China Detains Reporter During Live Broadcast, While U.S. Violates Free Speech Every Day

Aaron Dykes

Infowars.com

March 16, 2013



When Sky News reporter Mark Stone was detained by Chinese police during a live broadcast, the communist superpower essentially got caught red-handed while trying to stifle coverage of one of their most embarrassing authoritarian moments — namely Tiananmen Square.

What the world already knows about China’s heavy-handed censorship was put on display after the British journalist made passing mention of the 1989 incident and was dragged away to a police van, with officials apparently unaware that the signal was still going out. This kind of behavior, while shameful, is perhaps expected in a place like China.

But the United States, renowned for its freedoms, has routinely intimidated its citizens for daring to film in public, too, particularly when confronting controversial topics, establishing chilling blows to the First Amendment which guarantees free speech and a free press.

Since 9/11, these freedoms have been openly trashed as law enforcement and security guards have been trained to treat journalists as criminals and anyone with a camera as a potential terrorist. Despite Homeland Security’s repeated attempts to profile journalists, and prosecute those who take pictures of federal buildings or record police or TSA encounters, recent court cases have upheld the fact that photography is NOT a crime, and free speech remains a protected civil right.

This special report details how Infowars reporters have repeatedly been harassed for filming in public places, particularly near government installations and during events, a problem that is compounded by widespread ignorance on the part of police, TSA and security on location.

Founding father Benjamin Franklin warned that any society that would trade liberty for security, would end up with neither.

LINKS TO FURTHER RESEARCH:

You Have Every Right to Snap That Picture

http://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/you-have-every-right-snap-picture

Edgewater man sues Homeland Security over arrest for filming near federal building

http://www.northjersey.com/news/91887729_Camera_operator_sues_Homeland_Security.html

VIDEO: Alex Confronts Feds After Threat To Arrest Infowars Photographer

http://www.infowars.com/video-alex-confronts-feds-after-threat-to-arrest-infowars-photographer/

Life in Prison for Recording Police: Michael Allison Speaks

http://www.infowars.com/life-in-prison-for-filming-police-michael-allison-speaks/

Michael Allison Case Dismissed By Illinois Atty General!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHWfUQyGEVc

Charges Dropped Against Man Who Faced Life In Jail For Recording Cops

http://www.infowars.com/charges-dropped-against-man-who-faced-life-in-jail-for-recording-cops/

Taking Fed’s photo may be taking a chance

http://www.infowars.com/taking-feds-photo-may-be-taking-a-chance/

Supreme Court Upholds Decision Blocking Enforcement Of Illinois Eavesdropping Law

http://chicagoist.com/2012/11/26/supreme_court_upholds_decision_bloc.php

Carlos Miller’s Photography is NOT a Crime Blog

http://www.photographyisnotacrime.com/

“Photography Is Not a Crime” Prosecutor Fired for Abusing Position for Lap Dances

http://reason.com/blog/2013/02/21/photography-is-not-a-crime-prosecutor-fi

TSA Issues Warning Over Opt Out And Film Week

http://www.infowars.com/tsa-issues-warning-over-opt-out-and-film-week/

TSA Blog: Can I Take Photos at the Checkpoint and Airport?

http://blog.tsa.gov/2009/03/can-i-take-photos-at-checkpoint-and.html

ACLU seeks end to prosecutions for recording public conversations with police

http://www.aclu-il.org/aclu-seeks-end-to-prosecutions-for-recording-public-conversations-with-police/

Right to photograph federal buildings upheld

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101906119.html

Public’s Right to Photograph Federal Buildings Upheld by Settlement

http://www.petapixel.com/2010/10/19/publics-right-to-photograph-federal-buildings-upheld-by-settlement/

You Can Photograph That Federal Building

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/you-can-photograph-that-federal-building/

Reporter Threatened With Arrest For Filming TSA

http://www.infowars.com/reporter-threatened-with-arrest-for-filming-tsa/

Flash protest at SXSW

http://www.infowars.com/flash-protest-of-sxsw/

Free Speech Ban Reversed by City of Austin

http://www.infowars.com/free-speech-ban-reversed-by-city-of-austin/

G20 Police & Military Savagely Attack Peaceful Protesters In Pittsburgh Park – Infowars Reporter Arrested

http://www.infowars.com/g20-police-military-savagely-attack-peaceful-protesters-in-pittsburgh-park/

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