The Author
Apparently the practice of last minute “targeted” announcements, hidden townhall schedules and carefully planned events is no longer enough to help members of Congress avoid citizens who do not agree with them. As you’ll see in the video below, a new tactic is being tried in Ohio: Flat out theft of private property at public meetings.
There is so much wrong with this video that it’s hard to know where to begin. Perhaps we’ll just start with a list.
- It’s a public venue (taxpayer owned) and not private property
- It’s a taxpayer/public Congressional townhall, not a private campaign event
- There is clearly discrimination happening against who is “allowed” to have a camera and who is not
- The first response given by the officer is that he’s taking away private property “to protect the constituents”
- Second, when the first citizen makes it clear he is at a public event and within his rights, the officer says he can take the camera the easy way, or the hard way
- The officer then says he’s taking the camera from the citizen because he’s not a member of the press. As a follow up to that, according to whom? When I document events I consider it journalism to an extent. Who decides who can have cameras and who can’t simply by putting a label on them?
- The second citizen is then approached and says, “No, you cannot take my camera.” The officer responds with “They don’t want you using it in here.” Well, “They” (the staff) probably don’t want half those people in there, but that doesn’t mean they can escort them out.
- This is probably the worst part. The woman says “it’s not against the law to film this.” The officer responds with “Yes it is. That’s what I’ve been told.”
That’s what you’ve been told? You’re an officer of the law and you’re following orders of campaign staff? You’re illegally confiscating private property because someone “told you” it was against the law to have it?
When the woman pushes and says, “I have every right,” the officer continues saying, Â ”no you do not.”
Who is this officer to make such statements? Â On what authority can he just write law in real time? On what authority can he just revoke our rights on the spot because some staffer ordered him to do so?
The confiscated property is then carried to the Chabot Staff table. Think about that for a second. Â The officer took the private property and then gave it to the Congressman’s staff?
While a lot of this blame falls on the police officer, Â as he never should have paid any attention to the Congressional Staffer, and should have known the law, what in the world are Congressman Chabot’s staffers doing suppressing the constituents?
If townhall videos are hitting YouTube and you don’t like the content, don’t blame the cameras!
This is a clear violation of rights and Congressman Chabot should be ashamed of himself. His staff should be rebuked, an apology should be given, and the officer should be punished.
Americans can’t stand for this. Townhall events are public and we have EVERY right to be present, asking questions and filming responses. It’s outrageous that a Republican Congressman would allow our rights to be trampled right before his eyes.
Unbelievable.
-Eric Odom
UPDATE: It has been suggested that cameras are prohibited in some public places, courtrooms, Â for example. While this is true, those scenarios are generally governed by a judge’s orders, city or county ordinance. I highly doubt there is an ordinance banning cameras from a high school gym and during an external public event.
If there are, then the people of Chabot’s district need to be asking themselves why they allowed government to become so big.
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SHE SHOULD HAVE PUT UP A FIGHT!! THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO ARREST ME BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE CHARGED THEM WITH MUGGING ME AND STEALING MY CAMERA.
WAKE UP, SLAVES!!!!!!
Yes, I would have raised such a commotion, everyone in the room would be filming me and I wouldn’t mind being arrested for protecting my rights under the bill of rights!
Bravo Caroline!You are 100% right!
I called in and the mailbox is full, however, I just choose an extension at random[100] and got through. I do not believe these people have any idea of the anger that permeates EVERYONE I speak to, regardless of vocation or party affiliation. Keep the pressure on these idiots. They have all the benefits and we are all suffering.
Amen brother!
I agree totally, they would have had to take me to jail…….!
I was hoping it was a Biden show. Just shows the gaffs arn’t monopolized by the left. What was he thinking?
I called at 11:51 Eastern time and the mailbox was full.
Exactly Val! Time to wake up people!!!
I would have caused a scene and really asked the Congressman if he went along with this outrage..
Just spoke with Chabot’s office — NOW they have decided to allow cameras at all future town hall meetings . . . .
If they said they will NOW allow cameras, don’t believe them. It’s all about rhetoric. People involved should sue the Police for violating their constitutional rights with force and duress.
That’s good news. Now let’s see if he has anymore town halls.
Is this America or Syria?? And at a Republican Town Hall, no less!!! This needs to go viral. Has anyone sent this to Fox News? If he were running for re-election in my state (TX), he wouldn’t stand a prayer in 2012. That officer should be held accountable, along with the campaign staff.
