Comments on: UK photographers released from jail

By: Paul Borntraeger

Paul Borntraeger — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:49:56 +0000

If you directly insult a person by using words like “stupid” and “idiot” then you only display ignorance and arrogance, your argument becomes null and void when you resort to such tactics, regardless of your other points.

On a more direct note, the arrests of photographers with press credentials are unfortunate and a sign of a strong shift between the rights which conservatives claim to know and love, and their actual understanding of such rights.

It is my understanding that several protests were led by anarchist groups attempting wide spread destruction, yes these citizens should be arrested and brought to justice for any crimes. But they should always be treated as citizens and given their full rights. Any persons not engaging in illegal behavior should clearly not be arrested, and it would certainly seem that some were.
Take a look at this.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/04/convention.protests/#cnnSTCVideo
I’m not a huge CNN fan but unedited video tells a fairly accurate story.

By: b

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:13:30 +0000

And we thought China’s suppression of the news media was bad.

By: David

David — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:30:29 +0000

I usually don’t chime in on these things but this kathleen idiot and others who line up along side her need to understand there’s a wide span between ‘criticism’ and wreckless, irresponsible & distructive actions. It’s the ulta left wing nuts like her that really don’t get it!

By: Sherman Cahal

Sherman Cahal — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:53:25 +0000

LD, so photographers are now lumped under vandals?

I consider myself to be a green-anarchist, but I don\’t go about vandalising properties, tagging various walls with graffiti, or any of the other vast misconceptions that you carry along. I\’m fully employed, a historian and an accomplished photographer.

It\’s a shame that far too many have too far broad misconceptions and misinterpretations based upon what they read and hear from popular media.

By: kathleen

kathleen — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:32:54 +0000

In response to: “By the way,if you think our “Amerika” is so bad, why don’t you go to Russia and see how wonderful it is over there. You have no idea how good we have it.”
Why is it that idiots like you think that is a good response to criticism of the government and/or its agencies? What is wrong with being angry about the way things are handled? Are you saying that if I have any criticism about something I should abandon it? I sure hope you like every little thing about your kids…else you will try to exchange them for other children, INSTEAD of trying to make a positive change. You stupid republican. Those of you that think criticizing America makes a person un-American have no idea what democracy is supposed to be.

By: Amy Crawford

Amy Crawford — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:39:41 +0000

I think this shows what a police state the U.S. is becoming. The job of a photographer is to be a news-gatherer. That often puts you in the thick of things - news is where the action is, whether it’s dangerous or civil. But to be arrested for doing so? That’s clearly a violation of the First and the Fourth Amendments.

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:04:10 +0000

LD-I afree with you that violent protesters should be detained, but these are journalists. The police have no right to detain them if they are just covering the story and they have no right to confiscate all of their equipment, though if though if there is evidence of a crime captured on their cameras they could download it and return the cameras.
Unfortunately this is the state of things that we have to deal with at this point because we have allowed our freedoms to be erroded under the current administration. And to LD-comparing our situation to Russia’s is not a valid reason to accept these changes. We all should demand the highest level of civil liberties. Our founding fathers fought a revolution to gain these rights and power hungry politicians and NWO collaborators do all they can to chip away at them.
I leave you with a quote of one of America’s greatest and most repected men. “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”
Benjamin Franklin

Heed well.

By: tim

tim — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:59:19 +0000

I don’t understand why they would put you in jail for destroying private property. It is my Constitutional right to express myself! What’s this country coming to?

By: LD

LD — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:48:21 +0000

Are you people insane? Have you watched these “peaceful protesters” bust out windows, destroy property and trample all over other peoples property. What about the rights of the people whose property is destroyed? I guess as long as you have a liberal agenda, it doesn’t matter who else is trampled under foot. I am all for freedom of speech but there is a way to do it that doesn’t involve declaring anarchy. You spit vile hatred for those who have to uphold the law and praise those who break it.

By the way,if you think our “Amerika” is so bad, why don’t you go to Russia and see how wonderful it is over there. You have no idea how good we have it.

By: CMD

CMD — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:42:28 +0000

It seems there is a potential conflict of interests when journalists represent the causes of other journalists. Why are there no comments from the Minneapolis police?