Clueless federal security guards threaten to confiscate camera in Philadelphia



The same group of activists who were harassed and threatened earlier this month in front of a Philadelphia courthouse returned to the same courthouse, only to be harassed and threatened again.

This time it was a different set of security guards.

The activists were videographer George Donnelly along with Julian Heicklen and Jim Babb and others who were passing out information about jury nullification.

Like the last time, a security guard got into Donnelly’s face in an intimidating manner and ordered him to stop shooting video, informing him that it was illegal to take pictures on federal property.

They even threatened to confiscate his camera.

But like the last time, Donnelly remained calm and never stopped filming, exposing “M. Harris” and “L. Harris” for the uniformed thugs that they are.

Twice they attempted to pull the camera out of his hands.

“You keep filming me, I’ll take it from you,” the thug identified as L. Harris said.

“You cannot film on federal property. Simple as that. If you don’t know the law, you just don’t know the law.

I know the law. I get paid to know the law.”

That was when M. Harris, who had stepped away to talk to one of his superiors on the walkie-talkie, returned to the scene and ordered the other guards back into the building.

Obviously, L. Harris didn’t know the law as well as he thought he knew the law.

Or as the activists say on the video, perhaps the guards finally received the memo.

They continued handing out their pamphlets without further incident.

Heicklen, who was also at the scene of the November incident in New York that resulted in a lawsuit against Homeland Security, is planning more protests in the Philly/New York area.

They are outlined on Donnelly’s blog, where he describes the latest incident.

Monday, May 3, 2010, 11:45 am–1:15 pm: Manhattan, NY, 500 Pearl St
Monday, May 10, 2010, 11:45 am–1:15 pm: Trenton, NJ, 402 E State St
Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 8:00 am–9:30 am: Allentown, PA, 504 W Hamilton St
Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 11:45 am–1:15 pm : Reading, PA, 400 Washington St
Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 8:00 am–9:30 am: Johnstown, PA, 319 Washington St
Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 11:45 am–1:15 pm: Pittsburgh, PA, 700 Grant St
Thursday, May 13, 2010, 11:45 am–1:15 pm: Harrisburg, PA, 100 Walnut St
Friday, May 14, 2010, 8:00 am–9:30 am: Philadelphia, PA, 601 Market St
Friday, May 14, 2010, 11:45 am–1:15 pm: Wilmington, DE, 844 N King St

Comments

Anonymous
Anonymous

I really like this group of people. As I said in your last post that featured these guys… They are calm, cool and collected. They are polite as well. Those security guards might as well have been talking to a mailbox .

Photographers! Remember this: The video function on your camera is your best defense against people that would otherwise trample your rights.
Rob´s last blog ..Fire In Otay Mesa

Anonymous
Anonymous

Nice that the one guy is trying to get the older guy to go to Porc Fest this year in New Hampshire. Anyone else here attending?

Anonymous
Anonymous

Hey, this trio needs somekind of “hero” award!! They are GUTSY to say the least. Well, its really good that the security guards are getting an education. Maybe, just maybe we’ll make some small incremental gains that can be stacked up over time and look like a genuine victory.

Anonymous
Anonymous

My gooodness those guards just embarrassed themselves to hell. ‘I’m paid to know the law’ lol.

Anonymous
Anonymous

But she’ll still take the money next payday!

Anonymous
Anonymous

The problem I am seeing in law enforcement is a huge push for minority hiring. Diversity isn’t a bad thing. We should strive to have our government agencies mimic the racial, sex, and religious make-up of the community. That being said, Diversity at any costs usually results in the hiring of unqualified, or under-qualified applicants. I have no idea if this is the case here or not, but when you start spouting off “the law,” you had best be able to back that up with at least being able to give what section/title/article that law can be found under.
These guys _knew_ they were going to interact with people doing certain things. The least they could have done was have a meeting before hand to figure out what they can and can’t do.

This problem is not one of minority hiring, but incompetent managements in outsourced guard industry agencies! The agencies, instead of investing time, money and equipment, run the applicants through and hire-fire-hire-fire with any little "fart-and-puff" issue-instead of straightening it out!They are responding poorly, and generally like the posture of playing "THE BLAME GAME". Many of these managers think the guards are there to be "fringe benefit drones"-((YOUR IMAGINATION FILLS IN THE BLANK MEANING-)-and inside mismanagement errors are covered up-as well as outright corruption. The public is not being served by such a system, and the guards are not being properly trained to do a real security service job-and that is why there is a noticeablefall off in manpower responding to recruitments by these agencies. Times are tough-but nobody wants abuse day after day-it just doesn't serve our communities well--

me

Protective security officer could have cuffed him. They were called most off likely by FPS. Next time they may not be that luck. Picture are prohibit of federal building with permission. Also he was causing Disturbances. He dumb ass he hand flyer to fps did even know it.

