to be fully honest?

There's a phenomenon that probably has a name (and I don't know what it is) -- but for example, your friend is dying of cancer -- and you make it all about yourself, about how much you are suffering because your friend is dying. That's what this lady reminds me of. I think she's a genuinely traumatized person probably with some ptsd issues. But it's not the cop who's causing it.

[Supply Side Jesus]

157. +1

:thumbsup:

[Joanne98]

27. Good for her we need more amateur video!

[rhett o rick]

29. During the Bush era I understood who our enemy was. Now I am lost. nm

[Lorien]

39. The enemy never Changed

it just got a re-branding.

[rhett o rick]

76. There are many brands. I fell for the Demo's vs. Repub's break down which

is misleading and counterproductive. Just because the Demo's took control doesnt mean we are on the right track. We now live in a thinly disguised oligarchy and Congress and the Pres are doing little to change that. I could be outraged at GW Bush's Constitutional violations, but am having a hard time continuing the outrage as Pres Obama continues the violations. The oil spill and subsequent response is proof that CorpAmeria now controls the country. Or maybe it is CorpWorld.

[defendandprotect]

40. Great job by these women . . . love the ending!!

And -- what does the ending mean?

Is this officer more in the employ of BP now than the public?

Police officers are allegedly "public servants" -- remember those days!

Looks more like this guy is working for BP -- and maybe doesn't want that

confrimed to his superiors?

[droidamus2]

49. A good idea

These ladies did this the right way. Don't take just one camera with one cameraperson. Take two or three so that if they go after one of you the others can film what happens. Especially if each camera is a little further away from the action so if things turn bad (NO! cops wouldn't taser or beat on people would they?) the ones further away can just back out and keep their record of what happened.

[Uncle Joe]

50. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Subdivisions.:thumbsup:

[Subdivisions]

53. You're very welcome and thanks to you too for the K&R, Unca Joe! =o) n/t

[jimlup]

61. The Bill of Rights seems to have been vacated on the Gulf

This is not surprising but of concern. I'm concerned that the administration appears not to be countering BP's attempts to control information.

[Fredfon]

64. SHE WAS DOING NOTHING ILLEGAL!!!!

Perhaps you could argue that videotaping the injured person might have been of poor taste. But it was in NO way illegal. She was not impeding ANYTHING or ANYONE!
The officer really had no reason to contact her at all, and he know's it.
As a bully he's really not used to being stood up to, and I'm sure it absolutely tore him up inside to simply walk away. Probably would have been a different story if he second camera was not there.

[droidamus2]

71. What he is probably used to

He is used to dealing with guys that tend to get angry and confrontational when told what to do. Which then gives him the chance to rough them up and put them jail for 'causing a public disturbance' or 'failure to comply' or some other trumped up charge.

[asdjrocky]

66. That 4'1'' woman has a bigger package than Cooper. nt

[smiley]

67. That cop was a joke

no law was being broken. Therefore he had no right to harass this woman. Anyone been able to find out the name of the cop? We should let him know his fat ass is all over the internet.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

74. This is fucking bullshit

I do not like or trust the American police and have mentioned this a lot here. BUT this woman had NO business trying to film someone sick/hurt in an ambulance. My God! I have been taken away twice in ambulances after two different accidents and I would be horrified at the thought of someone video taping me and putting it on the internet!!!!!!!!!!!

What if this woman in the ambulance was a rape victim or was having a miscarriage. Use your common sense people. This little nosey bully didn't know who were BP workers and who was't.

There's a time to be mad at the police and this isn't one of them! Settle down because you look foolish!

