“A censor is a man who knows more than he thinks you ought to.”
- Granville Hicks
Can an individual be justified in using aggression against someone who hasn’t caused any actual harm?
Consider these incidents:
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Rapper Antavio Johnson wrote a song
Antavio Johnson, smiling most-likely as he recognizes the charade called the “criminal justice system”
Johnson felt bullied by those involved with the local criminal outfit so to ”de -stress” he created music. One song, titled “Kill Me A Cop”, drew the ire of those who demanded his obedience.
Soon after individuals wearing “Lakeland Police” badges came and snatched-up Johnson.
Larry Walters, who’s familiar with the situation said “Wanting to kill cops is not a prosecutable offense.”
Yet Johnson pleaded no contest to two counts of “corruption by threat of public servant” in exchange for two years in a cage. One wonders how this might have turned-out differently if Johnson would have had some people around him – to point-out the fact that he’d not harmed anyone and in fact, the actions taken toward him are wrong.
Making such a situation public can really be a game-changer as the transparency can leverage the number of people aware. Especially when coupled with a I’m-not-paying-your-ransom stance in legal land.
Lakeland Police Department
- 863.834.6900
- 228 S. Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland, Florida 33801
- http://www.lakelandgov.net/lpd/Home.aspx
For more: Rapper’s “Kill Me A Cop” Song, Freedom Of Speech Or Voilent Threats? Aug 5th, 2009 by Tech Team at Technorati.com
Related: “When Should You Shoot a Cop” written/narrated by Larken Rose and edited by Pete Eyre at CopBlock.org
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Antonio Buehler said a naughty word
Antonio Buehler was kidnapped and caged after he told Gayle Autry to “go fuck yourself.”
Autry, wore a “Gonzales Police” badge, claimed the Buehler’s statement was tantamount to being “disorderly.”
Gonzales Police Department
- 830.672.8686
- 820 St. Joseph Street, Gonzales, TX 78629
- http://www.cityofgonzales.org/Department%20Pages/policedepartment.html
Buehler had just existed the Gonzales County courthouse, where he and ten others present to support a friend, were told they could not film by “the authorities.” Sounds like a lack of transparency compounded by overt censorship.
It was because of such arbitrary actions depicted that Buehler last year started Peaceful Streets Project. [Groups in Austin, Houston, Manchester, and Sandusky can be connected with via: CopBlock.org/Groups]
For more: Cussing at cop was free speech Ja.n 4, 2009 by Corey Friedman at IndieRegister.com
The F-bomb isn’t polite or illegal June 13, 2011 by blogs.DenverPost.com
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Dominic Ray Aguilar left a comment on a Facebook thread
Individuals wearing “Manteca [CA] Police” badges drover 75 miles to kidnap Aguilar, a 37-year-old cab driver after he posted: “50 rounds to your dome Moody” in reference to a Manteca police employee that had, according to many people familiar, recently been cleared of murder.
Here’s a video of the incident Manteca had been involved in, that has collectively, been viewed over 2,000,000 times on YouTube:
Aguilar was told he may be caged for making “terrorist threats and resisting arrest.”
Who do you think was in the wrong here?
San Joaquin County Superior Court Manteca branch
- 209.239.1316
- 315 E. Center St., Manteca, California 95336
- http://www.stocktoncourt.org/courtloc4.aspx
For more: Man charged after Facebook post by Jennie Rodriguez-Moore on 2013.01.12 at RecordNet.com
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Vallejo Copwatchers shared the name of a killer on a post
Mario Romero was, according to many, murdered. The aggressors identify – Dustin B. Joseph, who happens to wear a “Vallejo Police” badge – was shared on the Vallejo Copwatch website. Prior complaints filed against Joseph were also posted.
David E. Mastagni sent those who maintain the site – Indybay – a “demand” – to recant the information posted, which was taken for what it was – an idle threat.
The principled statement from the recipients of the “demand”:
The Indybay Collective has no intention of removing the post.
Mastagni (916.491.4219, [email protected]) is employed at the Sacramento law firm Mastagni, Holstedt, Amick, Miller & Johnsen, which has worked closely with the Vallejo Police outfit.
For more:
Indybay Refuses to Bow to Demand to Remove Vallejo Copwatch Post on 2012.11.22 at IndyBay.org
Vallejo Copwatch and Indybay.org are under attack. (Like Virginia Copblock and Richmond Copwatch) by Indy Media on 2012.11.19 at CopBlock.org
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YouTubers speech likened to “terroristic threats”
In late 2012 two guys in Pittsburgh – Rashee Beasley Garfield and Jamal Knox posted a video rap video, that has since been removed that got on the radar of the local crime outfits.
Why? Because it’s claimed that Garfield and Knox, who rapped under the names Solja Beaz and Mayhem Mal, dared not defer to the sanctity of their associates.
Before long, individuals wearing “Pittsburgh Police”, “FBI” and “US Marshals” badges claimed that Garfield and Knox deserved to be caged for “making terroristic threats, intimidation of witnesses, retaliation against witnesses and conspiracy.”