Federal Property Management Regulations
Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart 101-20.3

Photographs for news, advertising, or commercial purposes. (41 CFR 101-20.310) Photographs may be taken in space occupied by a tenant agency only with the consent of the occupying agency concerned. Except where security regu-lations apply or a Federal court order or rule prohibits it, photographs for news purposes may be taken in entrances, lobbies, foyers, corridors, or auditoriums when used for public meetings. Subject to the foregoing prohibitions, photo-graphs for advertising and commercial purposes may be taken only with written permission of an authorized official of the agency occupying the space where the

Disturbances (41 CFR 101-20.305). Any loitering, disorderly conduct, or other conduct on property which creates loud or unusual noise or a nuisance; which unreasonably obstructs the usual use of entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, offices, elevators, stairways, or parking lots; which otherwise impedes or disrupts the performance of official duties by Government employees; or which pre-vents the general public from obtaining the administrative services provided on the property in a timely manner, is pro-hibited.photographs are to be taken.

me

Protective security officer could have cuffed him. They were called most off likely by FPS. Next time they may not be that luck. Picture are prohibit of federal building with permission. Also he was causing Disturbances. He dumb ass he hand flyer to fps did even know it.

Federal Property Management Regulations
Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart 101-20.3

Photographs for news, advertising, or commercial purposes. (41 CFR 101-20.310) Photographs may be taken in space occupied by a tenant agency only with the consent of the occupying agency concerned. Except where security regu-lations apply or a Federal court order or rule prohibits it, photographs for news purposes may be taken in entrances, lobbies, foyers, corridors, or auditoriums when used for public meetings. Subject to the foregoing prohibitions, photo-graphs for advertising and commercial purposes may be taken only with written permission of an authorized official of the agency occupying the space where the

Disturbances (41 CFR 101-20.305). Any loitering, disorderly conduct, or other conduct on property which creates loud or unusual noise or a nuisance; which unreasonably obstructs the usual use of entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, offices, elevators, stairways, or parking lots; which otherwise impedes or disrupts the performance of official duties by Government employees; or which pre-vents the general public from obtaining the administrative services provided on the property in a timely manner, is pro-hibited.photographs are to be taken.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Well, of course they weren’t “law enforcement”. As their shoulder patches plainly said, they were “Security Guards”, albeit with delusions of grandeur. Even the USMS CSOs that they work for have no arrest authority.

LET ME ILLUMINATE THE GIVE-AND TAKE OF SECURITY. While I was a guard, many times on off-duty time I would go to Indian Gaming ( TRIBAL NATION LAWS PREVAIL-AND YOU MAY N-O-T CARRY WEAPONS EVEN IF YOU HAVE CONCEALED PERMIT ) with the little old lady for BINGO. I carried a big brief bag with markers and such-I always opened my bag on entering-so the guards never had any confrontation. That is the way it is supposed to work. Granted, I often won big money-so I put the false bottom in the suitcase and the flat TAURUS 40 CALIBER-but that was my choice, legal or not! There are increasing incidents of people being followed from Casinos,and robbed and killed. SO-in that respect-do what you gotta do to be safe!

LET ME ILLUMINATE THE GIVE-AND TAKE OF SECURITY. While I was a guard, many times on off-duty time I would go to Indian Gaming ( TRIBAL NATION LAWS PREVAIL-AND YOU MAY N-O-T CARRY WEAPONS EVEN IF YOU HAVE CONCEALED PERMIT ) with the little old lady for BINGO. I carried a big brief bag with markers and such-I always opened my bag on entering-so the guards never had any confrontation. That is the way it is supposed to work. Granted, I often won big money-so I put the false bottom in the suitcase and the flat TAURUS 40 CALIBER-but that was my choice, legal or not! There are increasing incidents of people being followed from Casinos,and robbed and killed. SO-in that respect-do what you gotta do to be safe!

me

Protective security officer could have cuffed him. They were called most off likely by FPS. Next time they may not be that luck. Picture are prohibit of federal building with permission. Also he was causing Disturbances. He dumb ass he hand flyer to fps did even know it.