[Subdivisions]

82. You're the one that looks foolish because this woman was bullied by a cop

despite the fact that SHE DID NOTHING ILLEGAL. It is not illegal to film in public. Now, you may take the tact that she was invading the privacy of the idividual if that's how you feel and that's ok. But, if you look real, REAL, close, you might notice that chances are whoever was in that ambulance was injured as a result of BP's presense on that fucking beach and as a result of BP's gross negligence in the Gulf of Mexico. THAT MAKES THIS WOMAN'S ACTION JUSTIFIABLE! Somebody HAS TO REPORT on the health of those working to clean up BP's mess because BP sure the hell isn't being upfront about it. If there's a clean-up worker in that ambulance convulsing from the poisons pumped onto that beach by BP, I WANT TO FUCKING KNOW ABOUT IT! She never attempted to stick that camera inside that ambulance, so your argument that she was invading the privacy of the person inside falls flat.

The bottom line with you is, you seem to be supporting the BP police state. That makes YOU look foolish.

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fascisthunter]

86. so you decided to post a personal attack... why?

hoping the thread gets locked? How will your post contribute to the thread? If you wanna raise doubt, go ahead but back it up or you will look foolish.

[MrMickeysMom]

92. Nope... just wondering...

Who in the world would go to all the trouble to write things like you have. What you are writing is ridiculously juvenile.

I'd correct you in observing your own responses carry a far greater risk of getting this thread locked. Your call... Have a nice day.

[fascisthunter]

94. What exactly is your point on this thread besides name calling?

[MrMickeysMom]

96. Not doing that, sub...

Come on... read up-thread.

[Subdivisions]

107. That's not me. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

131. Oops - sorry

[Subdivisions]

91. Oh, and we have been such good friends here on DU. I guess you've decided

I'm not worth being friendly to. That's ok. I don't understand such a vicious attack, but it's ok.

Is that me in the election poster? Well, ok, yes it is. :shrug:

[MrMickeysMom]

95. WHY?

You've posted some things that I agree with, but why, why, why are you getting so angry over this video?

Can we agree that we are both unbelievably angry over BP and their Deep Water Horizon bullshit? Yes, I think we can.

Now, take a good look at this video. It is a "me, too", on the intimidation process.

I wish you might start a thread where you and I can talk about the National Response Center, which is the number you get when contacting your local Coast Guard. Talk about someone covering the bullshit of BP.

Let's talk about that one. I don't want to be unfriendly to you, Sub... honestly.

[Subdivisions]

97. Well, accusing me of being a 12 year old is not a good indication of your

desire to be civil. I'm sorry you don't see this BP police state as I do. But I would hardly disrespect you so.

[MrMickeysMom]

128. Wrong party to think BP police state...

The real BP police state in my NOT so humble POV is the US Coast Guard, not this corpulent officer.

It's not disrespect I'm directing (sorry if I came off that way).

Ask me about our Glorious Master Race and the US Coast Guard's protection of these fascists.

[Subdivisions]

132. You know, I'd be very interested in any OP you craft on the USCG's part in all of this. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

168. From July 5th, when I was hopping mad about them...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=481812&mesg_id=482047

[Boudica the Lyoness]

159. NO

You have no right to know what is wrong with the woman in the ambulance.

Look closely; Do you see tourists on the beach? I do. My bullshit radar went off when she was yapping about ONLY clean up workers on the beach, yet there are people sunbathing. Starting at 0:50 you can see them. There is no evidence that the woman in on the stretcher wasn't one of the beach goers who ran into a spot of bother, had a heart attack, raped or miscarried etc. This nosey busy body filmed the woman who was in need of medical care and that pisses me off. Given the chance she would have stuck the fucking camera in the ambulance and filmed the woman who was in need of medical attention...compromising her privacy by filming her nudity or distress for all we know. The police stopped her from doing that. To prove my point this awful little bully films the patient starting at 7:22!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM ANGRY ABOUT THAT!

I find this video childishly over dramatic and silly. Save your shaking for bigger things.

Bottom line is she did invaded some ones privacy by filming them and putting it on the internet...look at 7:21. This nosey woman makes us all look foolish and it shouldn't matter that she's female, white and short.

