Journalists Arrested at DC Public Meeting

[n2doc]

Posted on: June 24, 2011 12:03 PM, by Ed Brayton

Here's yet another case of the police ignoring the First Amendment. Two reporters were arrested at a public meeting of the D.C. Taxi Commission, the first one for taking a picture and the second one for recording the first one being arrested on his cell phone. The second reporter tells the story:

About 30 minutes into the meeting, I witnessed journalist Pete Tucker snap a still photo of the proceedings on his camera phone. A few minutes later, two police officers arrested Tucker. I filmed Tucker's arrest and the audience's subsequent outrage using my cell phone.

A few minutes later, as I was attempting to leave the building, I overheard the female officer who had arrested Tucker promise a woman, who I presumed to be an employee of the Taxi Commission, that she would confiscate my phone. Reason intern Kyle Blaine, overheard her say, "Do you want his phone? I can get his phone."


And then they arrested him:

As I tried to leave, I was told by the same officer to "stay put." I told her I was leaving and attempted to exit the building. I was then surrounded by officers, and told to remain still or I would be arrested.
I didn't move, but I tried to get the attention of a group of cab drivers who were standing nearby. At this point I was arrested.

I spent the remainder of the day in a cell in the basement of the building. In the late afternoon, I was released.


more

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2011/06/journalists_arrested_at_dc_pub.php

[lpbk2713]

1. They take being Rent-a-Cops seriously.

"The hell with any Civil Rights. If you want his phone it's yours."

Outrageous.

[leveymg]

2. Is there a DC Ordinance against recording Taxi Commission hearings or photos inside that bldg.?

They don't allow recording devices (including phones) into a lot of court buildings in VA. Where was this commission meeting held?

[LiberalArkie]

3. People used to ask "May I take a picture"