Activist arrested for videotaping federal guards outside Pennsyvlania courthouse
George Donnelly, the Pennsylvania videographer who has proven to remain calm, cool and collected when confronted by abrasive security guards, was arrested Wednesday for videotaping outside a federal courthouse.
It is not clear on what charges because it is not illegal to film outside federal courthouses, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
At this time, it appears as if he is still in federal custody, even though the incident occurred Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred outside the federal courthouse in Allentown, Pennsylvania where Donnelly was videotaping activist Julian Heicklen, who was distributing jury nullification literature as we’ve seen him do on the previous occasions in which Donnelly was threatened by guards.
But this time was the worst.
Activist Jim Babb who was also part of their group told the Libertarian Examiner the following:
“We encountered the most aggressive opposition that I have seen so far.
“George attempted to video what was happening. Seconds later, they assaulted George and wrestled his video camera away. Thugs piled on George. One even put his knee on George’s face.”
It began when a female security guard approached the group in typical fashion as if they were doing something illegal.
“Julian chose to argue with her in a belligerent fashion,” Babb reports. “Within seconds, about 10 or 12 federal goons arrived. These people were extremely aggressive. The female assaulted Julian. He commanded her to back off.”
When Donnelly began videotaping the melee, they turned on him. It got so ugly that Babb even dialed 911.
“I called 911 to report an assault and robbery in progress. Things were very chaotic, stressful and happening very fast.
“We all had goons in our faces, but George was targeted for extreme violence to get his camera.
“A minute or two later, more goons arrived and kidnapped George. They threatened Julian and me as well.”
Babbs said that Donnelly had been taken to the Lehigh County Corrections facility and later transferred to the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.
Stay tuned for updates.
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Comments
All I can say is wow… I’m really interested in seeing how this plays out. I wonder what they were ultimately charged with? No doubt there will be the usual erroneous “resisting arrest” charge.
Rance´s last blog ..BinaryGravy: @NPD: Android smartphones now outselling iPhone in the U.S. http://is.gd/c2ZPW
Let’ me play the psychic. The tape will conviniently disappear just to make sure it won’t prove that he wasn’t doing anything wrong. Once they figure out they were the ones being criminals they have no other choice but to get rid of the evidence and then come up with the charges.
Can’t find any charges against him on the PA court docket system… at least not in Lehigh County.
Jake Stichler´s last blog ..You’re Doing It Backwards: The Fine Art of Budgeting for Goals
Sigh.
I was thinking of sending them an email warning them about Allentown cops too, but I didnt on the assumption they knew the risks.
Now I feel like a damn fool.
What a crock of shit. It never ceases to amaze me at the outright mocking of our rights.
mepsipax´s last blog ..Tuesday…and I have taketh
Even if half of this is true it’s disgusting. I’m sure the court house has a video camera so it’s important that they request that the video not be deleted.
duane kerzic´s last blog ..Patio and Front Walk Repair
I am sure it being Friday that they are trying to stall the case until it is too late to see a judge and they will end up spending the weekend in jail.
I think the longer they send in jail on false charges the more ammo they will ultimately have against the feds who assaulted them.
Akael´s last blog ..Raising Your E-Commerce Sites Search Engine Rank
Hopefully this is some serious egg on the face ThugGov.
Difster´s last blog ..The Best of Difster
The thugs obviously don’t care what the law is and have no fear of reprisal from the “justice” system. They should at least be required to wear swastikas.
Taxpayers are going to take it on the chin paying out to cover this abuse.
A prosecutor with balls needs to step up and prosecute these “law enforcement officers” for the crimes they committed. I’m sick and tired of the bullshit of ignoring the actual law. We are a land of laws, not a land of men — yet everytime someone doesn’t jump as high as an LEO says or shows a smidge or (normal) disrespect, this is what happens. Look at Peter Watts (the Canadian sci-fi writer who was arrested at the US/Canada border) who was convicted essentially for not complying /fast enough/. The LEOs in the field enjoy wielding their power any way they like since they know there are few reprecussions.
It’s not right,legally or morally, and needs to stop.
“They” say “they” are doing these things for our safety — I feel much less safe in the last few years due to all of this power abuse.
Jay, good luck with that, they’re all part of the same machine.
