Metro in Brief: (D.C.) Police Detail Surveillance for (Anti-War and Pro-Life) Rallies

The Washington Post ^ | Thursday, December 19, 2002 | W.P. Staff Writers

[kristinn]

D.C. police announced yesterday that they will put up temporary surveillance cameras next month during anti-war rallies and during an antiabortion demonstration.

During the war protests, scheduled for Jan. 17-19, police said, they will put extra cameras in Farragut Square, Malcolm X Park, the north end of Dupont Circle in Northwest, the Marine Barracks at Eighth and I streets SE and along the proposed march route from the Capitol to the Washington Navy Yard in Southeast.

On Jan. 22, during the antiabortion event, police said, they will put up additional cameras along Constitution Avenue NW and outside the U.S. Supreme Court.

Police also have 14 permanent cameras around downtown that are activated during large demonstrations, as well as a camera mounted on the department's helicopter.

[kristinn]

Maybe the cameras will help Chief Ramsey find Gore War Vet's truck the next time they tow it away.

On a serious note, the government is going overboard in it's zeal to "protect" us from practitioners of the First Amendment. With the closure rate for murders under 50% in D.C., including the killing of Chandra Levy, I think the police should concentrate on hiring turtle-sniffing dogs and deal with the demonstrators like they've been successfully doing the past few years.

[kristinn]

D.C. Chapter ping. For those planning to join us in our counter-demonstration of the "anti-war" march or those who'll be participating in the March for Life--smile, you'll be on Candid Camera!

[FreeTheHostages]

You're right about one thing: the closure rate on murder is *disgustingly* low. Even after they cook the books on statistics, it's between 30 to 40 percent. Really, if you commit murder in this city, you have a 2 in 3 chance of getting away with it.

And the reason is rather obvious: homicide detectives don't get paid/promoted/treated any differently when they solve the case. In fact, if they solve the case and take it to court, Chief Ramsey's people hassle them about overtime pay.

Bottom line: Chief Ramsey's all about controlling the police budget, even at the expense of our safety.

Which raises the very interesting question of where they have the $ to put up these cameras. Damn, they'll probably catch a murder on them in this city if they keep 'em on long enough.

[Exit148]

Say "Cheese"!

[FreeTheHostages]

I think the ACLU has been consulting/negotiating with the police department on this issue. Because the ACLU doesn't like the cameras either. The police tactic is probably legal, though, and that's why the ACLU hasn't taken the next step and sued.

Of course, while so many homicides go unsolved, you and I in particular, as DC Chapter members who live in the city, have a right to be *appalled* at the police's priorities. (Are there any other DC Chapter members that actually live in the city other than you and me? LOL. Mudboy Slim talks about a bumper sticker that says: "you are not alone! -- freerepublic.com" -- that would be *highly* relevant in this city.)

[kristinn]

Which raises the very interesting question of where they have the $ to put up these cameras.

Probably from all those red light cameras posted on commuter routes in and out of the city :-)

[Ligeia]

This camera stuff is really ticking me off. Why don't the police put the cameras where people are actually breaking the law like where drug buys are and prostitutes get picked up instead of where law abiding citizens are exercising their Constitutional rights. None of these rallies have a history of any violence whatsoever deeming the intrusive cameras unwarranted and unjustified. Sorry, the Lott fiasco put me in a foul mood. /rant

[kristinn]

I think the ACLU has been consulting/negotiating with the police department on this issue. Because the ACLU doesn't like the cameras either. The police tactic is probably legal, though, and that's why the ACLU hasn't taken the next step and sued.

There in lies the problem. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Protesting against the status quo has never been for the faint of heart, but this just adds to the palpitations.

I would think an injunction could be sought limiting the use of the videotapes to actual law enforcement and prohibiting other uses by the government.

Another angle though is that the tapes could be subject to FOIA. Enemies and the press would love to scan the tapes for any number of reasons.

[FreeTheHostages]

Um, well, the anti-war, anti-capitalist rallies to have a history of violence, actually.

[Ligeia]

I saw no violence in either October or April at our counter-protests and I have been to countless Marches for Life. Never any violence anywhere.

[tgslTakoma]

I wonder if they are really trying to "protect" with these cameras, or if their goal is to intimidate?

[Ligeia]

You've nailed it.

[FreeTheHostages]

Hmm, well I agree with you that just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Re limiting use: it's in public, there's no expectation of privacy, basically anyone can videotape anything. So I don't see grounds for an injunction. 'Course, the ACLU might, but they see a lot of things I don't -- invisible and imaginary and fantastical things! :)

Re FOIA: tricky, but if law enforcement is using it for an ongoing investigation, there's that exception to FOIA disclosure.

[Angelwood]

I agree with your rant. Though there have been some incidents of violence and arrests with the anti-war protesters, the police tactics used at the last one were very effective in cordoning off violators and removing them from the scene.

Where does it say that the cameras will really be just a temporary fixture in the areas designated for the protests? As all can see with the red light cameras -- their numbers are escalating and DC keeps getting more revenue from each one than they ever dreamed of receiving.

[FreeTheHostages]

I bet they're there to collect "intelligence." I think this kind of effort's probably more intense after 9/11.

Some of the anti-war protestors are little eco/RICO/nazi terrorists in the making, theoretically.

Welcome to the new DC Police. It looks a lot like the old FBI.

[FreeTheHostages]

Of course -- I'm referring to the leftists' protests having violence. Those black banded affinity groups of anarchists walking around with homemade bombs, etc.

[kristinn]

The peacefulness of the last several ANSWER rallies has been a tactic, not a principle. My good friend Brian Becker was quoted in the Washington Post on January 13, 2001 speaking about the demonstration he was organizing at the inauguration, "We fashioned our tactics to the moment when the movement is on the verge of broadening its base to a large section of the population....We know now a big part of the population actually agrees with us, but they don't want to come to a demonstration and get beat up by police and get teargassed."

[Ligeia]

Though there have been some incidents of violence and arrests with the anti-war protesters...

It seems like the anti-war protests this time have been peaceful. It's the anti-globilization people who can be violent. Kristinn's original post does't mention the anti-capitalists; only the anti-war and the pro-life demonstrations. I never have felt in any danger at any of these events when we were protesting that justified surveillance cameras. The Park Police always have everything under control. Tgsl is right: this is to intimidate law abiding citizens and should be stopped. I have to hit the hay! Will discuss it further at another time.

[tgslTakoma]

In a way, I'm not concerned about the cameras because I don't plan on involving myself in any lawlessness... but then I think about all the bricks recently being placed in the ever-growing wall that is separating us from the Constitution that is supposed to protect us, and I get peeved.

Being that the events are going to be in January (brrrrrr), I guess we won't be needing blue face paint. The weather will color us all a natural hue of blue.

[kristinn]

No it's, "Hi (Mom, Dad, Darling.) Send bail money!