If no harm has been caused to any person or property why exactly are Garfield and Knox being targeted? Sure, one may not agree with the way some ideas are communicated, but that doesn’t justify that person be caged.
Pittsburgh Police Department
- 412.323.7800
- 1203 Western Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
- http://pittsburghpa.gov/police
FBI, Pittsburgh police investigate YouTube video that threatened Zone 5 officers by Liz Navratil, Molly Born and Moriah Balingit on 2012.11.16 at Post-Gazette.com
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Journalists targeted for sharing a link
Nate Cox, targeted by those who claim to work for him for linking-to information they generated
Information about Richmond police employee activities, much of it not too interesting, was put online. Nate Cox shared a link to the content from Virginia Cop Block. Mo Karnage did the same from RVA Wingnut.
Both Cox and Karnage were visited by individuals wearing “Richmond Police” badges who sought to intimidate them into censoring the information. Vague rationales for the demands were pointed-to.
Richmond Police Department
http://www.richmondgov.com/police/
301 South Meadow Street
Richmond, VA
(804) 646-1412
Those who signed the “Order”
Travis A. Sabelwski and Justin M. Sizemore (804) 344-3400
Illegible “circuit court judge”
B.M. Dean
Read more:
Individuals Wearing “Richmond PD” Badges Threaten Nate Cox, Free Speech by Pete Eyre on 2013.11.17 on CopBlock.org
Anonymous LEAK: Richmond PD Internal Information Published Online by Nate Cox on 2012.11.14 on VirginiaCopBlock.org
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Videographer caged for recording attempt to get transparency
After Ademo Freeman learned of an incident at West High School in Manchester, NH that involved Darren Murphy, an adult, man-handling Frank Harrington, a student, he called those who, at least per their job descriptions, should be investigating.
Instead, Freeman was targeted and later caged after his efforts made clear the double-standards afforded to Murphy, who had on a “Manchester Police” badge when he assaulted Harrington.
Freeman still has years of “good behavior” hanging over his head despite the fact it was he who acted in the right.
Freeman sought to bring to light the misdeeds done and covered-up by the very individuals who claim the right to steal your money to “protect” you, and to the strangers who claim the right to steal your money to “educate” your children from the top-down.
It’s no surprise Freeman was pursued so aggressively. His peaceful actions trying to gain accountability rightly delegitimatized the Manchester Police Department and West High School bureaucracy.
Manchester Police Department
- 603.668.8711
- 351 Chestnut Street, Manchester, NH 03101-2294
Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office
- 603.627.5605
- 300 Chestnut Street, Manchester, NH 03101
West High School
- 603.624.6384
- 9 Notre Dame Ave, Manchester, NH 03102
Read more: Free Ademo! the meta-post with all related content at CopBlock.org
Related: Want to End Police Brutality? Focus on the Institution [9min video] posted on 2012.12.25 at YouTube.com/TheCopBlock
These activist always pick criminals and losers as their heroes. No wonder why these activists are always in jail. They want to be like their heroes. I would think they would learn quickly that isn’t working for them.
I’ve never been jailed in my life, ass-munch. Why do you insist in defending a broken and corrupt system?
Still waiting for an answer from any of you cops or wannabe’s on if the cops in Torrance who committed attempted murder should be prosecuted. You know, the ones who shot 60 rounds from the rear at an unidentified target which had posed no threat whatsoever to them?
slappy….
you would think the PIGS would learn quickly also about filming…
Are you a pig I speak of? OINK OINK…
And charging him with a link….
Good fucking luck…
Slappy …like I said before…..GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC
These cops always pick criminals and losers as their heroes. No wonder why these cops are always filmed hurting innocent people. They want to be like their heroes. I would think they would learn quickly that isn’t working for them.
Threats are not, nor have ever been, protected speech. Its as simple as that. Twist your panties however you want….threat are not protected speech.
Antavio Johnson was sentenced in 2009. He faced 5 years for each count and took a deal.
I guess the ‘rap community’ didn’t rally around his 1st Amendment right, nor did the ACLU. Seems even they had another cause to chase.
All rights have limits. Why do you liberals always forget that?
Perceived threats seem to be defined as whatever a cops mood is for the day, from the videos referenced here and other places, cops seem to have the uncanny knack of turning everything from jaywalking to taking a picture into a personal threat, which justifies the “resisting arrest” charge on the citizen trying to protect himself from assault.
I would like to remind you all here that the cops here are no different than on the street. They are looking for a threat to justify an incursion on your rights. Just like on the street if there is none they will make one up.
The police are nothing more than a street gang, a bunch of degenerate trash who live the delusion that its an us vs them war. You moron pigs should be held accountable double time to all the laws you break and stupid shit you do. Truth is its not a crime if you have a badge because you can just get down on your knees for your pork buddies and they will cover it all up, if you are a pig them murder equals paid vacation! Ever notice what hypocrites pigs are, they trash people for simple vehicle infractions and the pigs break those laws all the time, such a hypocracy.
typo… “them” was misspelled should read “then” murder equals paid vacation.