In a recently published video, filmed in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, a cameraman confronted by authorities refused to stop recording.
The somewhat confrontational footage was shot July 27, 2002, around 12:15 a.m., at a police checkpoint on the 5700 block of North Ashland Avenue.
While it's unclear why the police were randomly stopping cars -- one thing is immediately clear --- they did not want the event videotaped.
Two officers, identified as a police sergeant and a lieutenant, tried to convince the videographer that filming the motorists' faces and their vehicles' license plates, was illegal.
When that tactic didn't work, the sergeant brought over two women who claimed to be attorneys from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
"I think this could be a privacy issue," said one of the alleged attorneys.
"You know there are no privacy issues in public. There's absolutely no expectation of privacy when you're in public," shot back the cameraman. "You're a lawyer and you know that."
Unimpressed by their authority, the filmmaker went on to explain why he had every right to videotape what he considered to be a "Soviet Union procedure".
Related news:
More recently, a man videotaping a female officer's private vehicle parked outside a South Loop clinic, was threatened with arrest.
At first, the officer seemed quite friendly, but when the man refused to stop recording, she swatted his camera and threatened to arrest him for disorderly conduct.
The person who uploaded the footage to YouTube labeled the incident as "police brutality".
In video 2, what purpose did the person have in filming them? NONE. He just wanted to push their buttons. He got exactly what he wanted.
ReplyDelete^I know. That's why she should have ignored him.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteKudos to the videographer who knowledgeably stood up for his (our) legal right to record police activity on a public way.
The reprehensible behavior of the CPD police lieutenant and sergeant and the two ASA's should immediately be investigated and disciplinary action initiated.
So you're rights are to just be disruptive. It's not a rights issue, It's solely a disruptive tactic.
Deletereprehensible? Not really. Nothing to investigate, he kept filming, nothing done, case closed, Johnnie
Delete2002?
ReplyDeleteThere's one there pushing those buttons all the time to this day though. It's not "art". Quite frankly, I think they really need to get a life. Maybe a yard to take care of or something. I could take a pic and/or release the one I have on the internet of him picking his ear. It wouldn't be good for his business. I wouldn't do it though.
It only became news worthy by the improper reaction of the woefully ignorant police personnel.
ReplyDeletePeople are allowed to photograph or video on a public way. The sooner the police understand this, the better.
To the apologists of the police, get a clue. The rights of people supercede the wishes of police.
When will these people who think it's their right to push, slap, antagonize police realize it's not. Police put up with protesters, throwing things at them, pushing, swearing, screaming in their faces, shoving signs in their faces. Not one of these protesters would stand for this at their job or in their life. Many protesters are antagonistic just to file a lawsuit or get on tv, police are too easy
DeleteRe.: Police check point
ReplyDeleteThis is news from 2002? News is about newly received or recent information. Why keep beating a dead horse. The whining photographer should try taking photos of other professions, lets say some gas co. workers fixing the pipes in the street. He could question them if they are doing the job right. I am sure he and his camera would meet one of their wrenches in the hole. He got off easy with the police.
Why dont both of these bitches grow some balls and film the drug dealers and gangbangers if they are so concerned with "wrongdoings"? Why, because they know they would get their asses beat. Oh and the first videographer referring to the police as some "soldier class"? Please! You studied film, so you're broke and live in your mother's basement you fucking clown!!! As for the second retarded fatty, who was that, Cleveland from "The Family Guy"? Get a life both of you!
ReplyDeleteBecause the drug dealers would kick his...., and who could he sue them?
DeleteThe laws need to be stricter because of the trouble makers who just want to investigate and be disruptive for no purpose, except just because I can.
The roadblock on Ashland video should be used by the Medill School on how aspiring journalists should be ready to stand up to police who illegally attempt to circumvent rights.
ReplyDeleteAnd the video should be used by police academies on how not to appear illegally ignorant.
Why in the world are some other posters here defending the police? The police were wrong. This incident should be investigated.
illegally ignorant, wow now who sounds ignorant. Parents beware, who is teaching your kids?
DeleteFor the people that support this, you are all facist scum, and should just move to some authoritative state.
ReplyDeleteYou move, oh can't move out of mommy's house. We have laws, you are free to move to another country, bye
DeleteTRAFFIC UNIT. THESE ARE CLOUT BOSSES who know NOTHING about laws. THey are doing a DUI random stop, which is good but lets face it these bosses know less about the law. The DUI coppers probably know more.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, in 2002 he was breaking a state law and was committing a felony. It was called the eavesdropping law. That law has since been overturned by an Illinois appellate court.
ReplyDeleteI will say he was a level headed, yet persistent, and I think he's a badass for standing there and sticking up for his rights!
ReplyDeleteHe's a woos probably looking for a lawsuit, get a real job
DeleteI would consider him badass if he filmed gangbangers goin about their business instead of cops. Cops are easy to film.
ReplyDeleteDo the police haters call the police, when they are crime victims?
ReplyDeleteCPD just another gang in Chicago. The USA needs a civil War to put power back into the peoples hands. Are government is no longer trusted by the people.
ReplyDeleteIt's our , not are. Yeah let's put the power in "ur" hands. Get a job and better educated first. Civil war, you would be hiding in the basement
DeleteYou wouldn't survive a civil war. You are a coward, need a war to"free" you? Stand behind a group of people.? Try standing on your own, first get a job, then run for office or get a job and make a difference, don't wait for the crowds to lead you, stand on your own two feet child
Deletecontinue for you to imagine a good world where a great misspelled word brings up a great spelling challenge application form instead of your auto correction. Try in order to contemplate what The item would mean pertaining to a teacher to acquire a great database regarding every misspelled word, every misunderstood concept or even every missed equation pertaining to each connected with it\'s students.
ReplyDeletecontinue for you to imagine a good world where a great misspelled word brings up a great spelling challenge application form instead of your auto correction. Try in order to contemplate what The item would mean pertaining to a teacher to acquire a great database regarding every misspelled word, every misunderstood concept or even every missed equation pertaining to each connected with it\'s students.
ReplyDelete