Got caught with his political drawers down – - – -duhhhh
This makes me furious. I have seen this too many times with people being harrased in public places. We have become a police state. The people in his state need to vote his ass out of office. Make that avalable everywhere. Put it on the news, local & fox, and CNN, & NSNBC if they will take it. We are not taking this crap!!!!!!
Amen bro, we need a Texas born President and get rid of these Commi rags in power now.
Some one like Heritage Foundation should take this case and sue them. Sue their asses. I am fighting mad!!!!!
mailbox full at 11 25 am
I also called Chabot’s office and it was THINK PROGRESS who was the culprit filming the CITIZENS to intimidate them…how 3rd world can we get? AARP has also targetted this Congressman, a Tea Party favorite, who was rather trying to protect his citizens than himself. There, Eric! Do your homework before jumping on a story that hurts the Conservative cause!
@Helen I’m confused by your response. Are you suggesting that because it was a “left” wing organization instead of a “right” wing outfit recording that we should not be covering the story?
I don’t care who it was holding the cameras, they have every right to do so in a public place and no paper signs taped to walls or staff opinions can change that.
I’m not here to hide my head in the sand on issues such as this. The truth has no agenda.
Just sayin…
Eric,
You hit the nail on the head. It is not OK for any “side” to take away our remaining liberties. Enough damage has been done already.
Unless there are articulated reasons for the actions of his staff, Mr. Chabot is unworthy of his position.
I can’t get through to his phone mail – all boxes are full. Go figure.
I completely agree with you.
Furthermore, because he is a Republican, I hold him to a higher standard of behavior/policies. A Republican needs to be a champion of the Constitution. If he is a Republican then he should resign to maintain the dignity of the party. If he does not resigning at the very least he should do a public apology. A repercussion from the Republican constituents will demonstrate that we do not tolerate such behavior from our politicians. Let the Democrats have him.
What I AM saying, Eric, is to consider the source, or should I say soros…I HAVE been told not to film in a Democratic Senator’s Townhall where tickets were only given through the local Democrats, but being that I look like a hippy, was given one, to try to make the attendance not look so skimpy. I am also suggesting that it was selectively edited, as you WELL know think regress, or think oppress seldom tells the whole truth. YES, consider the source.
I agree with Eric. Who cares if the left is filming, or the right. Who is afraid of a liberal with a camera? We have cameras. If the left is filming and the right is filming, you will end up with the truth. One balancing the other. That is better, than what we get from the MSM. We must secure our liberties, for all Americans. Yes. I hate to say it. That includes the left. We are all Americans.
You’ve missed the point- It doesn’t matter WHO was filming, every one of those citizens has the right to record a public figure in an open meeting in a taxpayer owned public building. The cop was a TOTAL moron, and he deserves to go back to Po-lice 101 after a couple days in jail himself. Chabot should be removed from office for not telling the cop to cease and desist.
Helen, do you have a right to attend and film an event being held by a Democratic member of Congress? When you deprive others of their rights, you sacrifice your own. So maybe it’s you who needs to do some homework.
Conservative my ass, if he can take lefty’s right then you’re next. They love their power. That’s what they live for. if you support the you’re just one of their puppets, left or right.
1. The staffer that “requested ” the officer to secure the cameras should be fired and jailed for breaking the law.
2. Chabot should be removed from office and jailed for breaking the law.
3. The “officer” that paid any attention to the ridiculous, unlawful request should lose his job AND spend a couple days in jail.
Each of these morons can easily be replaced by citizens that understand and follow the law.
Bob, what you say may be true, but it does not make it right. This should have been explained to the rest of the attendees, but instead force was used. Wrong on two counts.
Mark, AMEB BROTHER.
I don’t care if Chabot is the head of the Tea Party, Fire his ass and the cop too!
1. The staffer that “requested †the officer to secure the cameras should be fired and jailed for breaking the law.
2. Chabot should be removed from office and jailed for breaking the law.
3. The “officer†that paid any attention to the ridiculous, unlawful request should lose his job AND spend a couple days in jail.
Each of these morons can easily be replaced by citizens that understand and follow the law.
Lock up any fascist that tramps our rights. That is no cop, it’s a fascist PIG!l Jail the fascists !! For stealing Liberty
You go, Mark!!!!
I was taking a video of the TSA screening process at McCarran airport in Las Vegas when a security gua told me that filming was prohibited by the TSA and he was going to”have to take my phone” if I didn’t stop. I told him that he was going t have to forcibly take it if he wanted it; and I didn’t think he had what it was going to require to confiscate my property. He didn’t.
