Minneapolis police seize cameras days before Republican National Convention

Republican National Convention coverage


Minneapolis police wasted no time in violating First Amendment rights when they confiscated equipment from three New York City videographers who were in town to document the upcoming republican convention.

The videographers were from the Glass Bead Collective, an organization that documents police misconduct, including the notorious video of NYPD making mass arrests during a Critical Mass last year. Police confiscated a video camera, a still camera and a laptop.

Police returned the equipment the following day – apparently after a call from the videographers’ lawyer – which does not make up for the fact that they confiscated the equipment in the first place.

Police claim they stopped the three videographers because they suspected they had trespassed in a “nearby railroad yard”. They also claimed that they were treating this as a “homeland security” issue, as if the videographers could commit terrorist acts with their cameras.

The Associated Press article doesn’t specify exactly how close to the railroad yard were the videgraphers when police stopped them, nor does it mention if there was any evidence that they had even stepped onto the railroad yard in the first place.

Comments

Anonymous
Anonymous

Railyard or not, when you trespass you get a ticket or get arrested. No where does it say that police are allowed to seize your belongings for a trespass violation.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Oh yes but have you ever heard of the Patriot Act? It’s just one of the freedom-limiting laws the Bush administration pushed through congress. It allows pretty much anything to be done to suspected terrorists. It was really bad for the country and entirely against the constitution. So homeland security, that means they didn’t have anything reasonable to charge.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Over and over, the abuse of power in our society proves that we are not really free. What the BUSH and now McCain administrations exorted to Iraq is corporate slavery. Either you work to enrich a corporation or you are considered persona non grata in todays society. It is time to pick up sticks and stones and take back what belongs to us and not to greedy rich who think they are above the average person. I look forward to President OBAMA with the hope that they will investigate and bring to justice all those responsible for the many needles deaths in IRAQ since even a child know Bin Laden is in Afghanistan/Pakistan and not Iraq. The only thing in Iraq is oil and that is why BUSH and his cronies went there. They made sure the price of oil wnet trough the roof so their personal and familly wealth would increase. If McBush gets elected its all over, it will be the final nail in the cofin of society as we know it. Although I am not a violent person, I would give anything for an opportunity to punch that old man (McCain) in the face and remind him, being a bad pilot and getting shot down does not = hero, instead it just means he is a lousy pilot and he should have probably joined the farmy and kept his feet on the ground instead. Another bad choice just like pailin.

Anonymous
Anonymous

The police are a tool used by our Corpocracy to ensure their interests are protected. They receive corporate donations so they will focus on people who are in despair because of their living conditions instead of going after the real crimminals in our society. There is strength in numbers, that is why we need to stand up in large numbers march to police headquarters and throw them out on their ears. time to stand up to these NAZI like tactics. Only those who have things to hide fear the truth, I am looking @ the Republican party in this case. Perhaps I am a dreamer that someday the BUSH administration will stand trial with other war crimminals in The Hague. Perhaps if that happens I may start believing that there is a GOD, but until then, Beware of the BIBLE THUMPERS

Anonymous
Anonymous

Alright, first, Mark, You do know that McCain hasn’t been elected yet right? He dosn’t have an administration. Second, Jack, I don’t think you know too much about history if you call the current administrations tactics “Nazi like”. They are not NEARLY as bad as the Nazis. On a recent stroll of the countryside, I noticed a distinct lack of Death Camps. Lastly, you do know there are non-republican people who believe in God right?

Anonymous
Anonymous

Scott,

The Nazis never had the concentration camps within Germany.

And neither does the Bush Administration.

Besides Guantanamo, there are several secret prisons in Eastern Europe, as uncovered by the Washington Post in 2005.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR200511...

Anonymous
Anonymous

Ummm, Carlos, are you a history expert working at a museum. Oh wait thats me. The Nazis did have Death Camps in Germany, just most were moved before the end.
And there have been seceret prisons in Eastern Europe since the start of the Cold War.
I do know about Guantanimo Bay. Total lack of rights. I almost wish the Cubans would take back over.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Un. Believable.

