Benjamin and Russell Bartholomew were arrested Wednesday afternoon after hanging a 20-foot-long sign with an anti-tax message from an overpass on Highway 70 south of Marysville…
Charges are expected to include affixing a sign to state property and wearing masks to escape recognition while committing a public offense. The brothers are scheduled to appear May 24 in Yuba County Superior Court. Benjamin, 26, said Thursday that the sign — large black letters on pieces of white poster board roped together — was up only about five minutes before patrol cars arrived at the Erle Road overpass.
Here’s the video from the side of the road where Ben and Russell do a great job refusing to cooperate with the FIVE police aggressors, and point out the violence in the system:
After three arrests of liberty-loving activists simply for recording video, dozens of activists showed up at Weare PD to try to hold these jokers accountable and we were of course, ignored – mostly. They actually closed the public part of their office for the day prior to our arrival! The cops even refused to come and respond to a call in their own parking lot. Later, they actually ordered pizza for us, had it delivered in my name, (I was the one who had called the department on my cell phone and requested they come out) and had the pizza company write on the boxes: “PORKY PIG SPECIAL” and “Compliments of your Friends @ WEARE PD”
More than 30 people gathered in front of the Weare police station Wednesday to protest the department, which has in the last 13 months arrested and charged three people with felony wiretapping for recording police activity.
Waving “Don’t Tread on Me” flags and signs reading “We Will Record,” protesters argued that the department overstepped its authority by bringing charges against people who recorded officers performing public duties.
“I don’t think they like being confronted by informed citizens that know their rights. I think that many of them are corrupt and they have a bad reputation,” said Bill Domenico, of Manchester. “If it’s on the job, it’s on the record.” (more…)
FK’s Ademo recorded video of the police aggressing against him for using a video camera at a roadside stop in Mississippi which was featured on FOX Business’ Stossel:
As an activist, I try to support as many other activists as possible. So when I heard about Bob Constantine trial in Grafton County I did all I could to attend (pulling an all nighter the night before the trial). I thought the day would be boring as most court proceedings are but that wasn’t the case this time.
Right away we were told about a double security check and a ban of cameras from the courtroom. It didn’t take long for the activists to start asking questions and pushing the limits of these tyrannical rules. As seen in the video below Ian Freeman, fellow blogger here, did his best to get electronics into the courtroom, yet, was threatened with arrest if he didn’t leave.
What do you think? Should cameras ever be banned from a public building? If I have to pay for it shouldn’t I be allowed to record the actions that take place in such a place? Should undercover officers be protected? Aren’t they public servants? Do real public servants need to hide their face? Is this the world you want your children growing up in?
Good coverage of the rally from Free Concord, including the thwarted crackdown on the chalking by a security guard, some of the speakers, and the entering of the state house:
Talley.TV reports from the 420 Rally as a security agent attempts to stop the chalkers and is backed down by activists:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNEjT81HS2A
Oh, and for the record, the cops never came, despite the security guard insisting they would.
