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DC Police Threaten And Detain Reporters At CPAC Occupy Protest

video

by Tommy Christopher | 2:27 pm, February 11th, 2012

» 35 comments

At Washington DC’s Marriott Wardman Park Hotel last night, one of several Occupy DC protests escalated into a clash with Metro Police, as a group of more than a hundred protesters made their way onto the grounds of the hotel, the site of the Conservative Political Action Conference. The police, in part of a disturbing pattern, used force and threats of arrest to keep reporters away, and even detained at least one credentialed CPAC blogger.

The Occupy protesters took several shots at disrupting CPAC yesterday. They tried to advance onto the hotel grounds in the afternoon, but were turned away by a small contingent of police, who, at that time, threatened to arrest Slate reporter Dave Weigel. Shortly thereafter, a group of protesters made it all the way into the hotel, and were promptly escorted off the grounds.

Then, at around 7pm Friday night, a group of well over a hundred Occupy protesters marched on a rear entrance to the Marriott Wardman. I was waiting around at the McDonald’s for a friend of mine to meet me for dinner, when I saw police vehicles racing down Connecticut Ave., turning up 24th to that rear entrance, and three or four policemen tore past me on foot, so I grabbed my camera and followed.

There were dozens of police there, lots of screaming, sounds of struggle, and chanting, and as I tried to get a shot of what was happening in that thick cluster of police, I was grabbed on the shoulder and thrown back by a DC policeman, who shouted, “Stay off my officers!”

I circled around to try a different angle (I was one of several reporters on the scene) when the same officer grabbed me again, pushed me away, and threatened to arrest me if I continued. One benefit of years of experience is that I knew better than to ask “For what?” since asking “For what” is one of many “reasons” people get arrested. The truth is, they don’t need a reason to arrest you, they only need a reason if they want it to stick. Also, I was too tired and hungry to go to jail, so I complied.

One of the CPAC bloggers (featured in the video below), a middle-aged woman who took exception to the police’s treatment of journalists, wasn’t so lucky. As I left the scene, I saw her cuffed and being taken into custody, protesting loudly.

Ironically, that appears to have been the only arrest. When asked Saturday morning, a DC Metro Police spokesman said there was one arrest, a female (presumably the same one I saw), for “assault on a police officer.”

She had complained earlier about being pushed and shoved around by police, so it is possible that she either unwisely decided to push back at some point, or that she reflexively resisted being manhandled. The police were unable to provide any further detail.

At one point in the video I shot, another police officer pleads with CPAC hecklers to go away, because they were making his job harder. That was a reasonable request, reasonably put, but it illustrates the tension between the press and police at these events. The police are doing their jobs, and so are reporters. We respect the job that the police have to do, but increasingly, they don’t seem to respect the job we have to do, or the constitutional protections we’re supposed to enjoy while doing it. That this occurred in Washington, DC, where police are normally more attuned to this kind of conflict, is doubly disturbing.

Here’s video of the incident, including a shot of the woman who was arrested:

CPAC, CPAC 2012, Dave Weigel, Occupy DC, Occupy Movement

Gloves Reggie Donahue

“One benefit of years of experience is that I knew better than to ask “For what?” since asking “For what” is one of many “reasons” people get arrested.”

Very good. I usually say politely ” I ain’t done nothin’, copper, and you can’t mess with me, see?”
Unfortunately, they will often take this as a challenge. So, I keep my bail money in the lining of my fedora at all times.
Anonymous

I see the Occupy protestors are still working to completely invalidate their cause.

Reminds me of the 2004 NRA Convention in Pittsburgh. The anti-gun rights people were lawfully protesting outside the hall, but a group if them tried to get in by pushing past security. The Pitt police pushed everyone in the area out of the hall, reporters and members (including me). Once the entry was secured, those with credentials were allowed back in. There was one arrest of one protestor who pushed back.

I, along with several other exhibitors, got caught up in the sweep, politely complied with directions and thanked the officers once we were readmitted. Lesson – in these situations, police do bot have time to check credentials. Once security is restored they do. Comply politely and clearly identify yourself at the appropriate time. The middle of the situation is never the appropriate time.

And before the snarking, I was there with a gun manufacturer that I do marketing for. Also as a Benefactor Life Member. Also still No Party Affiliation.
Anonymous

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Anonymous

Problem today is with all the press around some in the OWS crowd see their 5 minutes of fame,
especially if they’re being egged on by Journalist poser Dave Weigel.
This crowd is wearing thin with a majority of Americans.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nulln-Void/100002834892379 Nulln Void

The reporter here is onto something serious. The police department appears upset as a result of the number of claims of police abuse of authority caught on video (whether legitimate or pure propaganda).

I was recently asked by an officer to step around a corner rather than observe the officers confiscating property. I refused to move more than a few steps backward because I strongly feel that someone needs to be “watching the watchmen”. I didn’t feel this way until after personally witnessing an abuse of authority during the McPherson eviction.

In no uncertain terms, it is extremely detrimental to all of our civil liberties if the media is excluded from observing and recording events.
Anonymous

At least the reporters used there real names unlike some(TOMMY)
NDanielson

Threatening and detaining!? I thought cops were supposed to protect and serve??? Threatening and detaining is just so uncivil, isn’t it?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_45S32GWGDRUJIL6E2U4HOZW4BM Bob

CPAC can’t pay for their own security from the private sector and have to rely on a handout from the socialist/Marxist public law enforcement department.
Anonymous

RUN TOMMY! RUN!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_34VQ3NDNOFFUF6R7ALXY6O33S4 Cal

No, the lesson is that the majority of cops are authoritarian thugs.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_34VQ3NDNOFFUF6R7ALXY6O33S4 Cal

Another day, another example of thuggish cops.
Anonymous

I dont imagine the police would be providing security for a democratic party gathering now would it?
Anonymous

Authoritarian thugs that you would call if you were robbed, physically harmed or any other violation of your rights.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_34VQ3NDNOFFUF6R7ALXY6O33S4 Cal

Except that the average American is more likely to have their rights violated by the police than by a criminal.
Anonymous

No, they are not. 99.9 percent of cops are good people. They are the same people who keep our communities safe. If you think they are thugs, then what do you think of criminals?