Your lack of good reasoning skills and judgement is revealed when you end up by calling me, of all people, a supporter of the BP police state. Shame on you. I think you should say sorry for that!
:spank:

[Agent William]

171. Agreed

Agreed

[MrMickeysMom]

84. Agreed

You weren't as kind as I was, but I agree entirely with what you said.

[Supply Side Jesus]

156. +1

:thumbsup:

[chervilant]

190. hmm...

Prone to hyperbole much?

Aside from the fact that your vulgar blanket dismissal of this video clip is both arrogant and condescending, you veer into fantasyland when you purportedly identify the gender of the person in the ambulance (how do you know that the person in the ambulance is a woman?). Then, you throw in a hot button topic with your "...this woman in the ambulance was a rape victim or was having a miscarriage" question (so, just curious, which of the BP clean-up crew would you id as a rapist?).

Then, you close with two assertions that reek of projection... Wonder who, exactly, is looking foolish here?

FWIW, this videographer was looking for information about BP, in spite of BP's consistent efforts to block media coverage. I don't think it's a quantum leap to interpret the guy in black as having asked the police officer to 'dissuade' the videographer.

The verbal exchange between the cop and the videographer is not the key issue here, nor is his use of his bulk and authority to back her away from the scene of the emergency (you might want to look at the literature on bullying to see why some of us identify the cop's actions as 'bullying').

The key issue is that BP is blocking media coverage of the spill AND the clean-up efforts. The key issue here is that some people are alleging that BP won't provide safety equipment OR even allow clean-up crews to use safety equipment. The key issue here is that BP has been lying from the very beginning, and our government (and, sadly, some of our citizens herein above) seems to be complicit in the cover-up AND the dissembling.

ANYONE who has the gonads to go up against BP--as did this wee videographer--has my respect and my full support. Kudos to the women who got this clip, and a big thanks to the person who posted it.

[JDPriestly]

90. These facts trouble me:

1) The police officer seemed to be following orders from BP representatives on the scene.
2) The police officer walked away when the reporter/photographer suggested that she would call the police officer's superior officer.

Now, this is just a theory. Someone would have to do some research to find out whether it might be even a real possibility.

The above facts suggest to me either that the police officer on the scene may not have been fol,lowing official police policy or that the entire police department there is not following official police policy.

Assuming for the sake of argument that I am right, then why would a police officer or a police department risk lawsuits and other problems just to prevent someone from taking pictures? Is it possible that money is exchanging hands at some level? Are the authorities being "bought off," so to speak in one way or another, at one level or another?

Did Obama give BP carte blanche in exchange for the $20 billion compensation fund? If so, isn't that sort of a bribe? Obama needs to explain this. Citizens have the right to know under the Constitution. I was out of town for a while. Did Obama suspend the right to free speech in the Gulf area for some reason? Is this official? And if so, what, if anything did he get for doing that?

Just theories. I am not making any accusations. I don't have enough information to do that. This conduct is shameful. There seems to be extreme dishonesty from the highest to the lowest levels in the handling of the BP Gulf spill. Obama needs to understand that he will pay a political price if he is perceived as being dishonest, or if he is perceived as concealing the truth from the public.

[fascisthunter]

98. I think you raise great questions

I too am leaning in the direction you listed... I want answers.

[Subdivisions]

103. I think there's a real possibility that this particular cop may be

taking a little side money (unbeknownst to the department or else he wouldn't have backed down so fast when she wanted to speak to his supervisor) in order to be a BP bully with a badge.

[fascisthunter]

104. I thought it was interesting that when asked to speak to a "supervisor"

he just turned away... he knows she has every right to do what she was doing.

[Subdivisions]

106. That's right. And yet you have people in this thread bowing down to the BP police state! n/t

[fascisthunter]

112. honestly...

ignore them. This thread will get locked and I wondering if that was the whole reason for so much vitriol. It's undeserved and a bit strange.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

214. I'm sure you're referring to me

I will tell you again;

I do not trust the police in the US and I'm as far as left as you can get. What BP has done is a great crime to all living things and our planet. I don't think they should be ever trusted to drill for oil again because the cost is too great when they fuck up.