I may get my ass kicked and I may go to jail but I’m going to make these thugs pay if they want my property.
Some info missing here – What police department does the officer represent and who is the Chief that gave authorization for the officer to seize property without an arrest or probable cause for an arrest?
Good question, I’d like to know too
People have been charged with illegal wiretapping for filming police officers- Public Servants- doing their jobs. People have been charged under the Patriot Act for photographing buildings, bridges and public transportation. These actions don’t do anything to protect public safety. It’s just an excuse for hassling photographers and limiting documentation of things like conditions in the NYC subway system.
It’s as if I couldn’t Google “George Washington Bridge” (for example) and find 100s of pictures of it. The reason I use the George Washington Bridge as an example is that there are signs all over it that say “no photography”, but you can take one of those Circle Line boat tours and photograph it all you want- including from underneath. In fact, you can photograph every bridge into Manhattan this way.
You may think this comment is off topic, but as a photographer without press credentials I get hassled all the time. This is nothing new. It’s just a new flavor of the same unnecessary harassment of photographers that’s arisen in the last ten years- as if there were any vital state interest being served by this all too common practice.
Last time I looked the American Flag was flying on the Post Office, I could believe this happening in a solidarity meeting with Muamar Qhadafi, but not in the U.S., no Sir. Otherwise we will see an American Spring rise up. This is a country founded by folks with revolutionary ideas and by golly, that DNA is in our blood. Don’t thread on us!
Besides, the local Police is being payed by the local taxpayers, not the Federal Government. If they begin to infringe on our rights now, what will happen later, censure of free speech and the denial of expressing our opinions?
I hope the two people who had their phone and camera taken file a lawsuit against the police department, the chief and the city officials for allowing such outrageous behavior.
Never, ever, refuse an order by a police officer. Never, ever, “put up a fight” as was previously suggested. Both of these things are crimes, and you can (and most likely will) be arrested– and even if the officer was doing something wrong at the time, that is treated as a separate issue in court– ie., you will be convicted and will probably do time in prison. So don’t be stupid. BUT– that doesn’t mean that you can’t so anything about it. Take note of the officer’s name (on a purposefully very small name tag) and badge number. Try to get the officer to give you a written receipt for the item taken. Be nice about it. THEN, when the event is over, march right down to the nearest FBI office, and file a WRITTEN complaint that the officer (and possibly other unknown subjects if you believe that the officer was not acting alone) violated your civil rights. Write down everything you can remember on the complaint. You will be provided with a copy of the complaint and contact info for the agent that is in charge of your case. By law, the FBI *MUST* investigate all WRITTEN civil rights complaints, and they are taken very seriously. I believe that there were a minimum of 3 federal laws broken that day, and since there were multiple occurrences it is possible that the 10-year sentence for each violation could end up in LIFE IN FEDERAL PRISON for all perpetrators involved, including the officer, his supervisor, his commander, and the staffer (and/or the congressman) that “suggested” that these crimes be committed.
Don’t just WHINE about it– DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!
BTW– You are “the press” simply if you SAY you are the press– even if it is just to post a video are write about something in an Internet Blog– YOU ARE THE “PRESS”. In fact, you can get “press credentials” that will get you into many events that you would otherwise be barred from. Everyone that has a YouTube channel and/or blog should get “press credentials”.
Exactly how do we go about getting a press credential from YouTube? I would love to have one.
KP is COMPLETELY wrong! It is only against the law to resist a police office if that office is engaged in LAWFUL activity. A person has a legal right to resist the unlawful conduct of a police officer. Although anybody who chooses to exercise this right should know that he’s probably going to get beaten for his trouble. So in that sense, KP’s advice might be prudent. But to suggest that a citizen may not resist the unlawful activities of a police office is just plain WRONG. And detrimental to a free society.
Yo KP, the FBI is a federal agency and how far do you think you will get with a complaint when we have a flacky commi for AG?
Is that a Security Guard or a Policeman? Here in Oregon, at a Townhall event in a very North Portland District (Black Constituency), Kitzhaber was speaking, and his opponent did not attend that event, so Kitzhaber was just answering questions from the podium. The Security Guard, or just the people involved in the event, went so far as to smash the camera into the filmers nose and cut his face and bruised him badly in the nose. It wasn’t a pretty sight. He asked the same questions as in this video, but was physically assaulted. I would have pressed charges and made them pay dearly. They kept saying it was a private event, but it was filmed in a Public Building.
