Comments on: Celebrate your freedoms on Constitution Day http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/2008/09/14/celebrate-your-freedoms-on-constitution-day/ Lexington Herald-Leader columnist Tom Eblen Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:39:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jeff Noble http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/2008/09/14/celebrate-your-freedoms-on-constitution-day/#comment-1487 Jeff Noble Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:18:29 +0000 http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/?p=922#comment-1487 Professor Labunski's book is a great read. I was given the book in 2006 by my friend Burrell Farnsley, who, wisely, read it before making a gift of it. Anyone interested in why we have questions today about how the same wrods are interpreted differently will be pleased and/or discomforted to know the same problems existed during the formative years of the country. Professor Labunski’s book is a great read. I was given the book in 2006 by my friend Burrell Farnsley, who, wisely, read it before making a gift of it. Anyone interested in why we have questions today about how the same wrods are interpreted differently will be pleased and/or discomforted to know the same problems existed during the formative years of the country.

]]> By: Tom Eblen http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/2008/09/14/celebrate-your-freedoms-on-constitution-day/#comment-1483 Tom Eblen Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:43:44 +0000 http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/?p=922#comment-1483 Nathan -- After doing more research, and talking last night with a First Amendment lawyer in Minneapolis who was very familiar with the situation, I think I underestimated the problem. I agree with you that what happened up there is troubling, as there seems to have been excessive force used not only against journalists but against the protesters. While it is important to prevent violence and property destruction, it also is important to allow peaceful protests and news coverage of them. Journalists have no special rights, and shouldn't. Their role is to be the citizens' witnesses and reporters. It will be interesting to see how the investigations of the police actions up there unfold. Nathan — After doing more research, and talking last night with a First Amendment lawyer in Minneapolis who was very familiar with the situation, I think I underestimated the problem. I agree with you that what happened up there is troubling, as there seems to have been excessive force used not only against journalists but against the protesters. While it is important to prevent violence and property destruction, it also is important to allow peaceful protests and news coverage of them. Journalists have no special rights, and shouldn’t. Their role is to be the citizens’ witnesses and reporters. It will be interesting to see how the investigations of the police actions up there unfold.

]]> By: Nathan http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/2008/09/14/celebrate-your-freedoms-on-constitution-day/#comment-1482 Nathan Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:41:51 +0000 http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/?p=922#comment-1482 thanks Tom. I did read some of the articles in the HL... I was moreso interested in your personal, "unofficial" take on the seeming assault on our individual freedoms (in light of this post which celebrates our freedoms)... but more to the point, I feel like the behavior of the police at the RNC went far beyond being overly cautious, and ventured into "pre-emptive strike" territory, evidenced by the fact that legitimate journalists were in fact targeted and arrested, rather than a truly "cautious" approach, which would have had the police discern the real journalists from the violent protesters. While the Kernel reporters may not have had proper credentials, there were journalists arrested who DID have proper credentials, which were ignored. It seems to be part of a larger pattern of excessive police force (which is more widely documented today, if perhaps not actually more prevalent, thanks to the widespread use of digital recorders, cell phones with cameras, etc.) And thus, I'm interested in your opinion on this development, as a journalist whose professional livelihood relies rather acutely on the first amendment rights. I really enjoy your blog and respect your opinion, which is why I'm asking you in the first place, figuring you'd likely have something relevant to say on the matter. Maybe you don't perceive the situation to be as threatening as I do. Fair enough. thanks Tom. I did read some of the articles in the HL… I was moreso interested in your personal, “unofficial” take on the seeming assault on our individual freedoms (in light of this post which celebrates our freedoms)… but more to the point, I feel like the behavior of the police at the RNC went far beyond being overly cautious, and ventured into “pre-emptive strike” territory, evidenced by the fact that legitimate journalists were in fact targeted and arrested, rather than a truly “cautious” approach, which would have had the police discern the real journalists from the violent protesters. While the Kernel reporters may not have had proper credentials, there were journalists arrested who DID have proper credentials, which were ignored. It seems to be part of a larger pattern of excessive police force (which is more widely documented today, if perhaps not actually more prevalent, thanks to the widespread use of digital recorders, cell phones with cameras, etc.) And thus, I’m interested in your opinion on this development, as a journalist whose professional livelihood relies rather acutely on the first amendment rights. I really enjoy your blog and respect your opinion, which is why I’m asking you in the first place, figuring you’d likely have something relevant to say on the matter. Maybe you don’t perceive the situation to be as threatening as I do. Fair enough.

]]> By: Tom Eblen http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/2008/09/14/celebrate-your-freedoms-on-constitution-day/#comment-1476 Tom Eblen Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:19:33 +0000 http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/?p=922#comment-1476 Nathan, The Herald-Leader wrote news stories about the arrests and about the charges against them being dropped. It seemed as if the photojournalists were swept up in a chaotic, potentially violent situation, rather than being targeted by police trying to prevent media coverage. Had the charges not been dropped, I would feel differently. The photographers' situation was further complicated by the fact that they weren't credentialed, or working on assignment for a news organization. A photojournalist friend who has covered these sorts of protests at high-profile events told me that groups seeking to spark violence have in the past had some of their members disguise themselves as journalists, with professional cameras, etc. Situations like that can be chaotic, so the police may have just been overly cautious. I know a couple of those arrested. If they have thoughts on the situation, I'd welcome their comments. Nathan,
The Herald-Leader wrote news stories about the arrests and about the charges against them being dropped. It seemed as if the photojournalists were swept up in a chaotic, potentially violent situation, rather than being targeted by police trying to prevent media coverage. Had the charges not been dropped, I would feel differently. The photographers’ situation was further complicated by the fact that they weren’t credentialed, or working on assignment for a news organization. A photojournalist friend who has covered these sorts of protests at high-profile events told me that groups seeking to spark violence have in the past had some of their members disguise themselves as journalists, with professional cameras, etc. Situations like that can be chaotic, so the police may have just been overly cautious. I know a couple of those arrested. If they have thoughts on the situation, I’d welcome their comments.

]]> By: Nathan http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/2008/09/14/celebrate-your-freedoms-on-constitution-day/#comment-1475 Nathan Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:24:44 +0000 http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/?p=922#comment-1475 Tom, As a journalist and citizen, what are your thoughts on the arrest of KY Kernel reporters at the recent RNC? Police cracking down with violence against protesters, journalists, and reporters (citizens all) indiscriminately seems, to me, to be a frightening violation of our first amendments rights to freedom of speech, press, and assembly. I am interested in your thoughts, and surprised, frankly, that you haven't discussed these events in your blog, considering local student reporters were involved. Your insight would be appreciated. Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now (www.democracynow.org) was also arrested, along with her colleagues, and there is audio of that incident available on their website. Tom,

As a journalist and citizen, what are your thoughts on the arrest of KY Kernel reporters at the recent RNC? Police cracking down with violence against protesters, journalists, and reporters (citizens all) indiscriminately seems, to me, to be a frightening violation of our first amendments rights to freedom of speech, press, and assembly. I am interested in your thoughts, and surprised, frankly, that you haven’t discussed these events in your blog, considering local student reporters were involved. Your insight would be appreciated. Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now (www.democracynow.org) was also arrested, along with her colleagues, and there is audio of that incident available on their website.

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