Federal Property Management Regulations
Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart 101-20.3

Photographs for news, advertising, or commercial purposes. (41 CFR 101-20.310) Photographs may be taken in space occupied by a tenant agency only with the consent of the occupying agency concerned. Except where security regu-lations apply or a Federal court order or rule prohibits it, photographs for news purposes may be taken in entrances, lobbies, foyers, corridors, or auditoriums when used for public meetings. Subject to the foregoing prohibitions, photo-graphs for advertising and commercial purposes may be taken only with written permission of an authorized official of the agency occupying the space where the

Disturbances (41 CFR 101-20.305). Any loitering, disorderly conduct, or other conduct on property which creates loud or unusual noise or a nuisance; which unreasonably obstructs the usual use of entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, offices, elevators, stairways, or parking lots; which otherwise impedes or disrupts the performance of official duties by Government employees; or which pre-vents the general public from obtaining the administrative services provided on the property in a timely manner, is pro-hibited.photographs are to be taken.

Here is the rub, my friends. As a past guard, for thirty years-the rules change and that also goes with the type of contract. In MIAMI, I guarded the old WALGREEN'S downtown, and when I spied vagrants hiding metal belts (cheap crap at about 10-15 bucks a pop-however-20 belts is big theft!)-under shirts and coats and trying to walk out-i shook them down good. I also was armed-but my problem there was the vagrants that were mentally deranged-one of which threw a "SUCKER-PUNCH" and landed on my jaw. I DIDN'T SHOOT HIM-BUT THE RETURN PUNCH TOOK HIS HEAD OFF-NO LIE!Now-on a rail contract, times being what they are-my concerns would never be the photography aspect-but making sure what was in the carry bags-period. I would respectfully ask for a bag opening, and not touch the patron's belongings! It is all ludicrous anyway-since bombs are open-detonating, trigger detonating, or remote detonating. That inspection will get everyone killed anyway-unless it takes place away from the crowds and platforms.I'm no longer employed-because many times, I questioned the effectiveness of policies-but I often noted that the public does not like to be screwed with unnecessarily. The managers at the guard agencies are basically to fault-they could train the guards better-but all they care about is kissing the ass of the contract administrators and preserving their own paychecks! This invites the anti-social attitudes of untrained and undisciplined guards that you note-sorry we senior guards are not in command of these contracts anymore-we would be polling the public more often for input---

Here is the rub, my friends. As a past guard, for thirty years-the rules change and that also goes with the type of contract. In MIAMI, I guarded the old WALGREEN'S downtown, and when I spied vagrants hiding metal belts (cheap crap at about 10-15 bucks a pop-however-20 belts is big theft!)-under shirts and coats and trying to walk out-i shook them down good. I also was armed-but my problem there was the vagrants that were mentally deranged-one of which threw a "SUCKER-PUNCH" and landed on my jaw. I DIDN'T SHOOT HIM-BUT THE RETURN PUNCH TOOK HIS HEAD OFF-NO LIE!Now-on a rail contract, times being what they are-my concerns would never be the photography aspect-but making sure what was in the carry bags-period. I would respectfully ask for a bag opening, and not touch the patron's belongings! It is all ludicrous anyway-since bombs are open-detonating, trigger detonating, or remote detonating. That inspection will get everyone killed anyway-unless it takes place away from the crowds and platforms.I'm no longer employed-because many times, I questioned the effectiveness of policies-but I often noted that the public does not like to be screwed with unnecessarily. The managers at the guard agencies are basically to fault-they could train the guards better-but all they care about is kissing the ass of the contract administrators and preserving their own paychecks! This invites the anti-social attitudes of untrained and undisciplined guards that you note-sorry we senior guards are not in command of these contracts anymore-we would be polling the public more often for input---

Here is the rub, my friends. As a past guard, for thirty years-the rules change and that also goes with the type of contract. In MIAMI, I guarded the old WALGREEN'S downtown, and when I spied vagrants hiding metal belts (cheap crap at about 10-15 bucks a pop-however-20 belts is big theft!)-under shirts and coats and trying to walk out-i shook them down good. I also was armed-but my problem there was the vagrants that were mentally deranged-one of which threw a "SUCKER-PUNCH" and landed on my jaw. I DIDN'T SHOOT HIM-BUT THE RETURN PUNCH TOOK HIS HEAD OFF-NO LIE!Now-on a rail contract, times being what they are-my concerns would never be the photography aspect-but making sure what was in the carry bags-period. I would respectfully ask for a bag opening, and not touch the patron's belongings! It is all ludicrous anyway-since bombs are open-detonating, trigger detonating, or remote detonating. That inspection will get everyone killed anyway-unless it takes place away from the crowds and platforms.I'm no longer employed-because many times, I questioned the effectiveness of policies-but I often noted that the public does not like to be screwed with unnecessarily. The managers at the guard agencies are basically to fault-they could train the guards better-but all they care about is kissing the ass of the contract administrators and preserving their own paychecks! This invites the anti-social attitudes of untrained and undisciplined guards that you note-sorry we senior guards are not in command of these contracts anymore-we would be polling the public more often for input---

me

CSO are off duty police or maybe retired police officer

Anonymous
Anonymous

…and we have never seen white cops/security do the same thing … you racist pig!