Can't you try to understand why some us are outraged at this video? The nosey little bully doing the filming, video taped a woman on a stretcher in need of medical help and put the image of her distress on the internet! What a hateful thing to do while all the time screeching that just because she was an American citizen she had the right to know this poor woman's ailment. Wow, talk about disrespecting women!!

And so you conclude that I am bowing down to a BP police state just because I object to some loud mouth bully shouting about she has the right to film a woman who for all she knew was either sick, injured, raped, in premature labor etc.

This bully behind the camera says the BEACH IS DESERTED when you clearly see sun bathers starting at 0:50 on the video. YOU claim she never filmed the patient when the female patient can clearly be seen at 7:22! Horrible.

[Name removed]

101. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Subdivisions]

105. Pure, unadulterated bullshit. n/t

[fascisthunter]

108. You are calling posters and this lady a nut job

but you don't have a very good argument or reason to claim so. I see a concerned citizen trying to get info. In no way was she even close enough to harm the person in the ambulance. I watched the video, yet you and a couple others who are also rudely insulting DUers keep repeating that same talking point.

[Subdivisions]

110. But even to some people here, WE:'RE NOT CITIZENS! We don't have

the right to know the truth! We don't have the right to film in public! We don't have the right to know if that was a sick BP clean-up worker being tended to in that ambulance! We don't dare challenge authoritarian bullies bent on violating our right to free speech and freedom of the press!

[Courtesy Flush]

115. Ding ding ding!!! This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

DUers never used to talk like teabaggers. Honestly, what has happened here?

[Subdivisions]

118. So now in order to believe in the Bill of Rights you must exclusively

belong to the teabaggers?

You're absolutely correct: What has happened here?

[Courtesy Flush]

119. What rights were violated?

She wasn't arrested, or even told to leave. The cop told her to keep back. That is completely appropriate. Filming the incident was also appropriate, and I support her right to do so, and the cop didn't tell her not to.

[Courtesy Flush]

113. That's bullshit

What if everybody with a camera and a YouTube account started crowding emergency personnel? Please explain what authority she had to demand answers from them.

I work for CPS. If I were trying to investigate a family, and some wannabe hero started sticking a camera in my face, demanding answers, I'd call the cops.

[fascisthunter]

114. she wasn't in their face... why did you just exagerate?

But the cop, he was in her face, wasn't he?

[Courtesy Flush]

116. I'd reply, but you keep editing your post

Decide on one statement and I'll address it.

[Subdivisions]

117. She didn't crowd the paramedics any more than any other reporter ever has. She

crowded the goddamned BP police state THUGS.

[Raineyb]

124. Crowding? Did you see how far away she was from the ambulance?

She wasn't on top of them, she was quite some distance away. So now crowding is being within zoom lens distance from the area in question?

WTF did people who claim to be progressives start speaking Newspeak?

[niyad]

139. interesting--if you work for cps, need I remind you that you are a PUBLIC SERVANT--and that,

therefore, the public is your boss? what part of that gives you a problem? somebody wants to know what you are doing, you are going to call the cops? really? on what grounds?

[Courtesy Flush]

164. It doesn't work that way.

I don't take my orders from the public, nor can I allow them to interfere with my job.

[niyad]

170. really? what part of YOU ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT do you not get?

the PUBLIC pays your salary. if I have to use the government pages of the directory to call your office, you are a PUBLIC SERVANT. I don't care who you think you take your orders from, ultimately, you are a PUBLIC SERVANT. sorry you seem to have so much trouble with the concept.

[KurtNYC]

191. Wait, don't you believe that children in protective custody have a right

to some privacy?

