ATL-anons Protest Co$ (includes PIX and downloadables; Post is of EPIC LENGTH, be warned)
Atlanta was out in force despite riot squadders, tornadoes and rain. Huzzah!
This was a triumph. I'm making a note here, HUGE SUCCESS.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.
( Read more... )
This was a triumph. I'm making a note here, HUGE SUCCESS.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.
( Read more... )
1. Anon was allowed to use bullhorns elsewhere, worldwide. I can check and see, but I believe Anon used a bullhorn on 2/10 without complaint.
2. Anon was allowed to use the bullhorn on 3/15 without a sign of any kind from the police that this was not going to be acceptable. In other words, they waited to see how many Anon would take up the 'horn. Right after Anon finished saying Anon's piece, which included a sincere thank you to the police for being there to protect and serve, and an invitation to come and enjoy delicious and moist cake when they had a break (in other words, feel free to come across the street and talk to Anon if you like and be thanked and treated to refreshments in person), the police marched across the street in a six or seven cop formation, and grabbed two Anon by the arms without saying a word or explaining why, and marched the two Anons into the Co$ bunker for three hours. After three hours, they finally decided to approach the remaining, undaunted, Anons to explain what charges were being filed. We arrived about ten minutes after this, but videos on YouTube show the sequence of events very clearly, and I urge you to check them out.
3. Anon asked, several times, if a permit to gather would be required. Anon was told that no permit was needed. One of the charges was protesting without a permit.
4. Honking in response to protests is SOP in the USA. The ACLU has pursued several cases where honkers were arrested and being cited for honking is harassment, as it typically does not hold up in court. The citations were not universally enforced, either, as can be seen when the Fire Department vehicles drove by and honked, and were not cited or even spoken to by the police. Note also that honking was allowed on 2/10, and that some of the police themselves honked at Anon after the 2/10 protest.
5. Slowing down on a surface street can possibly "impede traffic flow" but with no minimum speed limit posted and no traffic being impeded, citing individuals who slowed but did not even stop was also harassment.
6. Police were scanning the Enturb forums and were well aware that Anon's intents were peaceful, constructive and non-violent. Police were also informed by phone and most were agreeable to the protests, though one officer suggested that if Anon was at all concerned about protesting, Anon should choose not to do so.
7. The police co-operated with the CoS throughout the day, and were fed by them. The CoS were allowed to videotape and take photographs unimpeded, and the police even told Anon that covering Anon's face in public was illegal. This is untrue. It is not illegal to conceal your identity in public, especially if you have just reason to do so. What IS illegal is to refuse to identify yourself to an officer if you break the law. Anon did not break any laws by being masked. In fact, Anon specifically researched the outdated mask ban laws before gathering, and this is why ATLanons do not wear the Fawkes masks on their faces. As noted, I would have gladly complied if an officer told me directly to unmask, but as I was breaking no laws, I chose to disregard that, because the request sucked cocks. Pardon my French.
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On the plus side, there are a hell of a lot of pissed-off civilians who are not going to look kindly upon the police or the "church" just because they slowed down or tooted their horns. The world is shaking its head in disgust at the DeKalb cops, many of which are no doubt hamstrung and forced to do as their superior officers demand. The average cop seems to be positively inclined towards Anon, and amused by Anon. In fact, when N. and I and our new bus pal were waiting at the bus stop after the protest, about 12-14 cop cars rolled on by, plus two HUGE Greyhound-bus-sized riot RVs, and several of the police in the cop cars waved back and smiled, and I was even wearing my Fawkes mask by this time. (Some did not smile or wave back, and drove by with blue lights flashing and a great display of revving engines and spinning tires. But most did.)
Incidentally, when I noticed we had a surplus of cakes, I spoke to some Anons and offered to cross the street to offer some directly to the officers, and was, at that point, advised of the arrests and other pertinent details, and discouraged from risking my personal safety and anonymity to do so. But I would have gladly done so, as I LIKE police officers, generally speaking, and admire and respect them for doing a hard job, and would have been pleased to be the bearer of tasty comestibles and bottled waters if I could have. I bear no ill will towards any individual police who were there. I do think it is odd that they were not at the tornado damage sites assisting the public, and I was dismayed that the weaponry they brought had been upgraded from standard truncheons to SRS BZNZ guns loaded with rubber bullets and pepper spray and the like (why the upgrade? Protest on 2/10 was completely peaceful and respectful!), and the video record of them colluding with CoS folks is troubling, as is the fact that they took the arrested Anons INTO the CoS bunker, where, no doubt, they could be more easily identified and Fair Gamed. But you have to remember that the police there are required to respond when their bosses tell them to. It is likely the CoS reported non-existent threats against itself, hence the stepped-up cop presence. I'm sure they are feeling all kinds of smug and pleased with themselves, too. Eh, whatever. We came, we protested politely, we cleaned up all signs we were there, we disassembled quickly and peacefully, so Anon, despite attempts to squelch our freedom of speech and right to peacefully assemble, still protested appropriately and with only the aforementioned Anons being nicked on suspicious pretexts. It skirts legality, and the ACLU has been informed. We'll see what happens.
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Looks like Atlanta (well, DeKalb County) police might be using the following ordinance to justify their actions (From http://www.noisefree.org/cityord/atlanta.html):
Sec. 74-133. Excessive noise.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud or excessive noise which unreasonably interferes with the comfort, response, health and safety of others within the jurisdiction of the city.
(Code 1977, § 17-3102)
Sec. 74-134. Specific prohibitions.
In addition to the general prohibition set out in section 74-133, the following specific acts are declared to be in violation of this article:
(1) Horns, signaling devices. The sounding of any horn or signaling device of a motor vehicle on any street or public place within the jurisdiction of the city continuously or intermittently for a period in excess of 60 seconds, except as a danger or emergency warning.
The protesters and innocent bystanders in cars (innocent byriders? Innocent bydrivers?) were definitely within city noise ordinances.
See also:
http://www.nonoise.org/lawlib/cities/atlanta.htm
What you can get from this is:
You can honk your horn, as long as its not continuous or intermittent, for over 60 seconds. Honking is legal.
Also, the use of a noise amplification device is legal from 7am - 10pm. (Only on weekdays, maybe?)
IANAL, but looks like Arrested Anon have a strong case.
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Cited Citizenry: Honking as a means of political expression has been upheld in federal court. If you got popped for it, contest your citation and/or sue.
http://www.dailytribune.com/stories/020108/loc_n2001.shtml
Again, the ACLU is aware of various related situations. You won't be alone if you file a grievance.
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Hence his insistence on non-interaction with protesters. He was there to take notes and to be impartial and, yes, to just observe.
"Jesus is my Homie" t-shirt guy in my Flickr photos, however? $cilon plant.
IIIIIIIINteresting!
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