Anonymous
Anonymous

What he said, EBM, was that “Diversity at any costs usually results in the hiring of unqualified…”
My guess is that ANY hiring policy that is adhered to so tightly that other considerations are pushed aside is going to result in hiring unqualified personnel. It just skews the hiring process to far in one direction. For example, I’d not want a hiring policy that said ONLY college graduates with degrees in the Humanities would be hired. That’d sure lock out many otherwise well qualified candidates. Granted, he could have stated his position better.

Anonymous
Anonymous

You guys must have lost jobs to someone of color.

Anonymous
Anonymous

So … you guys must have lost jobs to someone of color.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I’m kind of pinkish/beige.

Anonymous
Anonymous

EBM You are wearing your hart on your sleeve. I saw a number of fools, white and black, we are all the same color, just diferent hue.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Actually that’s not the case with me. In fact, at my workplace there is a variety of racial and ethnic people who I greatly enjoy working around. Please reread my last post and I think you’ll see its a pretty neutral statement.

Anonymous
Anonymous

And for the record, we all came out of Africa.

Anonymous
Anonymous

And, according too DNA tracking, we have a common female ancestor.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I’m not the one who said, “The problem I am seeing in law enforcement is a huge push for minority hiring.” …and getting away with it …. from the pinkish majority.

Anonymous
Anonymous

“The problem I am seeing in law enforcement is a huge push for minority hiring. Diversity isn’t a bad thing. We should strive to have our government agencies mimic the racial, sex, and religious make-up of the community.”

Well, if you choose to stop at the end of the first sentence then it is indeed a statement of racial bigotry.

BTW, I like that “pinkish majority”!!

Anonymous
Anonymous

Speak for yourself, Terran!

Anonymous
Anonymous

Notice how one of the guards says that the camera would be taken and NEVER GIVEN BACK.

They’re just thieves at this point. And I thought that the Constitution said no property could be seized without due process of law. Funny how that no longer applies anymore…

Anonymous
Anonymous

I do not come from that single African female ancestor. My people were still on the planet that is now the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. When we arrived and found you on the brink of extinction we had pity on you and Now this is how we are repaid. By questioning our authority, and video taping any where you please. You should hail your overlords. If you do your deaths at the coming harvest will be quick and painless. IF you resist and insist on breaking our cover early we will have no choice but to make your deaths uneasy. Obviously our divide and Conquer tactics based on melanin levels is not working, harvest must come sooner. All HAIL the overlords!!

WTF-THIS IS WHAT YEARS OF DRUG USE DO TO THE HUMAN MIND. IGNORE THE RELEVANT SUBJECT, SPEW GARBAGE, AND POST IGNORANCE ON THE INTERNET. PLEASE STAY OUT OF THE BLOG UNLESS YOUR EXPERIENCE CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE NORMAL WORLD OF PROBLEMS-WHERE M-O-S-T OF US LIVE!...

Anonymous
Anonymous

Educated Black Man is my new best friend…see that totally means I’m not a racist.

Anyway, the only hiring practice that directly leads to police and security officers that act that way is making sure you don’t hire anyone who is too intelligent or free thinking. Police departments would rather have drones of average intelligence with mainstream american conservative political philosophies than educated men and women from all walks of life.

Professor Peter Moskos from John Jay and LEAP wrote a stellar article that touches on this for the Washington Post back in ’03

http://petermoskos.com/oped/oldschooloped.html

Anonymous
Anonymous

What is it with the cocksuckers? Yes, that’s a technical term. They were wrong and they were clearly told they were wrong shown by them walking away with their tails between their legs. Why can’t they go apologize to the “victims”? And, personally, I’d go after the guards that assaulted the camera op. Moronic.