It takes unconstitutional to an entirely different level. “Prior restraint”? This is like the “Minority Report” version.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Sorry for the old posting.

Scott. Lack of concentration camps. hmm, Gitmo, Abu Garib, the Texas penal systems. These would all fall under the definition. and McCain will not be elected, however he did support most of the legislation for the Patriot act, which allows the government to completely suspend ALL constitutionally guaranteed rights. This government is EXACTLY as the Nazi’s were in the early 30′s you freak! But don’t ask me, I am the guy with the Master’s in History, specifically in warfare in the European areas.

Hitler first came to power promising of granting back power to the “true” Germans, they tacked all bad things that happened on Jews, homosexuals, communists, and slavs. they harmed all but the blonde and blue eyed.

Hmm, lets see. Bush passed the patriot act, Muslims are arrested or confined, and a database is started. They create or expand “registries” for sexual deviants. They suspend Habeas, they employ illegal torture by secret police, they arrest and lock up persons without charges and search without warrants. Yeah, I think the Government has TOTALLY fulfilled the Nazi ideals!!!

Ok, Mr Museum worker, refute any of that, and you KNOW you are a damned liar…

Anonymous
Anonymous

Oh REALLY? This is NOTHING LIKE THE 30′s.
1. I don’t ever remember hearing about gas chambers, or pits of dead at Guantanamo. I know that much of what is happening there is Unconstitutional but that does not make it a concentration camp. Abu Garib, as I recall everybody involved is got court marshaled. I have no idea at all why you have brought up the Texas penal system, but I’m sure they are just like all the other jails around the country.
Have all Muslims been forced to wear yellow stars or the like, or been sent to forced labor camps? Oh right they haven’t as several of my friends are Muslim and are still quite free.
I would like to see some documented evidence that supports any of the statements you have made concerning all Muslims being arrested, or these registries you mention. Yes I agree some government officials have used illegal methods, but not nearly the whole government. Show me where Muslim or gay children cannot attend school because of who they are. Not in America. How do you know McCain will not be elected? Can you now see the future too? I’m certainly not going to vote for him, but you never know.
Now that I’ve seen to it that you have been properly refuted, I will say that it is extremely rude of you to call me a damned liar and a freak. It really breaks down your position with all the insults. I never said I had finished my degree and I do work in museum with the position of Assistant Curator. Just to pay school bills you know. So yes documented evidence for your statements please Mr. Master’s Degree.

Oh and just as a side note, I wonder why nobody is angry at President Lincoln, he suspended Habeas Corpus too.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I know something’s just don’t make a whole lot of sense. So I would recommend that any reporter, videographers, or camera operator, take a homeland security course at your local college and find out what they can and can’t and why? Just think you will be one of the most informed. Use that insider info to your advantage while doing your job.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Oh I’m sorry? A homeland security course? That incorporates, what, the Patriot Act? I much prefer my U.S. Constitution class, thank you very much. Especially that part about the 1st Amendment, it’s one of my favorites. No homeland security laws can overpass the Constitution, which is the supreme law of this country.

Anonymous
Anonymous

From Scott:
“….the Patriot Act? It’s just one of the freedom-limiting laws the Bush administration pushed through congress.”

Yeah, and Congress AUTHORIZED/APPROVED/SIGNED it into law!
Including “everyone’s” beloved PRESIDENT FOR CHANGE – Barack Obama.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Do the Obama supporters think that the new President will restore and/or repeal all the threats to our civil rights and/or privacy that the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Ashcroft Regime inflicted upon us via the Patriot Act, The Military Commissions Act, FISA, REAL ID, etc?

Why would he – all this Executive Power benefits him as well.

We shall see, won’t we?

Anonymous
Anonymous

And don’t forget that there has already been an alleged thwarted asassination plot against him already.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Yes, I can I wrote “already” twice.
Forgive me, it’s 1 a.m. where I live.

Anonymous
Anonymous

See, I screwed it up again.

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