John Russell and his buddies have been busy with their video cameras in Reno, NV. They have submitted videos to Cop Block time and time again, even winning the first Video Contest. It’s been encouraging to watch John and his friends expand their Cop Blocking skills. They keep calm, engage police with logical arguments and of course possess a camera.
Keep up the great work guys!
Original post here:
With college freshman descending upon campus, the hunt for acceptance and friendship take center stage during the first week of school. Many students seek clubs, dorm activities, and other forms of voluntary human interaction which may include parties right around the campus area to help find themselves and those similar to their interests. Unfortunately, the public servants of UNR are also on a hunt: a hunt for students who may need “protection” from … well nobody. To combat this, Nathan and I (and also Mareena) hit the streets on Saturday, August 22, 2010 around midnight to inform intoxicated freshman that they have inherent human rights to say no to strangers shoving things in their mouth at midnight. They have a human right to remain silent to strangers making them uncomfortable. They have a human right to dismiss themselves from a situation that they did not ask for. Officer Diamond even recognized that tricking kids to “provide a sample” is a dirty tactic, yet he continues to do it or allows it to happen. Near the end an officer thinks that by wearing a badge and shining a light into our eyes, his safety takes precedence over our safety. Those poor kids thought they were being detained when in fact they were free to go. Is this right? These kids did not ask for their “help”. They didn’t ask for any of this… and it’s really to bad. Who likes being harassed by bums asking for favors or by intimidating thugs forcing you into doing things you don’t want to do? I hope you enjoy this quick video, and I hope that you too can see the bully mentality certain strangers inflict upon otherwise peaceful people.
PS: Throughout this video you will hear me citing the Constitution as a form of protection, but those are really just words on paper stored in some glass container somewhere across the country. We need to recognize that, with or without some document dusty politicians back in the day wrote, human beings across the world still retain certain fundamental rights that never go away. It’s just more convenient to point to the Constitution than explaining the tenants of human liberty on the side of the street at midnight. Enjoy!
8:12 “Our officer safety comes before yours.”
Amazing.
I truly enjoyed reading this. I have always wanted the best for humanity also.
Good job, guys. Way to stand up for your rights and the right of others. That last officer’s shining the light in your face was so disgustingly typical of the intimidation antics that some policemen resort to. It’s really sad that he won’t even be reprimanded for that kind of behavior, much less fired (which is what should really happen).
I think that you guys should reserve a lecture hall, post some flyers, and do a presentation of this event to incoming freshmen while taking the opportunity to educate them on their rights.
The offhand comment made by the one officer, “these guys must be law students or something” shows how it is assumed by him that average citizens DO NOT know their rights, and somehow only lawyers should have the special knowledge gained from reading the Bill of Rights. Quite a commentary on the condescending attitude of the cop and the poor education of the population.
The Constitution has greater relevance than you realize. Whether or not it merely a dusty old piece of parchment, these officers have sworn an oath to uphold and defend it, so if they are violating that oath, it makes them liars. You can’t trust liars. I’m sure they don’t want to be proven liars in front of those they’re supposed to “protect and serve,” so it might be helpful to remind them of their oath.
Hey Chris,
For the past two years around this time, we have actively been trying to inform students of their rights during police encounters (such as this last year: http://unrforliberty.com/2009/09/how-to-survive-a-police-encounter-recap.html). We usually show a move by the Flex Your Rights organization and then invite a defense lawyer to answer questions.
Also, those cops are pure thugs. Just a few days ago one of them shot and killed a man to death , it just happened. I want to know which one of them did it. Heres the story: http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2010/08/31/unrpd-involved-in-shooting-death/
Hey Chris,
For the past two years around this time, we have actively been trying to inform students of their rights during police encounters such as this last year: http://unrforliberty.com/2009/09/how-to-survive-a-police-encounter-recap.html. We usually show a move by the Flex Your Rights organization and then invite a defense lawyer to answer questions.
Also, those cops are pure thugs. Just a few days ago one of them shot and killed a man to death , it just happened. I want to know which one of them did it. Heres the story: http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2010/08/31/unrpd-involved-in-shooting-death/
Nice video. Remember that, “Nevada has no state public intoxication law. Nevada state law both protects people from suffering any criminal penalty (including arrest) for the mere act of being drunk in public, and prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting criminal public intoxication laws on their own.”
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-458.html#NRS458Sec260
” NRS 458.260 Intoxication not public offense; exceptions.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the use of alcohol, the status of drunkard and the fact of being found in an intoxicated condition are not:
(a) Public offenses and shall not be so treated in any ordinance or resolution of a county, city or town.
(b) Elements of an offense giving rise to a criminal penalty or civil sanction.
2. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to:
(a) A civil or administrative violation for which intoxication is an element of the violation pursuant to the provisions of a specific statute or regulation;
(b) A criminal offense for which intoxication is an element of the offense pursuant to the provisions of a specific statute or regulation;
(c) A homicide resulting from driving, operating or being in actual physical control of a vehicle or a vessel under power or sail while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance or resulting from any other conduct prohibited by NRS 484C.110, 484C.130, 484C.430, subsection 2 of NRS 488.400, NRS 488.410, 488.420 or 488.425; and
(d) Any offense or violation which is similar to an offense or violation described in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) and which is set forth in an ordinance or resolution of a county, city or town.
3. This section does not make intoxication an excuse or defense for any criminal act.
(Added to NRS by 1973, 1060; A 1975, 1145; 1983, 1088; 1997, 333; 1999, 3406; 2005, 169)”