No-no-n-o!SUE THE CONTRACTED GUARD AGENCY, OVER AND OVER-UNTIL THEY GET IT THROUGH THEIR THICK, MORON HEADS THAT YOU TRAIN GUARDS, GIVE THEM A STRICT POLICY, AND BASICALLY LEAVE THE PUBLIC ALONE. MOST GUARD JOBS ARE FOR RAPID NOTIFICATION AND VISUAL DETERRENCE POSTURES. A GUARD COULD BE TRAINED TO BREAK UP AN ASSAULT-BUT THAT WOULD BE ASKING A LOT OF THE GUARD WITH NO BACKING FROM THE PITIFUL OUTSOURCED OFFICE WEENIES! SO-SUE THEM UNTIL IT HURTS-AND MAYBE----THEY WILL GET THE MESSAGE!Carlos Miller, in Miami is doing the right thing-he has a law suit that seeks civil monetary damages compensatory to damages and humiliation endured due to incompetence of the Metro-RAIL Guards hired by 50 STATE SECURITY. Since I am unemployed, I will trot down to the hearing and keep the blog advised of my thoughts on whether justice is served.

Anonymous
Anonymous

How about – Attempted theft of private property x2. I’d be willing to bet that their camera is worth over $500 and that makes it a felony right?

I’m not sure about threats of violence under colour of authority (“I’ll take it from you!”) since their security guards and hence have no authority but what the hell.
Workingindust´s last blog ..After Ride Party

Anonymous
Anonymous

Perhaps a minority of black security guards like ordering white boys around.

Anonymous
Anonymous

For the record I was there on both occasions and I got ZERO vibe of anything racial. There was no hint of them being motivated by the fact that we’re of different races. Also, the idea that these incidents were partially caused by affirmative action or some such NEVER crossed my mind.

I find that line of discussion to be a lot of nonsense.

I do encourage you guys who are interested in that line of thinking to peacefully test out your hypotheses at a federal courthouse near you tho.

Send us the video!
George Donnelly´s last blog ..Jury Rights Advocates Hand Out 250 Pamphlets, Stand Up to Violent Federal Security Guards

Anonymous
Anonymous

Do you get some kind of pleasure out of stirring up racial shit?

Anonymous
Anonymous

Hey Rusty, I get pleasure from bottom feeders coming up and letting their stunted minds into the light. It’s entertaining!

Anonymous
Anonymous

DB, well for me that sort of thing is about as “entertaining” as watching a dog turd dry out on a hot sidewalk in July!!

Anonymous
Anonymous

The people in this video are very patient with the goons disturbing them, I know that I could not do what they do, I would lose my temper with the fucktards telling me I can’t film/take pictures. George, Julian and Jim, you guys are awesome.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Stop with the RACIAL bias bull… It’s a funny little thing that happens when you give SECURITY guards a badge. Funny thing, as for arrest authority… the courts give some wide berth to security guards as they are NOT official law enforcement officers and can get away with a lot more than a uniformed officer.

That said, once the camera operator was assaulted (unwanted touching) and harassed along with threats, etc., I would have engaged Police against the security guards with the video evidence and preferred charges immediately.

Physical touching is a NO – NO. Letting them off without a complaint (sworn) serves nobody as the next people with a camera will most certainly receive the same reception. I give you guys credit for remaining calm. I think you guys take the pacifist approach, but you are certainly entitled to protect yourself as even LEO’s don’t enjoy the right to use excessive force or assault, let alone in such a benign situation. (Bring MACE next time and use it!) You’ll have the video footage to back up your claims.

Remember, they are just citizens too, you too can tell them to back away as they are menacing you and tell them that their actions are perceived as a threat and you WILL defend yourself. They have no more a right to that space if you are acting lawfully. If they don’t understand the lawful purpose and allowance of filming on Federal Property you could certainly remind them of Harassment, Assault, etc., laws.

Big tough Wannabe’s… these guys need a lesson and court/recovery and maybe even the loss of employment will be the only thing that CORRECTS their behavior.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Hey, there are certainly plenty of racist whites, but there could be some racist blacks too.

All races pretty much have the same capacity to be racist.

I’m surprised at your reaction, since you’re defending the fucker stirring up the “diversity at any cost” pot.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Tough talk always looks good on paper (or a computer screen) but it’s a long hard road from being touched by a security guard to collecting a settlement in a lawsuit. And I’ll tell you this, calling the cops to take action against the security guards in this situation would be “iffy” at best.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I support the guards in this one.
By preventing people from knowing they can
nullify stupid laws, as the dissidents try to do here, you bolster conviction rates for consensual crimes, thus drawing money away from the insipid
Prison-Industrial Complex.
Jurors must remained uninformed and feel confident that by going along with the Prosecution they are “good citizens.
That’s important in a jailocracy.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Certainly makes sense to me, Yiz.

Anonymous
Anonymous

“All races pretty much have the same capacity to be racist.”

Just be a white boy walking through Anacostia (SE District of Columbia). Remember the Samuel L Jackson character in the third Die Hard movie? Imagine an entire city section like that.

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