Watchdog Blogger arrested for filming in public

The abuse of power and use of intimidation tactics to prevent video recording in public places goes on.

Ron Clark, one of two La Crosse Watchdog Bloggers, was arrested, cited, and released on October 26 for merely displaying his videocam and because of "his attitude," according to the La Crosse Tribune, quoting the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse campus police chief, which suggests that possession of "attitude" is illegal in La Crosse.

The incident happened at a local political debate at UW-L that some politically influential people have attempted to declare off limits to anyone with a camera except those whom they approve, such as officially sanctioned local media like WXOW Channel 19, a co-sponsor of the event.

Clark hadn't even been filming the debate but was attempting to record the interaction between police and fellow Watchdog Mike, whose last name has been held by request.

As almost always happens between law enforcement officers and a citizen with a camera, to the point where it's become a stale statist cliché, Clark reports that he was physically assaulted and abused during his arrest.

Mike contacted the Libertarian News Examiner with a recent, and apparently typical, run-in with the rights deniers.

Last week Mike attended a debate between two local candidates and found himself being harassed by members of the League of Women Voters, campus professors and a candidate's campaign worker because he was openly filming the debate participants.

They confronted him, argued with him, demanded that he stop recording, stood in front of him to block his view, and even called him an expletive.

Mike's response was simple in its logic, that he was merely attempting to exercise his first amendment right of Freedom of the Press. It's not as though he was trespassing on other people's property, Mike insists. "Keep in mind that UW-La Crosse is a public University, funded by your tax dollars," he wrote on his blog.

The video posted here was uploaded to the pair's La Crosse Watchdog Blog last night and shows Congressman Ron Kind becoming irritated with the bloggers and then attempting to grab their camera.

More videos, an arrest report, and a Ron Clark interview are posted at La Crosse Watchdog Blog.

Original report here. See the original for links and video




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