Yeah, I would’ve gone to jail over this. Illegal at best, socialism at worst. Probably President Bush’s fault. <
Wow, did I read this guy was a tea party favorite? We are all such tools when the very people we are electing on a smaller government platform are using the same unconstitutional tactics as those they want to replace. I think I heard someone talking about rights being violated in that very room as the camera was set down…
I cannot imagine handing a usually very expensive piece of electronic equipment over to anyone for any reason. What if they dropped it or broke it? Who replaces it? And NOW they are ALLOWING cameras…..that’s still against the law, they have no right to allow them either. That’s still inferring they have rights in this regard. THEY DON’T.
And the police officer going along with it….how did it ever come to this?
Bravo to those who stood up to him even though they still gave up their phones/cameras. Someone should have called 911 and reported a theft.
I have several spy cameras that I use as backup when filming public events, and think that EVERY person who considers himself a citizen journalist to do the same. They can’t get all the cameras, especially if they look like this http://www.spycameras.com/item,dvrp-8gahd,50-mp-(30f-s)-hd-spy-camcorder-marker-pen.html
Yo Bob, I looked at the link, and it looks pretty obvious to me. How do you hide it?
We pro-lifers face the same thing when we are protesting at abortion mills. In fact, some police officers will refuse to do anything as long as they know a camera is rolling. This is, of course, being done because video evidence cannot be denied and the guilty don’t want the public to wake up as to who’s really doing what.
Rock stars do that too! Warner bros. wont let you take pictures of their buildings! etc. etc. etc. union thugs will beat you up! you have to use caution with camers now a days! Duh!
I called and his mailbox was full. Lol Too many current “elected officials†think they are “above the law & above the common man†and this is exactly what has gone wrong with this country! They think they are “better than†us the common man. They think they “deserve better†things everyday than us the common man. The real criminal part is—
1-They already enjoy a better “healthcare†plans. 2-They already enjoy a better “retirement†benefit package. 3-They already enjoy better “pay raises†each year. All because they VOTED them in for themselves (years ago) to become automatic every year.
We NEED to ABOLISH these old (Cadillac benefits laws) that are on the books. Working for the people was never supposed to be a lifetime career and it was never supposed to pay you (so well) that you never wanted to give it up!
So they sit there and figure out even more ways (how to) make their old jobs more cushy and comfortable for themselves and even more ways to make it so convoluted so we the people can’t figure out what’s going on so we can’t STOP it… Make them use the same healthcare & social security system as the rest of us and I bet you it gets fixed in one term. STOP the lobbyist smoozing too. That’s illegal as hell—it’s called bribery! If a lobbyist wants to contribute money to a campaign fund, let them give it to political A PARTY—NOT to a person… Make this illegal again…
The 2 biggest things are that–“it violates our US Constitution†and “It violates common decencyâ€.
This violates the 9th amendment—“takes away the people’s rightsâ€. (our right to go to a public meeting and take pictures and video tape it)
This violates the 4th amendment—violates a person’s right from “unreasonable searches & seizures†of personal camera & video equipment.
This just proves we NEED to get rid of (ALL career politicians) and put in NEW simplified LAWS to do just this. Term limits are NEEDED in Every avenue of the political spectrum in this government! We ALL need to be more vigilant so this doesn’t happen again. Letting our government get too strong, Twice in one 40-50 year period is enough.
We should ALL buy this video pen and go en mass to these meetings to record them and show the world how they DO business. Most meetings I have been to are nice and done well. This one– I would of had a cow. lol
http://www.spycameras.com/item,dvrp-4g,30-mp-(25f-s)-spy-camcorder-pen.html
This is just another example of American’s rights being taken away. But it is as if we are in a slow boil; so that we don’t notice nor does anyone else notice. We just wake up one day and our freedoms are gone. I would have thrown such a fit and made such a scene that I would surely have been on the evening news. This policeman had no right to confiscate these cameras.
Kent
Regardless of his political party, he needs to resign immediately. This is an outrageous assault on the personal freedoms of an American citizen in the presence of a political representative. This representative’s job is to protect and serve the rights of his constituents. As an independent with highly fiscal conservative views and equally high views on personal freedoms I currently support the republican party. If this gentleman truly is a Republican then he needs to resign or at the minimum do a public apology. As American we must stand up and refuse to tolerate such behavior.
