Activist Harassed By DHS Officer For Taking Photos On Public Sidewalk [Video]
Seattle civil liberties activist Phil Mocek was harassed by several federal agents this week as he attempted to legally take photos on a public sidewalk.
While walking past the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building on his way to work Wednesday morning, Mocek began taking pictures of what he described as several unmarked personal vehicles parked in reserved law enforcement spots.
While taking pictures, an unknown federal agent in a white truck approached Mocek and parked crooked in the road before getting out and stealing Mocek’s camera. Mocek immediately called police as the agent began going through his pictures.
Two Seattle police officers arrived on scene and began talking to the federal agent, who identified himself as a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agent. The building’s private security guard and a Federal Protective Service officer (Department of Homeland Security) approached the scene as well and looked on as the ATF agent continued to violate Mocek’s Fourth Amendment.
The police refused to file a report on the incident before returning Mocek’s camera, which had an image deleted according to Mocek.
While walking to work the following morning, Mocek was approached by the same security guard and Federal Protective Service officer. Mocek immediately took out his camera as the officer, seemingly enraged by Mocek exercising his First Amendment the previous day, began taking pictures and video, shoving his camera in Mocek’s face.
Soon after, the private security guard approached and began taking pictures as well, both men now surrounding and taunting Mocek. The Federal Protective Service officer, trying to intimidate Mocek, continually attempted to get Mocek’s face on camera.
“I believe strongly in personal privacy and institutional transparency. Given what’s happening at the federal level, I think it’s really important to look at what our local authorities are doing, how they’re tracking us and how they’re surveilling us,” Mocek told the Bellingham Herald.
Although filming government buildings and public servants is completely legal, government officials continually attempt to intimidate and coerce Americans into waiving their First Amendment right to do so.
Mocek was arrested in 2009 at a New Mexico airport after TSA agents illegally ordered him to stop filming as agents demanded he present his drivers license. A jury later cleared Mocek of all misdemeanor charges before the TSA admitted that all of Mocek’s actions were perfectly legal.
Whether or not Mocek will take legal action over his current situation is unknown.
Last year, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, in association with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, produced a training video that labels street photographers as potential terrorists despite almost all domestic terrorist plots being admittedly “facilitated by the F.B.I.” as reported by the New York Times. Meanwhile, the federal government continues its unconstitutional surveillance of Americans while admittedly supporting actual terrorist groups in Syria.