Oh, wait, I see just below. You think criminals are the good guys. Well, I’ll respond there.
Anonymous

And how do you come up with that? Every burglary violates property rights. Every act of violence is a violation of the victim’s rights by the criminal. Can you not see that?

Do you really think so highly of those who rape, murder, rob and beat? And so low of those who step in harm’s way daily to keep the killers and rapists away from your door?

Or do you just automatically blame the police?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_34VQ3NDNOFFUF6R7ALXY6O33S4 Cal

I fail to see much difference between the criminals with badges and the criminals without them.
Anonymous

When CPAC rented the facility their meeting is in, the facility agreed to provide security and CPAC is paying. This is a standard in any convention agreement. However, when the OWS folks decided to trespass, the facility – in a completely appropriate action – called the police to request that the law be enforced. See how that works?

By the way, I dislike CPAC enormously. I think they are exclusionary and tend to allow extreme and inciteful rhetoric that further exacerbates the partisan anger and divide. Move On is exactly the same on the other side.

That said, they have an absolute right to assemble and express their opinions freely.
Anonymous

Then it is pointless to respond further. If you really believe that law enforcement officers are criminals, then you are either a criminal or a fool. Either way, one day, you will need the police and all this will be forgotten when they rescue your despite your dislike for them.
Anonymous

Cops Committ More Crimes Than Criminals !!!

I’ll take absurd comments for $1000, Alex.
Anonymous

I would apply, but I can’t afford the pay cut.
Anonymous

Maybe Clueless Bob should read about what’s going on in Charlotte, NC. I’m less than an hour away and I’m hearing it every day.
Anonymous

Here’s video of Occupy CPAC protestors saying they have no idea what they are protesting:
http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/10/occupy-cpac-protesters-have-no-idea-what-cpac-is-video/

In another article, one of the protestors claims he was paid sixty bucks to protest but he doesn’t know what CPAC is. This protest is a fraud perpetrated by leftists and unions.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Neil-Murphy/100000566621491 Neil Murphy

http://nation.foxnews.com/unions/2012/02/11/unions-paid-occupy-cpac-protesters-60
http://www.facebook.com/people/Neil-Murphy/100000566621491 Neil Murphy

http://nation.foxnews.com/unions/2012/02/11/unions-paid-occupy-cpac-protesters-60

And the cops are thugs? Really?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Neil-Murphy/100000566621491 Neil Murphy

And the unions cant do their own picketing they have to pay people to act like thugs…

http://nation.foxnews.com/unions/2012/02/11/unions-paid-occupy-cpac-protesters-60
http://www.facebook.com/people/Neil-Murphy/100000566621491 Neil Murphy

Who is bothering the dems?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Neil-Murphy/100000566621491 Neil Murphy

http://nation.foxnews.com/unions/2012/02/11/unions-paid-occupy-cpac-protesters-60

Why not arresting and charging? They are clearly not there to excersise thier rights or protest anything in particular.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Neil-Murphy/100000566621491 Neil Murphy

thugs?

http://nation.foxnews.com/unions/2012/02/11/unions-paid-occupy-cpac-protesters-60
AIiveStiIIKickin

I get irritated when people come down on our police officers,
saying that they don’t care. Well, here is a story that shows not all
cops are in that category.The Scottsboro, AL Police Department
reported finding a man’s body last Saturday in the Tennessee River near the
Jackson County Park. The dead man’s name would not be released until his
family had been notified. The victim apparently drowned due to excessive
beer consumption while visiting “someone” in Scottsboro. He was
wearing black fishnet stockings, a red garter belt, a pink G-string,
purple lipstick, and an Obama T-shirt.The Police removed the Obama
T-shirt to spare his family any unnecessary embarrassment.
Police do care.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_34VQ3NDNOFFUF6R7ALXY6O33S4 Cal

More Fox lies. Stop wasting my time.
Anonymous

The media tries to portray the police as the problem rather than doing the tough, thankless job VERY well. The protesters create chaos on purpose, and ‘reporters’ blame the police. We’re all a bit sick of it, and just like the UK and Athens violence, the violent protesters are the problem, not the police containing it. Chaos never is good for incumbents..

Meanwhile, gallup continues ugly poll numbers on Obama. http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx
Anonymous

Exactly, and its not too hard to see Tommy’s bias in this one. When the police are trying to keep the Occupy protestors in line they are “threatening”. because the protestors are doing a noble thing. But the CPAC people there are not doing a counter-protest, they are “hecklers” and the police are “quite reasonable” when they try to shut them down.
Anonymous

That’s a part of the problem in America,take out the paint brush and use broad strokes to condition it to one color.It’s evident by the tinker-bell posts about those who supposedly “protect and serve” have never resided in certain locations of America where the residents only become concerned when the police are around.Yea,but who am I to pop your fairytale bubble about the police.Continue painting away,just don’t paint my fence and tell me it’s a Rembrandt.
Love of Country

OWS is a despicable top down fascist movement within the modern day fascist DNC ….. cancer of the highest order … God Help Us!