For a country founded on freedom, a disturbing number of Americans are now willing – anxious – to give it up, especially if it is someone else’s.  Far too many police officers don’t want to enforce the law.  They want peace and quiet…. and control.

One of America’s best First Amendment Auditors invited his friend, a fellow military veteran, to set his cell phone on ‘record,’ and join him for an audit.  They went to a nearby DEA building, parked in the rear “Public” parking lot, climbed out of the car, unlimbered their lenses, and began walking toward the building.

They hadn’t got 50 feet before a large, strong, young, Junior G-Man spilled out of his Jeep, rapidly strode toward them and, without saying a word – without asking a question – without giving a command, he shot his right hand forward, like a punch, grabbed the friend’s cell phone, driving it into his nose and forehead and causing pain and a slight injury, snatched it from his hands and walked away with it.  That is aggravated assault, common battery, and theft of property

Local police were called.  One officer went to get the cop’s story, another came to speak to the injured auditor.  This was not to be a sympathetic victim interview.  It was an arrogant, antagonistic, blame-the-victim, cover the cops’ asses,’ assault.  That was clear from the first question.
Why did you come here this morning to record this building?
Did you say anything to the officer?
Did you stick your camera in his face?
Were you blocking the sidewalk?

In reverse order, the answers were:
We were not blocking any walkway.  A polite ‘Excuse me.’ would have caused us to move out of the way.
The injury clearly shows that it was my face that the camera was in.
His rapid, immediate attack gave no time to say anything.

The answers to the first question were;
Because I can
Because I want to
Because it’s perfectly legal to do so
Because it’s a hobby
Because it’s a source of taxable income
Because it’s educational
It’s none of your damned business and, like the other three answers, is not justification for assault and theft.
Because it’s a constitutionally protected activity – and –
Because, in 2018, the Department of Homeland Security issued a memo which all public officials are supposed to read and heed.  It plainly states that, with the exception of clearly-marked security areas, the public is free to record all government property, real estate and equipment, as well as all government officials in the course of their duties.  Simply recording cannot be made into a crime.

The bias in the first question shows in its improper construction.  They did not go there that morning TO RECORD THE DEA BUILDING.  They went there to observe and record and disseminate the actions and reactions of supposedly knowledgeable and trained police personnel, to an uncommon, but unthreatening and legal occurrence.  The results were distressing!