Posted on 07/14/2004 8:33:18 AM PDT by Force12
I work for the Corps of Engineers. If someone is photographing our locks, we want to know about it. I don't know about the locks in Seattle but the ones I am familiar with are hardly something that would interest tourists.
This sounds like a fine example of someone daring the authorities to come down on them.
Of course it's got to be RACE related.
Of course the ACLU is foaming at the mouth.
He takes pictures, they take pictures.
Locks "fall down go boom", Spiers, 37, who describes himself as half black and half Scottish, will be rounded up and debriefed.
Strange. You would think once they cleared him he could be on his way. I wonder what concerns them that they keep checking back on him. Being a student not an automatic give either. Weren't some of the 911 terrorist "older" students?
Jeez, I hate to disagree with everyone here, but I think its bullcrap that the guy had to go thru that. He did nothing wrong. The ACLU is right on this one,and not to sound lame, but it does sound like he was profiled. I know a lot of Black people use that as an excuse to commit crimes, but I dont get the impression this was the case in this situation.
Sounds like an overzealous rent-a-cop swinging his badge around, to me.
Go take some pictures of a powerplant, water purification plant, oil refinery, port facility, etc.. Go alone, wear long sleeves, a hat, and sunglasses. If you don't get questioned, I'll be extremely surprised. Places I used to over fly in small planes will get me shot down now. Are they profiling Cessnas?
I am GLAD someone took down his license plate number and called authorities. We need MORE vigilant people in these times.
If I had been taking the pictures and was asked what I was doing and for ID I would not have been offended. Not a flame but I have an honest question for you. If a dark skinned person was standing outside of say a school taking pictures and no one dared ask what he is doing because it might have been considered profiling and later a bomb explodes and a bunch of kids killed would you feel the same way or want to know why nothing was done at the time? There are some jerks in law enforcement and if they were heavy handed that is unacceptable but it sounds IMO that ths guy (and I might have been too after the 2nd quentioning) also coping a little bit of a "how dare you" attitude.
No, he's not trying to stir up trouble, not a bit.
Agreed Jivana. This is a total joke (Homeland "Security" that is). In response to Fiero, the Ballard Locks are a big tourist site -- especially in the summer. Cameras everywhere.
No, he's not trying to stir up trouble, not a bit.
You are absolutly correct. Spiers was looking for trouble and he found it, now he wants to cry about the trouble he found.
Damn good catch mountaineer!
This paints Ian as a possible antagonizer of LE in my opinion.
Spiers was looking for trouble and he found it, now he wants to cry about the trouble he found or created.
The communists used to post signs on buildings and structures you were not allowed to photograph. The Homeland security folks need to at least do the same.
I've been to the locks in question and took some phots there myself. It's a popular tourist spot. I think this guy had every right to tell the cops to sod off.
> He did nothing wrong. The ACLU is right on this one <
Totally agree. Perfect example of the blind squirrel finding an acorn.
These locks are a big tourist stop; whenever we have out-of-towners visiting Seattle for the first time we swing by the locks.
I think this is a total crock. There are lots and lots of people taking pictures there every day. Should cameras now come with a rulebook describing Everything It Is Forbidden To Photograph?
"It is forbidden to photograph anything used for any kind of transportation, any tall building, or anything that could be blown up. Permitted subjects are puppy dogs, small children and trees."
Have any "non-brown" people been similarly questioned while taking photos at that location? If so, then this guy is just trying to stir up trouble. Whether or not he has a degree in photography, he has obviously passed the advanced course work in "Victimolgy". He has even contacted Michael Moore about the incident.
You forgot the Supremes approved porn....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.