CPS = Child Protective Services

[niyad]

197. I know what cps stands for, so kindly don't try that snark on me, please.

children deserve privacy, but a public servant is a slightly different matter. WE PAY THEIR DAMNED salaries, they are our employees. that includes cops. this is a fact most of them would like us to forget.

[KurtNYC]

202. Well if you want to ask someone in CPS what they are working on

and you want specifics, on par with "who is in the ambulance?" then you seem to be arguing for public disclosure of very personal matters. Public employees have specific jobs to do and you don't get to change their job descriptions.

Btw:
- The crude oil flowing from the Deepwater spill is estimated to be the equivalent of one additional Exxon Veldez spill every week.

- Corexit contains kerosene.

- The Deepwater Horizon rig was flying a flag of convience, the Marshall Islands.

- On April 20, 2010 at 7am BP cancelled a cement bond log test on the Deepwater rig. The test would have cost $128,000. At 9:45pm the rig exploded.

[niyad]

207. first of all, I didn't indicate that I ask for specifics, was simply pointing out that this person

is,in fact, A PUBLIC SERVANT whose salary we pay. what part of that did you not understand?

second of all, I know what is going on in the gulf, and most certainly do not need a precis from you on that subject. it's a nice, insulting try, but extremely obvious.

I want to thank you for your comments though (think bill engvahl)

[emald]

111. So who is this fat fuck that doesn't understand what an American is?

This BP cop needs to be re-educated in American justice. He obviously is not abiding by the constitution. He obviously sees American citizens as his enemy. Time to retire his fat ass and man, I wish I was down there, because I would do it now. This is what is wrong with our country. I AM MAD NOW.

[MrMickeysMom]

129. Right...

:eyes:

[CoffeeCat]

120. Ultimately, he knew he had no right!!!!!

When she threatened to call his boss, he backed down. Unfrickinbelievable!!!

They know they have no damn business demanding that American citizens leave public
property when they are doing nothing wrong. But they will bully you, intimidate
you and use their authority to threaten you into complying. Complying when you
don't have to!!!!

O...........M.........G!!!!

I say we ALL go down there with our cameras!

[Courtesy Flush]

122. You must not deal with cops very much

Threatening to call a cop's superiors is no threat. They know the force will back them, even when they are wrong. Haven't you seen the videos of people trying to file a complaint against a cop? They get their asses kicked (I'm not exaggerating) just for asking for the complaint form.

She was not told to leave -- just to keep her distance. The cop was right.

[MrMickeysMom]

130. Right- exactly right...

Which makes me wonder just how reactionary most people are in this thread.

It's typical for that policeman to have acted the way he did. He's not the smoothest in delivery, but he did not step over any line. Neither did she, BUT if she HAD approached the emergency vehicle with that camera filming the emergent care situation, you bet you ass she would have crossed it.

[sabrina 1]

155. The cop was wrong. She asked a simple question. He prevented

her from getting an answer. Was this a case of people being injured while cleaning up in the Gulf? Simple, 'yes' or 'no'. If the answer is 'no' she would have gone on her way. But combined with the fact that we know they are trying to hide injured workers, with the fact that they, BP and their enablers, are preventing even people like Anderson Cooper, from getting information to the American people.

She, even as a citizen, was entitled to an answer to her questions, not to be told that when she pointed out that what this cop told her had contradicted what she had already been told, it was 'irrelvant'. Lying to the public is NOT irrelevant. Not when people have already died, 11 people in case anyone forgets, and many lies have already been told.

What was the problem with simply answering her questions?

What IS sad to see is that Americans have become so accustomed to being abused by authorities that they are now taking it for granted. This woman refused to do that, and she is to be admired for not accepting lies from those in authority. That is the problem we have, no one can trust their government anymore.

'Because I said so' is not an answer answer citizen should have to accept from the police.

[Courtesy Flush]

165. It doesn't work that way.

Members of the public can't diverge on a scene demanding answers to their questions. Hold your camera, take pictures, and stay out of the way. That's about all the rights she had.

