<+>2006-10-22_045_2
The Terrorists Have Won
By way of background, I am an American by choice; I came to this country when I was ten years old. My father suffered in a German concentration camp; and my mother was in a German prisoners of war camp in Europe. By profession, I am an attorney.
This afternoon (October 22, 2006), while photographing buildings in Newark, New Jersey, I took pictures of the Essex County Hall of Records (see Photo1 and Photo2; similar photos by a different photographer are available HERE and HERE). Before I finished taking my pictures, I was approached by an Essex County Sheriff’s Officer. In response to his inquiries, I told him that I was a photographer taking pictures for my personal enjoyment, and that I was also an attorney. When I told the Officer that when I finished photographing the Hall of Records, I also intended to photograph the Old Court House that is across the street, the Officer radioed his superior officer.
I was then asked to produce proof that I was an attorney – when I produced my Attorney Identification Card, I was told that the Officer will need to photocopy it; and that I must also give him my Driver’s License because he needs additional information about my address. I was told to accompany the Officer into the Old Court House, so that he could photocopy my documents. When he finished, I was told that I was not allowed to take any additional photographs of the Essex County Hall of Records or the Old Court House.
I did not see any signs warning the public not to take photographs of the buildings. When I inquired as to the rule or regulation prohibiting the taking pictures of public buildings, the Officer told me that after 9/11, such activity was no longer permitted; however, he could not site any supporting rule or regulation. In response to my request, he did give me his name and the name of his superior officer that instructed him on how to deal with me — the note attached to this story.
I had no problem being asked who I was and why I was there; however, when government officials are unable to cite any law or regulation for their actions, and simply based on their personal whim decide to detain citizens and photocopy their credentials for unspecified purposes, we begin to live in a world that has gone wrong – our own government officials become the oppressors of our liberties.
What terrorists are unable to do with bombs and weapons, our own government officials accomplish with unjustified detention and suppression of our liberty – I left Newark as quickly as I could, and I wonder who will come knocking on my door next.
============================
Shoot And Run Flickr Group
See the back seat of a cop car
Photographer held for hours by police
Photographers Becoming Security Concerns
Should photography be illegal?
Thread: Woman complains to me about camera at metro station
<+>2006-10-22_045_2
The Terrorists Have Won
By way of background, I am an American by choice; I came to this country when I was ten years old. My father suffered in a German concentration camp; and my mother was in a German prisoners of war camp in Europe. By profession, I am an attorney.
This afternoon (October 22, 2006), while photographing buildings in Newark, New Jersey, I took pictures of the Essex County Hall of Records (see Photo1 and Photo2; similar photos by a different photographer are available HERE and HERE). Before I finished taking my pictures, I was approached by an Essex County Sheriff’s Officer. In response to his inquiries, I told him that I was a photographer taking pictures for my personal enjoyment, and that I was also an attorney. When I told the Officer that when I finished photographing the Hall of Records, I also intended to photograph the Old Court House that is across the street, the Officer radioed his superior officer.
I was then asked to produce proof that I was an attorney – when I produced my Attorney Identification Card, I was told that the Officer will need to photocopy it; and that I must also give him my Driver’s License because he needs additional information about my address. I was told to accompany the Officer into the Old Court House, so that he could photocopy my documents. When he finished, I was told that I was not allowed to take any additional photographs of the Essex County Hall of Records or the Old Court House.
I did not see any signs warning the public not to take photographs of the buildings. When I inquired as to the rule or regulation prohibiting the taking pictures of public buildings, the Officer told me that after 9/11, such activity was no longer permitted; however, he could not site any supporting rule or regulation. In response to my request, he did give me his name and the name of his superior officer that instructed him on how to deal with me — the note attached to this story.
I had no problem being asked who I was and why I was there; however, when government officials are unable to cite any law or regulation for their actions, and simply based on their personal whim decide to detain citizens and photocopy their credentials for unspecified purposes, we begin to live in a world that has gone wrong – our own government officials become the oppressors of our liberties.
What terrorists are unable to do with bombs and weapons, our own government officials accomplish with unjustified detention and suppression of our liberty – I left Newark as quickly as I could, and I wonder who will come knocking on my door next.
============================
Shoot And Run Flickr Group
See the back seat of a cop car
Photographer held for hours by police
Photographers Becoming Security Concerns
Should photography be illegal?
Thread: Woman complains to me about camera at metro station