From: Lee Daniel Crocker (lee@piclab.com)
Date: Fri Mar 14 2003 - 11:30:20 MST
> (spike66 <spike66@attbi.com>):
> Lee Corbin wrote:
> >
> >Any huge system, like a government, will always do what is
> >advantageous for it to do. Right now, for example, in almost
> >any Western country to arrest people for speaking their views
> >is practically unthinkable...
>
> There was an interesting twist to freedom of speech
> in today's Chron. The San Francisco cops are being
> sued for videotaping an anti-war rally. The claim
> is that if a video camera is running, it takes away
> the speakers *anonymity* and thus becomes a denial of
> her *freedom of speech*!
>
> This case is so interesting on so many levels, I am
> still pondering the claim. Thoughts?
That's one of the most idiotic claims I've heard in a while.
Yes, the SC has recognized that there is a right to anonymous
pamphleting, but a public protest isn't that. If you want to
stand out on public streets with signs, you have no right to
expect privacy or anonymity. Either you believe in what you're
protesting, or you're a coward and a hypocrite. The fact that
the cops videotape the events should help them defend themselves
against spurious charges of police misconduct that always erupt
in SF, as well as helping them prosecute protesters who cross
the line.
-- Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com> <http://www.piclab.com/lee/> "All inventions or works of authorship original to me, herein and past, are placed irrevocably in the public domain, and may be used or modified for any purpose, without permission, attribution, or notification."--LDC
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