The police motto “To Serve And Protect” doesn’t say WHO they are serving and protecting. It’s obvious that they’re serving and protecting themselves and the State.
Difster´s last blog ..The Best of Difster
@Difster: I’m painfully well aware, but writing that made me feel better for about 5 seconds. :/
Hate to go against the grain, but Jury Nullification is anti-American and illegal. We have an affirmative duty to be sheep and convict people for victimless crimes and
propagate the prison-industrial complex.
Also, it’s highly illegal to get your ass kicked by
anyone with a badge. Check out the Peter Watts border case at rifters.com if you don’t believe me.
They don’t need to charge him. They’ve done their job, which is to make people think twice about videotaping cops and other LEOs. Luckily, blogs like this keep such events in the spotlight, but for the average, non-educated photographer or citizen, such intimidation can and does work.
Please keep us informed on this. This really ticks me off.
There comes a time in every mans life, be he ever so mild, when he wants to ” hoist the black flag and start slitting throats”. This is one.
But it’s Thursday…
They’ll just have to be more creative.
Dr. H and I did a FIJA handout today in Harrisburg. They must have gotten the word, Fed. Marshall was very cordial and even showed his id after he came to us. He said to let him know if he could help. We were both stunned. be sure to email Dr. H requesting to be on his e-list “progress report.”
jph13@psu.edu
My guess is that the charges are federal as the arresting officers were, reportedly, US marshals and George was transferred to a federal facility.
I have to be a sexist a-hole and say, “Goddamn woman! Power tripping cow!” These brave jury nullification people should learn how to use Qik, I’d like to see the filth take the video then, hahahaha!
http://qik.com/
Jody´s last blog ..My tweet was silly, but the police reaction was absurd
The first person to patent a 4G camera, that is ONLY a camera, that has secure, encrypted, failsafe (multi-location) backup locations on the FLY while recording full HD audio and video (4G is capable of upwards of 20mbit/sec speeds)…
…will be a millionaire.
I hear he will have a chip-in going soon. This is going to cost him a lot of money!
George Donnelly has a website, http://georgedonnelly.com/ and a friend created a facebook fan page for him: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-George-Donnelly/121194851236607
Derby´s last blog ..A Million Thankyous
Mr. Donnelly is active in the right to bear arms and jury nullification movements and appears to have been targeted for arrest. He has published several videos of police misconduct and has a legal action against at least one police department in Pennsylvania. This looks as a effort to silence him.
Really? Thank you Captain Obvious.
Rance´s last blog ..BinaryGravy: RT @newtechnews: Dell’s Streak Handheld Will Download Virtual Desktop (NewsFactor) http://bit.ly/9fQORi
TSK! TSK! TSK!
Mr. Rance, ill manners do not become you. I would not mane snide remarks about you, do not make them about me.
If anyone here could help George in finding competent counsel for this, a lot of people would appreciate it. You can reach him via his site, http://georgedonnelly.com/
Thanks.
Mike Gogulski´s last blog ..US military prick meets US Border Patrol pricks
Sorry, I’m pretty sarcastic.
Rance´s last blog ..BinaryGravy: RT @newtechnews: Dell’s Streak Handheld Will Download Virtual Desktop (NewsFactor) http://bit.ly/9fQORi
It was wide open. I had to take a shot.
Rance´s last blog ..BinaryGravy: RT @newtechnews: Dell’s Streak Handheld Will Download Virtual Desktop (NewsFactor) http://bit.ly/9fQORi
OK! Being an active shooter (guns and cameras) I am aware of Mr. Donnely’s experiences with the jack booted thugs. I just wanted to pass it on. Check the shooters (gun), CCW and open carry forums one day, I guaranty you will will louse your lunch.
Sorry, I am not much of a typist.
We’ll let it slide THIS time!
Was this the same video, or is this different? http://njlp.org/news/partynews/latestnews/908-fija-outreach-in-philadelpha
This is just awful.
The goons need to simply call off their dogs.
Disgusting… it’s just disgusting what these people who claim to be “protecting our freedoms” are doing to us.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy, In a speech at the White House, 1962
35th president of US 1961-1963 (1917 – 1963)
If the jerks who did this to George Donely read this, please be reminded that this man was once your boss, before you killed him.
Kurt, you sound like the kind of guy who’d like to dig deep into his pocket and make a donation to his defense. DO IT!
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