← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · il ragno
Thread ID: 3899 | Posts: 5 | Started: 2002-12-07
2002-12-07 23:21 | User Profile
Before anybody starts squawking that this is a legit nat'l-security concern and McGinnis has no kick here, let's bear in mind that the nabobs of empire would gladly order their Praetorian Guard to arrest ten thousand McGinnises before they'd ever patrol our borders*. In fact, their next assignment will no doubt be an arrest sweep of the citizens now protecting the border they won't.
And is it just me or does anybody else notice that more and more of our law enforcement modelled after the IDF, if not Darth Vader's bullyboys? Seems like nobody gets just-plain-arrested any longer, they gotta send six cops in kevlar to draw down on you while you lay prostrate on the ground. More and more, 'officer safety' equals unarmed people spreadeagled on cement while surrounded on all sides by drawn ordnance. WTF is up with that?*
[url=http://www.2600.com/news/display/display.shtml?id=1441]http://www.2600.com/news/display/display.shtml?id=1441[/url]
PHOTOGRAPHER ARRESTED FOR TAKING PICTURES OF VICE PRESIDENT'S HOTEL
Posted 5 Dec 2002 06:03:48 UTC
An amateur photographer named Mike Maginnis was arrested on Tuesday in his home city of Denver - for simply taking pictures of buildings in an area where Vice President Cheney was residing. Maginnis told his story on Wednesday's edition of Off The Hook.
Maginnis's morning commute took him past the Adams Mark Hotel on Court Place. Maginnis, who says he always carried his camera wherever he went, snapped about 30 pictures of the hotel and the surrounding area - which included Denver police, Army rangers, and rooftop snipers. Maginnis, who works in information technology, frequently photographs such subjects as corporate buildings and communications equipment.
The following is Maginnis's account of what transpired:
As he was putting his camera away, Maginnis found himself confronted by a Denver police officer who demanded that he hand over his film and camera. When he refused to give up his Nikon F2, the officer pushed him to the ground and arrested him.
After being brought to the District 1 police station on Decatur Street, Maginnis was made to wait alone in an interrogation room. Two hours later, a Secret Service agent arrived, who identified himself as Special Agent "Willse."
The agent told Maginnis that his "suspicious activities" made him a threat to national security, and that he would be charged as a terrorist under the USA-PATRIOT act. The Secret Service agent tried to make Maginnis admit that he was taking the photographs to analyze weaknesses in the Vice President's security entourage and "cause terror and mayhem."
When Maginnis refused to admit to being any sort of terrorist, the Secret Service agent called him a "raghead collaborator" and a "dirty pinko faggot."
After approximately an hour of interrogation, Maginnis was allowed to make a telephone call. Rather than contacting a lawyer, he called the Denver Post and asked for the news desk. This was immediately overheard by the desk sergeant, who hung up the phone and placed Maginnis in a holding cell.
Three hours later, Maginnis was finally released, but with no explanation. He received no copy of an arrest report, and no receipt for his confiscated possessions. He was told that he would probably not get his camera back, as it was being held as evidence.
Maginnis's lawyer contacted the Denver Police Department for an explanation of the day's events, but the police denied ever having Maginnis - or anyone matching his description - in custody. At press time, the Denver PD's Press Information Office did not return telephone messages left by 2600.
The new police powers introduced by the USA-PATRIOT act, in the name of fighting terrorism, have been frightening in their apparent potential for abuse. Mike Maginnis's experience on Tuesday is a poignant example of how this abuse is beginning to occur. It suggests that a wide range of activities which might be considered "suspicious" could be suddenly labeled a prelude to terrorism, and be grounds for arrest.
We will continue to post updates to this story as we learn them.
2002-12-08 03:34 | User Profile
Our Soviet Government at Work!
Google Search: [url=http://www.google.com/search?q=+Cheney+%22Mike+Maginnis%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&as_qdr=all&filter=0]http://www.google.com/search?q=+Cheney+%22...dr=all&filter=0[/url]
2002-12-08 05:18 | User Profile
Originally posted by il ragno@Dec 7 2002, 23:21 When Maginnis refused to admit to being any sort of terrorist, the Secret Service agent called him a "raghead collaborator" and a "dirty pinko faggot."
This is the part that's scary. On a mere accusation, you can be jailed for an indeterminate period, and if you're outside the US (for now) you can be assassinated, and the government *claims* it's all legal. The US is an oligarchy shrouded with the illusion of democracy
2002-12-11 03:28 | User Profile
FR thread on this subject
Posted by "FreedomCalls"
PHOTOGRAPHER ARRESTED FOR TAKING PICTURES OF VICE PRESIDENT'S HOTEL
url: [url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/802643/posts]http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/802643/posts[/url]
I see Freepers are good Soviet Americans!
**To: FreedomCalls
Two things anger me about this.
First of all, taking pictures of the security measures for the V.P., or any member of the government, is a NO-NO! I don't care who you think you are.
... 23 posted on 12/07/2002 12:37 PM PST by CyberAnt**
To: FreedomCalls
Regardless, the Patriot Act does SUCK the big egg. I would like to see a quality investigative journalist do some due diligence before responding any further.
26 posted on 12/07/2002 12:49 PM PST by ApesForEvolution
To: Common Tator
That's nonsense. We have a free press, as guaranteed by the first ammendment. There is absolutely no place for any government agency to decide who is a legitimate reporter and who is not. Now, I agree in the case of the White House or other government facilities of course they are going to grant access as they see fit. But standing in the open and taking notes or pictures on a public street is NOT an activity that may be regulated by any level of government.
27 posted on 12/07/2002 12:50 PM PST by Jack Black
To: cardinal4
If he knew beforehand Cheney was staying there when he took the pictures, he deserves what he gets.
Nevermind the validity of the story, your attitude about taking photographs in public is dangerous.
I've taken thousands of digital photos of the places I go.... and it would really suck to be suspected of terrorism. I don't give a crap whether the VP or the Pres is staying at a particular hotel, if I want to take a photo of it from a public street - I'm doing it.
I will NEVER give up my right to use my camera on a public street.
36 posted on 12/07/2002 2:21 PM PST by Diverdogz
2002-12-12 17:24 | User Profile
That's nonsense. We have a free press, as guaranteed by the first ammendment.
Forget the free press these fascist tactics would be decried and blasted all over the place if they dared try it with Dan Rather or some other leftist so called "journalist".
What about the right to be secure in our persons and posessions without a valid writ from a judge or court. When they can scoop up a citizen without cause and hold him without charges...
The idea that this is a "free country" is a thing of the past.