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... )
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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