My new mission in life combines my two passions, activism and photography (but I need your help)

[RagingInMiami]

As many of you know, I was arrested in February after photographing Miami police against their wishes. My trial begins May 7th, so I decided to start a blog to document developments in the case as well as to maintain a central location for all information regarding the case.

But I also want to document any other instances of photographers' rights getting abused in this country, which we all know happens way too frequently. I would like this blog to become a central resource for photographers' rights.

So please keep me in mind if anything comes up.

Meanwhile, you can read about my latest incident involving a Wackenhut security guard who informed me yesterday that I was not allowed to take photographs from a public transportation station.

http://carlosmiller.wordpress.com/

[Rainbowreflect]

1. Kicked!

:kick:
Keep up the good work.

[EFerrari]

2. Wtf? What was that about?

I'll be happy to research/keep track, whatever is needed.

K&R

[JNelson6563]

3. I regret I have only 1 rec. to give!

We may have to start up a RagingInMiami Defense Fund! :toast:

Julie

[RagingInMiami]

4. Thanks, Julie

The Society of Professional Journalists is hosting a fund raiser for me on May 12th. I will blog it this week.

http://spj.org/blog/blogs/ldf/archive/2007/05/02/7043.aspx

[JNelson6563]

5. Kick

:kick:

[Poiuyt]

6. Ask Dan Rather

He got beat up on live TV during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.

As Mayor Daley said, "The policeman isn't there to create disorder, the policeman is there to preserve disorder."

[bonito]

7. Kick n/t

[Morgana LaFey]

8. That's absolutely WONDERFUL.

Now -- how do the journalists killed in Iraq fit (or do they)? Some of them were photographers too, I'm sure. Here are my links on the war on journalists:

Reuters: "We have first-hand experience of US soldiers shooting our staff"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2232489
Link: http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/article/021006/macdonald_on_reporting_from_iraq

An AP photographer who shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 now sits in a U.S. Army jail in Baghdad
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x676726
Link: http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/21331

U.S. Holds AP Photographer in Iraq 5 Mo - without charges
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2515713
Link: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2454961
and: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://www.the-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20060917/API/609171361%26cachetime%3D5

13:33 4/16/2007
delete the photographs or we will delete you
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x665411
Link: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003571803

Witnesses: Israel strikes Reuters car
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2477313
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060826/ap_on_re_mi_ea/gaza_air_strike

"I Was a Propaganda Intern in Iraq"
(for Lincoln Group)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1953069
Link: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/21/1348229

CNN Breaking: Two Fox News Employees Abducted in Gaza
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2455828
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060814/ts_nm/mideast_gaza_kidnapping_dc_3

Journalists Who Lie, Journalists Who Die
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1886501&mesg_id=1892769
Link: http://foi.missouri.edu/mediacredibility/jwholie.html
(and several other links)

(Iaqi) Reporters attacked by US troops...
In at least six separate incidents since June, Iraqi reporters said they had been physically beaten, had their equipment confiscated and been falsely accused of "terrorism".
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1851088
Link: http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.aljazeera.net%2FNR%2Fexeres%2F554FAF3A-B267-427A-B9EC-54881BDE0A2E.htm%3Fprintguid%3D%7B8D1986F6-7C22-40EC-AA05-64D8472C1A73%7D

[Morgana LaFey]

9. Oh oh. One thing, an important one, re your blog

Unless Wackenhut was working FOR the government, they didn't violate your First Amendment rights.

Please read the First Amendment for yourself: it guarantees only that the GOVERNMENT will not censor you, that's all. They may have been in the wrong, but it wasn't a 1st Amendment issue -- unless, as I said, they were under contract to one or another government entity.

[RagingInMiami]

11. They are contracted by Miami-Dade County

[Morgana LaFey]

14. Well, THAT's pathetic, but okay -- you might make that point

in your blog somewhere, unless you did and I missed it while skimming.

GOod luck with your really terrific new activism!

Edit: pathetic because I'm against privatization of such.

[canetoad]

10. In Melbourne last July

the management of a casino/restaurant/tourist precinct called Southbank, which is literally over-run with visitors to Melbourne, put up signs prohibiting any photography. There was an enormous hoo-haa, they were told by practically everyone where to stick their signs and they were removed. Interestingly, they say that although the signs are gone, the policy remains in place. Stops terrarists ya know.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/07/29/1153816426869.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/terrorists-with-tripods/2006/07/26/1153816250981.html?page=2

Plenty more links on Google if you're interested. I'm sure there are parallels with your country.

[UTUSN]

12. All I know is that you are PLATINUM, brother!!1 I can't help more. n/t

[Digital]

13. Give 'em hell!

Don't let the bastards get away with suppressing your free speech! Don't be disenfranchised by those REPUKEs.

[Cetacea]

15. Hello again.

I apologize for having not gotten back to you but you had already accomplished what I was going to try to do..

I once had two NY Cops search my car entirely while on assignment and having Police/County Press credentials.
I still have panic attacks when driving thanks to that incident.

I was young and intimidated. You have a good case and already have contacted the right people and you have the internet. Good luck !

[RagingInMiami]

16. The power of the Internet

Is our only saving grace in this day and age of media conglomeration.