Pixiq

Probaly the only reason he was not assaulted was because the “Security” Guard was not a “Professional” Police Officer. Yet. I just added PINAC to my bloggroll. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Peace.
Human recently posted..Photography is Not a Crime

From the UK, looks like people don’t like being on video over there as well.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1305662/Manchester-railway-staff...

I know how it feels too. I was with some classmates at Freedom Tower Station doing some sketches and taking some pictures of some buildings for a Perspective Drawing class and we just took our drawing pads out when a security guard told us to take the next train or get out the station. I’m a int’l student at MIU so I thought it was illegal (or something like that) to draw/take pictures in there (which I found really weird because of all the tourist that come to Miami), so we leaved. Now I know it’s perfectly fine take pictures, and next time we’ll claim our rights. Thanks for such an informative blog!

Carlos,

You’re probably right about the actions of the guards on your protest day. What I would suggest is going out in two’s and three’s unannounced. Show a continued pattern of abuse, then sue them under the Civil Rights Act of 1871 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1871

With enough documented cases you could probably bankrupt metrorail.

I like the idea of three or four at a time taking video. That way each can cover the other on video. Wish I wasn’t so far way. I’d be there…

As I said before you need to keep the pressure on. Send teams in, one shooting, one covering, document the abuse. Get spy cameras, best set up with WiFi, record every thing. Then go fore civil rights.

It’s right that the only reason your protest 2 weeks ago worked is because they knew ahead of time you were coming and they knew it was a protest. They weren’t about to show their true colors. I agree with the other people that the best thing is to go in small groups and unannounced. Keep driving home the point that they are violating your rights and you will continue to spotlight them until they stop violating your rights and all the other people’s rights. I sure wish I lived in Miami.

Next Time. Secret Ambush. No Public Warning. Surprise Liberty Attack.

And next time, you’re coming with us, Ricky

I’m so over the ignorance that is prevalent in this city. I live a block from the Metrorail station. I’m ready to head over there as often as I can to photography my entry, usage and return on the PUBLIC transportation system.

Let me know when you’d like me to start my project.
@antjphotog recently posted..Monday Morning

This is because you have too many immigrants from totalitarian states (such as Cuba or New York) in Florida. In California, you can shoot train stations, federal buildings, whatever.

You can?

Wonder what would’ve happened if he had to stay on the train for another 30 minutes. Would it have ended so peacefully then?

John, there’s been plenty of similar BS like this going on in LA.

And don’t forget BART where the cops tried to destroy the evidence by confiscating phones/cameras.

California is by no means safe from this civil rights breach.

Its not a matter of educating the guards. By now they all know what’s going on and they’re just determined as hell to show anybody who’se watching that they can get away with what they want. You can show up there with 20 photographers once a week until the cows come home but as soon as a single person shows up taking pictures the harrassment will begin. If the management of the security company is claiming that they’ve “trained” the guards then the whole damned bunch of them are being decietful as hell.

Here’s an idea. Have your team mates off in the back so that the guards don’t think you are together. Then when they approach the lone individual and start harassment have the others filming in the background. You’ll catch their hypocrisy in action.

I’m surprised that of all the different organizations persecuting photographers, I haven’t read of a photographer joining one in order to expose the training, policies, and standing orders that have to exist to lead to such a constant stream of incidents. Maybe I’m just not looking hard enough…

So why doesn’t someone infiltrate 50 states security???

How is it that what you can do in communist Venezuela you can’t do here?
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=73853&id=1365704512&l=565ec05c47

If I lived in Miami I’d be at your next protest, keep up the good fight. Ni un paso atras.
Darren recently posted..Liberty on Tour in Philadelphia- 8-14-2010

Are these clowns in charge of security on the transit lines or just at the stations. If they are just in charge at the stations then why would they be at all concerned, or even aware of, any photography taking place on the train ???

“Do you have a permit?”

(photog whips out a copy of Bill Of Rights)

“Yes ma’am. ”

(hands it to guard)

“Keep it. Read it on your next break.”

I will say this for Douglas station, although the guards for the most part are some of the rudest people I’ve ever met, I’ve been taking cell phone pics at the station almost every day since your protest. Other than a few funny looks from the guards none of them have tried to stop me until two days ago when one cursed at me for siding with a disabled man requesting help. A quick “Mind your fu**ing business” was blurted out by a guard who I quickly photographed and reported. She tried telling me photos arent allowed and I quickly replied you’re lying and walked away.

I commend you on your conviction here, but
you photographers need to get your vision
checked. If you look carefully you’ll notice it
says “Metrojail” not Metrorail. I hope
that clears up all this confusion.

Please, ALL photos MUST remember when harassed, to remind the brain trusts that men and women are now and have been fighting and dying overseas to keep our country free including our freedom to take pictures. Stopping that means these men and women are fighting and dying in vein!

It’s the same M.O. as the Po-Po…

Plausible Deniabilty as an escape clause for interfering with a citizen’s liberty.

Security / Police Officer(s) won’t be held responsible if they were somehow ignorant of the law / rule / etc and were acting in “Good Faith”

SSDD!

This is just ridiculous. The city should be pressed for some sort of official comment as to their handling of this. This is like having some kind of pest infestation and not doing anything about it because it’s low level. It’s sad that the security probably goes to the lowest bidder for the contract and what do you expect? Let’s hear it for Miami, hiring incompetent’s and proud of it!

This was to be expected. Just keep the pressure on and keep exposing, complaining and stay in there face. Look at Union Station in DC.

Carlos, the next time you ride the Metrorail, you need to have the CEO of 50 State Security and Eric Muntan accompany you. Better yet, let them be the ones with the cameras shooting pics. That way they can see, firsthand, the behavior of the security guards. Maybe then they will realize that real action must be taken to stop this constant harrassment and abuse.

If they really wanted to stop it, they would institute a “secret photographer” system, like the “secret shoppers” used to check the quality of sales staff at retail stores. Anyone who brings unwarranted harrassment or abuse upon one of these undercover employees is immediately fired.

It’ll never happen, but if it did, I think this plan would work. After a couple of firings, I guarantee the message would spread quickly and the abuses would stop.

The reason this would never work is that the Metrorail and all security and police forces WANT to block photography as much as possible. If they aren’t photographed, there can be no evidence of their own wrongdoing. Therefore, the official policy — for good PR — is that photography is allowed. However, UNofficially, their members will continue to harrass, intimidate, abuse and arrest photographers as much as possible.

Wow “Communist-Venezuela” and “they are fighting for our freedoms” all in one thread. It is evident that Metro-Rail security are low grade imbeciles, but what exactly is their motivation for harrassing photogs, and if its just policy, why the rediculous animation? But having lived in Miami it is one of the most oppressive enviroments I’ve been in. The ultr-rightist Cuban Irridendist elements seem to have something to do with that imo.