… will be the day these tables are surrounded by cops, I’m ask to have my bag checked, I say no, I’m told I can’t enter, I tell them I’ll be taking another bus…

… and I either get home on an alternate bus or am arrested.

This image is from the entryway to the Port Authority terminal for the NJ Transit bus I take twice a day. This evening on my way home I saw for the first time tables positioned as shown with the sign. I’ve seen the sign before but never with tables and always pushed into a corner.

There is simply no way I will tolerate being searched on my way to or from work.

Oh… and do you like the “If you see something, say something” sign in the background? Those are all around the subway stations too.

I ride that train twice a day. Had that happened when I was on it… I’ve no idea how I would have reacted.

Perhaps they are cheering because of all the help they hope to get?

Last night, October 21st, 2008, the Greater NYC Campaign for Liberty, some members of the Manhattan Libertarian Party and other liberty activists demonstrated in Grand Central Station. A bit of theater. A breadline containing a decent amount of individuals with others as satellites handing out literature, discussing the bailout with passer bys and filming the event. I was in the latter group. Not 10 minutes into the demonstration officers started speaking with Russ, requesting our reasons for being their, what exactly we were doing and I’d imagine if we had a permit.

I was at one point, not caught on video, threatened by the officer seen walking away from Russ at approximately 48 seconds into the video. A very loud and angry, similar to: “Back up! Get away from me!” I was merely walking up to inquire to what the problem was and why Russ was being engaged. After talking with Russ briefly I went around to the other side to get a different angle and hand out more literature. I soon noticed another officer appear (about 1 minute in) and start approaching the breadline. You can see at about 1:04 the first officer points me out to the new cop.

At 1:45 I’m approached by the first officer and told to stop filming the officers. The officer in particular was 5 or more feet from me and I was attempting to pick up the dialog in the rather loud station. I was not at any point noticed by the officer as I was completely behind him so there was no possibility of my existence being an interference. There were others standing closer who were not filming who were not harassed. I was left alone only because he become distracted by another officer or his radio. As Russ was being handcuffed I believe it’s the original officer who threatens to lock me up too if I don’t “take a walk.” So I took a walk. Following closely Russ and the two officers who were bringing him to the holding cell. I unfortunately stopped recording while in the police office talking with the officer at the main desk though I got some of it.

It one point an officer threatens to bring out the K-9 unit to sniff all our bags. A short time one happens to just walk right by all of us and our belongings and does not react.

At 6:30 the officer who was talking with Andrew asked if he could help me. I inform him I’m a member of the group there implying my reason for being next to him… though I think obviously the problem was my filming. When you see the camera go from facing the floor to the side is when the officer grabbed my arm motioning to either take my camera or start to place cuffs on me. He too was distracted by what appeared to be a superior officer calling on the radio. I hand the camera off to Andrew in case he came back to detain me. Listen to the radio. “You were told what to do. THAT’S ENOUGH. OK?! Do what you got to do!”

I kept the camera going while trying to act as it wasn’t. We were told the office was not a waiting room even though there had been people in there waiting and instructed to leave. Shortly after Russ is released.

Once we left the station after a couple minutes we noticed most of the officers involved in the incendent standing just inside the doorway staring and talking among themselves. I wasn’t quick enough, nor would it had gone over well, to record them watching us but I was able to get them walking away. A rather good ending to the video I think.

Take aways:

1. Don’t carry ‘official’ state identification when doing these things. That way when you tell them you don’t have ID to show them you’re telling the truth. In fact I now plan to not carry my state ID with me on a regular basis.
2. Don’t ever stop recording. These things don’t take long and it’s better to have too much footage and have to spend more time editing then missing some of the good parts.
3. I had my Free Talk Live press pass on me but forgot to wear it. However, it’s my ‘official’ one with all my information on it. I need to get another one printed with basic info which doesn’t give away my full identity.

We plan on doing this again in the next couple weeks. We’ll see how it goes.

Not that we very much care but if someone is familiar with the laws regarding the actions we took please post the relevant statutes in the comments. Thank you.

I snapped this photo on 35th and 7th last night in Manhattan:

I’m not sure that World Trade Center building 7 is the greatest example to use. Besides all the controversy around its falling… if you accept the official story it failed after a couple fuel tanks exploded and random crap fell on it. If true that doesn’t sound like the highest quality workmanship.

Up on 37th and 8th I found this:

5PM, 3 NYPD officers to the left of the turnstiles at the South Ferry 1 train station. None of them I recall seeing before. Two notice me and let me go by without harassment.

Not very consistent. I’m a threat on Thuesdays but not Wednesdays?

I think I’m going to send the NYPD some questions regarding the inconsistancy, walking to another station, etc.

Today, at about 5PM I was asked to have my effects searched by a man in a dark blue uniform who was armed and perceived dangerous.

But like last time I screwed up. My plans have been to say no, ask or say innocently something regarding the yellow line station across the street and go from there. In the least I want to take down the thug’s identification information, snap a few photos and hand out fliers I have printed out from FlexYourRights.org. Maybe walk up to the next 1 station and take it downtown over and over till he threatens to arrest me or actually does.

Sounds easy until you are actually standing there with 3 blue light gangsters staring at you with their hands on their belts… awfully close to pepper spray, a telescoping beating club and a handgun. While at the same time you have dozens upon dozens of people streaming into the station behind you.

This was the first time I’ve seen them setup behind the turnstiles. Normally the are just around the corner, just to the left side or across from them near the help booth and side entrance. So if it wasn’t for the fact that I have an unlimited rides card I would have been out $2.50. Perhaps I need to add that to my script. Asking for my money back.

So in any case all I accomplished was saying no, obviously annoying the thug and having him, after a few seconds of silent contemplation, telling me I had to leave. I said “fine” or maybe nothing at all and proceeded toward the yellow line station across the street. I doubled back in order to take some photos but I couldn’t get a shot through the windows because of the glare and I was not sure I wanted to push it by walking back in and snapping some pics. So I went to the yellow line. Hopped onto the W and went home. The suspected terrorist got away.

It takes most people a reasonable amount of mental perpareness to do what I’m trying to do. Hopefully next time I will be calmer and able to focus on what I need to do.