Try this. Next time you see a cop giving a motorist a ticket, or dealing with an accident, pull over and demand that the cop explain the situation to you. See how far that gets you.

[JDPriestly]

178. He was excessively impolite.

It is only natural for people to crowd around the kind of scene that was taking place.

It is like with freeway gawkers. People always slow down to stare. She was being quite reasonable. Had he courteously told her what was happening, she would have gone away and decided there was no story. Something was going on that the policeman was trying to hide.

The officer did not handle this well at all.

[Cronus Protagonist]

133. If she was with CNN she would have been allowed to film

It's not enough to be a citizen any more, you have to be an employee of the corporatocracy.

[fascisthunter]

135. kick and recommend

[zentrum]

138. You were fantastic!

Keep doing it, keep filming and next time BEGIN by asking them for name and badge number. Always. THis not only intimidates them but protects you should you need to sue.

[dpakman91]

142. "The 4/11 videographer"

will be on my show, Midweek Politics, this coming week. Looking forward to interviewing her. Her name is Marguerite Cravatt and she seems incredibly nice

[RetroLounge]

144. K&R

RL

[Soylent Brice]

145. had to bookmark this earlier, just now got to watch this.

K&R

for those women, for standing their ground where most others would have caved to his demands.

[Yeahyeah]

148. What is BP doing passing out free donuts to the cops?

That one looks like he downs a couple dozen for breakfast.

[Supply Side Jesus]

161. Such wit...

please shower us with more of your comedic genius....

[Yeahyeah]

181. Aw,take a break,have some donuts,you'll feel better.

[Supply Side Jesus]

201. I'm sure there are other posts you can stalk

get a parcel of rational sense.

[Supply Side Jesus]

154. LoL, let the hysterics begin!

I love the sense of entitlement the videographer/narrator has...

"I have a camera, and i demand to know why that, what I believe is, BP worker sick!"

So fuck his privacy rights, his dignity, his self-respect. No, you have a camera and DEMAND to know the truth. The fact is, it WAS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! Who do you think you are to barge in there putting your nose into that poor man's business?! So what if they lied to you? IT WAS STILL NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!

Put a camera in someone's hand and suddenly they think they are Edward R Murrow...

That cop was professional and patient with you after your were creating a disturbance and impeding those people from doing their job. He used his, and very large, body to corral you away from the situation. Well Done.

Here is hint for you wanna be journalists...

When you have a sick person, Fire/Medical Rescue show up....it's standard protocol to send them. It's not a conspiracy.

What a joke.

On Edit:
You might want to seek professional help, a slight confrontation and you immediately go into panic attack mode.

[Courtesy Flush]

167. At least there are a few sensible DUers left.

"It's not a conspiracy." Thank you!!!

[Yeahyeah]

182. You too should get a job as a British Petroleum security guard on America's public beaches.

[Supply Side Jesus]

199. Why?

Because called it like it is? The video was nothing but hysterics in guise of journalism?
Grow up

[Yeahyeah]

204. You're perfect for the job.

[Supply Side Jesus]

212. I'll take that as a compliment

compared to your hysterical theatrics.

[fascisthunter]

188. entitlement? You Mean Her RIGHT!!! Get it right and have a donut

[Supply Side Jesus]

200. right to know that sick man's business?

who do people think your are? You have NO RIGHT to know why that man was sick. If he comes forward later, fine. To barge into the middle of the scene demanding?

This is pathetic.

[fascisthunter]

206. this is America baby...... learn to love it

and stop making over-dramatic spin.

[Supply Side Jesus]

211. ok...

I expect your full medical history along with your social security number, address, and phone number. America...love it. Post it here. Put your ass where your mouth is.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

219. The problem with your statements is that she was far enough away and was not interfering

or impeding. If the BP bubbas had just ignored her, nothing would have happened.

