“Yeah go fuck yourself man. Your a low life scum bag. I would love to meet you so I could stab you in your fuckin neck. You whinny pussy piece of shit.”
Over the past two years or so, we have received plenty of disparaging comments from various people on YouTube, but this one from “8Bwv” (which was left July 30, 2010) is probably one of the angriest and most threatening comments that we have had the pleasure of reading.
If anybody knows who YouTube member “8Bwv” is, please let us know.
Photo by maisa_nyc
Since when do MTA workers care what anyone does in the subway stations?
This past weekend, a group of transit workers at the 9th Avenue station in Brooklyn harassed photographer Maki Isayama, telling him he wasn’t allowed to take photos because…well, “you’re not allowed.” When Isayama protested, another worker said he would have to confiscate his camera and erase the images.
But it wasn’t an isolated incident! Another photographer encountered a similiar situation last week when he took this photo in the subway and an MTA worker threatened to confiscate his camera.
Wait – I’m confused. Don’t MTA guidelines clearly state that photos are allowed in the subway?
It’s extremely ironic when the man in the black jacket raises concerns about the videographer’s “moral compass,” since it’s very clear that the moral compasses of the people entering the United States illegally have been broken since the day they arrived.
Photo by army.arch
Stephen Miller just wanted to take photos of some vintage bicycles at the US Department of Transportation headquarters in D.C. But a security guard said that wasn’t allowed. Why, you might wonder? He couldn’t tell you that, but he knows it’s not allowed.
From Miller’s account:
“What’s going on here?” he asked.
“I’m photographing the bicycles,” I replied. He continued walking, and I rode down to the next installation — three vintage gas pumps — and began taking photos of them.
“You can’t do that here,” he told me. I asked him why not. “It’s the rules, for security,” he said. I asked him what rule prevented me from taking photographs of public art, but he said that he could not tell me the rule. I asked if he worked for DOT or a subcontractor hired for security. “I can’t tell you that,” he replied again. I asked for his name, which he also refused to tell me.
“So you can’t tell me the rule, your name, or who you work for?” I asked him.
“Nope,” he replied. Luckily, at that point I was already done taking photographs, so I wished him a good evening and continued my ride.
This is not the first time photographers have been hassled at the DOT. Flickr user urbandispute posted an incident where he was stopped and questioned three different times for taking pictures outside the DOT. As urbandispute puts it, the building was built in a run-down part of D.C. as part of revitalization efforts. It’s one block from the Washington Nationals stadium, and there are several public art installations outside for pedestrians to enjoy. Which raises the question: What the hell is their problem?
Article from Greater Greater Washington
Last week I wrote about a confrontation between myself and the LAPD while legally photographing a crime scene where a man had been killed. During the encounter LAPD officers berated, bullied and threatened me with unlawful arrest for supposedly obstructing their investigation. At no point did I encroach on the crime scene, or cross police tape to photograph the incident. I was well within my legal rights granted to me by the US Constitution and LAPD’s Media Relations Handbook.
On January 18, NPRO members went to the US Bank Tower in Downtown Los Angeles to protest against their security staff’s illegal treatment of photographers when photographing the property from a public sidewalk.
Over the next couple of days, more video and photos will be posted, showing what happened, along with contact info for the building’s management staff.
In the the meantime, here is the building’s address and phone number. Please contact them after listening to the audio and reading the transcript to voice your concerns.
US Bank Tower
633 W 5th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 615-6300
Below is a transcript of what happened between NPRO members and the US Bank Tower’s security staff on January 18, 2009.
———————————————————
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: Excuse me sir, you’re not allowed to take any pictures.
NOHO DAMON: We’re both on a public sidewalk here.
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: No actually this sidewalk is private.
NOHO DAMON: No, no, no, no…(inaudible)
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: No.
NOHO DAMON: This is a public sidewalk.
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: Right…no.
NOHO DAMON: You guys own the street?
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: That’s the public, this is private.
NOHO DAMON: You’re telling me you own the street, you’re telling me you own the sidewalk.
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: Yes sir.
NOHO DAMON: You’re telling me that.
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: Yes.
NOHO DAMON: Would you be willing to discuss that with a cop?
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: Yes.
NOHO DAMON: That you own the sidewalk?
US BANK SECURITY GUARD: Yes.
Continue reading ‘US Bank Tower Guards Harass and Call Photographers Idiots’
Photo by discarted
NOTE: This guard did not have anything to do with the incident.
Dear Mr. Andrews:
I wanted to write again regarding an incident with your security personnel because it seems as if you didn’t receive my last letter. At the very minimum, this is a customer service issue, and it’s shocking that you wouldn’t want to address, much less acknowledge, a situation where your security team’s actions have been questioned.
I am referring to what happened between myself and your security guards at the Hollywood and Highland Metro station where I was harassed, threatened with arrest and cursed at for taking photographs. In case you are unaware, Andrews International security are notorious for overstepping the limits of their authority and harassing people in Hollywood. There are extremely few laws that restrict photography in public places, and they’re mostly relating to military installations or people with an expectation of privacy (i.e., in their homes). National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) attorneys have issued a memorandum on the subject that says in part:
+ There is no federal law that would prohibit photography in public places or restrict photography of public places and/or structures.
+ Any restrictions that the government does impose would need to have supporting evidence that it was essential for public safety. The burden is on the government;
Presumably you are thinking that the issue will just go away, but I’d like you to know that photographers will continue to shoot in public spaces in and around Hollywood since it is our legal right to do so. What’s more, now that we have a small movement going, this issue is on the radar, and it’s more than likely that your guards will unnecessarily and inappropriately detain photographers in the future. So my suggestion to you is to train your security force on the laws so that a situation doesn’t escalate unnecessarily.
Sincerely,
Shawn Nee
To contact Andrews International executives regarding this incident click here.
Keith Garsee was one of the photographers who joined us at the Photographers’ Rights Day rally in Hollywood on Sunday and also one of the inspirations for the event in the first place. He was harassed in the Los Angeles Metro, and we do mean harassed. It’s one thing to be told you can’t take photos, another to be threatened with arrest, and then quite another altogether to be told “F–k you” when you ask a simple question! Perhaps our tax dollars need to be going toward charm school for these security folks?
Here’s just an excerpt.
Him: Hey! It’s against the 9-11 Law to take pictures down here man!
Me: You mean the Patriot Act?
Him: No pictures.
Me: Could you explain? What law do you mean?
Him: You are lawyer?
Me: No.
Him: No pictures. You could be a terrorist. Very strict!
Me: How about I take a picture of you?
Him: F**k you… (I couldn’t believe it either)
Read the full account here.
Via Boing Boing.
Photo by discarted.
This security officer in the UK gets handsy with a photographer on a public street in Middlesbrough. From the photographer’s account:
Two security guards from the nearby shopping center THE MALL came running over, we were surrounded by six hostile and aggressive security guards. They then said photographing shops was illegal and this was private land. I was angry at being grabbed by this man so i pushed him away, one of the men wearing a BARGAIN MADNESS shirt twisted my arm violently behind my back, i winced in pain and could hardly breathe in agony.
I thought the Brits were supposed to be more civilized?
Read the full account here.
via WindWalkabout
boywithgrenade.org 