Kaelyn Forde is a US citizen, and a Russia Today correspondent. Here's a video of her being arrested, according to her claims she had full press credentials and that would allow her to cover legal or illegal demonstrations. She claims the police were unnecessarily rough, that she wasn't even told what she had been arrested for, until four hours later, then, she was held about 32 hours before seeing a judge. She said (I'm not sure if it was at the hearing, or at some other point), that she felt intimidated by them not to speak, and she couldn't even hear what the police officer was saying about her. Even when seeing the judge she said something to the effect that the judge seemed dismissive of her. The facts I have on this are probably biased, in favor of Kaelyn Forde. But, if this is an accurate representation, it doesn't sound right at all. Does anyone else know anything to add that might give a better perspective? Based on what I know, she appears to be a news correspondent exercising her freedom of press rights (trying to)? [video=youtube;FPfTrTBImxU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPfTrTBImxU[/video] Ironically, the best article I could find on this was TheMoscowNews.
I do not see anywhere in the Constitution where "press credentials" add or remove any rights from an American citizen. Who doesn't claim that when looking for their 15 minutes of fame? That's pretty normal also. Police tend follow very slow procedures. Customer service isn't their priority. That also is pretty normal. The government never gets anything done quickly. They aren't Kinkos. Oh hell... what a moron she must be. She's not supposed to speak. Talking to cops is what you are NOT supposed to do. She needs to review Ten Rules for Dealing with the Police and learn when to STFU. That also is normal. Policemen talk with each other and there is no Constitutional requirement that they share their discussion. It's usually stuff like "What the heck is wrong with that guy?", "What's the violation number for this?", and "Will we get into more trouble if we arrest this guy or if we let him go?" "The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously." -- Hubert H. Humphrey RussiaToday is on the same journalistic level as The National Equirer, Alex Jones, or MSNBC. She probably got lumped together with the other ignorant fools standing around outside WHINSEC. It's no surprise that it takes a couple of days to sort everyone out. I hate the government, and I hate to be unsympathetic with others who also hate the government, but these people are absolute morons. They are oxygen thieves -- they are using up valuable oxygen which could be better utilized by a cow. They are working to replace the fairly evil American government with far more evil totalitarian socialist dictatorships. The Universe would be a better place if they were all dead. I don't want to see their rights violated, but it also does not appear that they have any idea what their rights are and are not -- or the least bit of concern about figuring that out.
There are a lot of details to this case, even at the end of that video they start adding in some conspiracy speak, even using the words "police state" and possibly blowing this out of proportion. BUT, I still see red flags that are worrisome in my mind. The big question for me is, do the police have the right to arrest journalists with official press credentials simply because they are covering a protest? I don't think so. That's kind of an intimidation, that directly effects our freedom of press rights. It's like saying reporters are not allowed to cover protests in which the possibility of arrests exists. You can hear Kaelyn Forde first thing in the video telling the police she's in the press and has id credentials. Another concern, is that in the video it did look like they hurt her with the handcuffs or whatever they tied around her wrists. I don't feel comfortable with that.
Being a member of the press gains a person no additional rights. Her rights are the same as any other citizen at the event. Being handcuffed is unpleasant. It's uncomfortable. It's also the only way to deal safely with unknown suspects.
Yes and no. It's been renamed to Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, but it still has the same mission: The WHINSEC shall provide professional education and training to eligible military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel of nations of the Western Hemisphere within the context of the democratic principles set forth in the Charter of the Organization of American States (Reference (d)), such charter being a treaty to which the United States is a party. The WHINSEC shall foster mutual knowledge, transparency, confidence, and cooperation among the participating nations and promote democratic values, respect for human rights, and knowledge and understanding of U.S. customs and traditions.
From what I've read, this is an annual event. In protests, it shouldn't be asking too much for police to utilize basic skills in differentiating risk factors. You've got peaceful protestors, content to staying within boundaries. Protestors that feel emotional about their cause, but are willing to follow directions. You've got interested bystanders, members of the press, and then, a few people out of control. They shouldn't all be reacted to in exactly the same manner, and I suppose I have higher expectations for the police. I've actually been detained, was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car. Strange to say, but he was rather polite about everything (I would give him an A+ lol). With the handcuffs, it didn't cause my fingers to go numb, wasn't particularly uncomfortable, and certainly not painful. From watching the video again, I think what may have happened is they tied plastic straps around her wrists super tight, when she complained about pain, her numbness, obviously, they didn't really care too much. All this for her audacity to cover a peaceful protest, how dare her! No, but seriously, these protestors were wanting to leave, the police should have just let them instead of making some show of police brutality. From what I understand, four protestors went beyond the gates closer to the compound, for that, perhaps I can understand arrest, but really, c'mon. If she's in pain and feels everything going numb, chances are good the arresting officer either put the hand tie/cuff on incorrectly, or is using the wrong size or tool.
Not meaning to bump this thread, but there's a video update on the story that I wanted to share. In the video, Kaelyn Forde alleges she had cuts on her wrists, not sure if it was from the plastic tie they used to bound her wrists with, or the cutting knife they used to remove it with. Either way, I do wish this would be investigated, and believe that even police officers should have accountability. [video=youtube;3XwES7DwiYY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XwES7DwiYY[/video]
Yeah, plastic ties will scratch up your wrists unless you stand completely still... which you can't do while you're being processed. I'm not seeing the story here? "Like OMG, I went to a fight and... I broke a nail!"