Clearly she was making some people upset or uncomfortable. However, when events happen in public, there is no right to privacy. No one has to answer questions, or even get out of the way of filming. However the cop was over the line here.

Photography in public is not a crime, see: www.carlosmiller.com

[cornermouse]

162. United States of BP

Although it would probably be better if she didn't try to take the picture of the injured or sick person inside the ambulance for other reasons.

[Courtesy Flush]

166. I'm curious to know why their height was an issue

Do we now have the right to only be approached by cops that are the same size as us? If he had gotten physical it might have been an issue, but he can't help the fact that she's so much smaller than he.

The cop didn't make himself big just to violate her rights, you know. The "videographer" added this element to the title purely for drama, and to get the kinds of reactions that are being posted here.

[JDPriestly]

179. Why are you so concerned about the cop's rights?

She was not threatening anyone's rights. The officer was threatening the public's right to know.

That area down there is a crime scene. The public has a right to know what is going on. BP and the government are hiding crimes. That is why she was so interested in what was going on. It does not hurt to give citizens a calm explanation that makes sense. Had someone been having a miscarriage, the cop should have simply said that someone was having a miscarriage. No one would have been that interested.

The question on everyone's minds is whether people are being injured in the process of the clean-up. They probably are. They may be suffering heat strokes, all sorts of simple things. Or they may be suffering very serious things. Everyone wants to know. People have the right to know. They don't have to know the person's name etc., but we all have the right to know if someone is injured at that crime scene.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

215. Oh no!

At 7:22 you can see the woman. Do you think you have a right to know if she was miscarrying her baby or a rape victim, sun stroke or whatever? The policeman was just that a policeman, not a doctor. How was he or anyone else to know her medical issue till she got to the hospital. You can see him drive up to the scene. He didn't examine her or even consult with a doctor. He was was just protecting someone privacy. For once a cop doing a good job!
No we don't have the right to know peoples medical problems. This woman is clearly shown at 7:22. Look at 0:50, just after the person doing the video taping says the beach is deserted you can see sun bathers right in front of her.

The reason I'm upset by this is because it's the same old shit like the idiot president Bush (the younger) pulled; If you don't agree with the war then you must be a traitor to the US.

Only this thread is; If you don't agree with this little bully with the camera's right to know private patient information then you must be for a BP police state. Pure foolishness.

[niyad]

208. honestly, if you cannot understand why a 17 inch height disparity (and goddess knows how many pounds

after this lengthy thread) is an issue, there is no possible further way to explain it to you.

[Courtesy Flush]

217. What was I thinking???!!!

You're right. He should have checked departmental policy. There was no excuse for being so tall under those circumstances.

[fascisthunter]

187. Did the person in the ambulance get sick from the oil clean-up?

That's an even bigger question... makes sense given the efforts to suppress this lady's rights on Public Property!

[dembotoz]

193. do hope i can display similar guts when its time to put up or shut up

[elana i am]

218. i think you're seeing what you want to see

i see the same kind of fairly benign altercation (and some bemused eye-rolling) that goes on between gawker media and law enforcement everywhere. i see the cop trying to enforce a perimeter around emergency vehicles.

the person on the gurney was likely physically injured (and not seriously) - ie scrapes from a fall or a sprained ankle. it looked to me like a minor on-the-job injury NOT related to oil. chances are not likely that they were sick from oil, because they were sitting upright and not wearing oxygen. patients who are taken ill or in risk of shock are given oxygen as a matter of protocol. and no one seemed to be in a hurry.

something else i can imagine is if this injured person was a BP employee, he or she may not want their identity known to the press. or BP could have some protocol (unrelated to the oil disaster) about employees talking to the press. or it could have been a company contracted with BP to help with cleanup who does not want to get involved with the media.

and let's be honest. citizen journalism is essentially "gotcha" journalism and there's an inherent distrust between them and law enforcement/business. really, not everything is a conspiracy by corporations or law enforcement.