James
I sure would of been a whole lot more vocal than than the woman, I would of made a big sceen. I thought having the Police stomp on our 1st amendment rights was a dumbocrat tactic, looks like the Republicians have learned some tricks. How many more towns/cities are going to have the peoples 1st amendment rights banned? When will enough be enough?
Absolutely horrible… the conservatives in the room should have shut down the meeting and had this issue brought to the floor immediately. Neither Conservatives nor Democrats should stand for the removal of anybodys’ rights. And it is a public meeting wherein NO ONE HAS ANY EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY… stop it right now!!
This is an outrage! Where does this Republican Congressman get off in giving the order to stop people from exercising their Constitutional rights? He should be FIRED by his constituents, if they value FREEDOM AND LIBERTY! The Police Officer must also be totally ignorant of our Constitution. They must be victims of a public education where Liberals have a captive audience to brainwash children into becoming little Saul Alinsky Wannabee’s.
This Congressman needs to be forced into taking a course in our U S Constitution!
I called and they said that “We have dropped that policy and cameras and phones will be welcome at all future Town Hall Events”.
I called the Congressman’s office and I believe that they have a valid point and I think we all may have jumped the gun because right now we are very sensitive about all of our rights and freedoms taken away from us. If they set the rules ahead of time, then it’s your choice to attend or not attend. I don’t like people sticking a camera phone on me anytime of their choosing – it’s intimidating and I have a right to be there just as well as anyone else. Sometimes the lefties are trying to make trouble and they start something so that they can get something juicy on camera. Or they stage people there and then film them to fake a nasty sign or whatever. I think it’s an issue that the left is going to use to fight us in the dirtiest way they can, so I don’t think it’s such a bad thing. However, that being said, if I were going to a Democrats townhall, I would want someone from our side to have a camera so we can hear the truth.
The Congressman’s office has stated that the next townhall, they are asking those people who have personal questions to ask, that do not want to be filmed, to meet privately with the Congressman because cameras WILL be allowed.
He should be voted out of office. Let him know he works for us. YOUR FIRED!!!!
Citizens of Ohio, it’s time to boot this jerk out of office, to walk en masse upon the local police headquarters and demand the resignation of the Police Chief and the officers who ILLEGALLY confiscated the equipment and then find another candidate to replace this dictatorial bozo republican who comprehends the U S Constitution, Bill of Rights and what our liberties are.
So is anyone pursuing this legally? Where are all the pro bono lawyers on the conservative side to go after this? Best thing is to just spread this far and wide. Maybe shove it over to MSNBC to run. They think this is all about party politics. Then everybody crucify these rakes!!!
This ASS must be a Rhino.
that retard needs to go back to the academy and learn the laws…..
They would all have to stop the meeting & let me share what is going on & how this man was trying to take away our rights and control the public with the taxpayer $$$.
THIS NEEDS TO GO TO THE COURTS. I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS AMERICA. THE LAND OF THE FREE????? THE HOME OF THE BRAVE????? NOT!!
Although not a Democrat, this article was very well presented…and I agree, this should not be tolerated.
JAIL THE FASCISTS FOR STEALING LIBERTY. THAT IS NO COP THAT IS A POLITICAL PIG!
It’s not too late to bring a lawsuit against the officer, his department and the congressman’s staff. Get some organization involved like the American Civil Rights Union, at theacru.org. Take the case to federal circuit court level at least and get a decision on this, hopefully in the citizen’s favor. Then we can have a case to cite when this happens again, and it will if some action is not taken. Shame on the officer for not knowing the law and shame on him for not asking the staff member to cite the law that would back up the request to confiscate private property at a public meeting in a public place. Officers are supposed to analyse events, apply the law fairly and indiscriminately, and make proper decisions. This officer failed to do that and became a big government jackbooted thug and unfit to wear the uniform. When we record public events, what are they going to do next, take our pencil and paper? There was a time in a European communist country where it was illegal to own a typewriter. Don’t say, “It can’t happen here.” It already is.
Folks, this is your tax dollars at work: protecting the Democrat power structure rather than the average citizen. The same dynamic applies here in Boston where the police feel they must protect the business interests of Planned Parenthood (with barricades, “buffer zones” and arrests) against pro lifers, who are considered and treated as tantamount to terrorists.
So! We have reached a consensus, then:
1) The police officer should be fired.
2) The Chief of Police should apologize, then be fired.
3) The Congressman must be sacked.
4) The Havana Cigar goes to “KP”, for the most level-headed contribution to this discussion.