In defense of the First Amendment

Robert Hamilton 14 Comments Maryland, The Baltimore Sun Baltimore City Police, Bill of Rights, Centre Street, constitution, First Amendment, Guilford Avenue, JFX, shooting

150 Photos

A police officer forcibly escorted Baltimore Sun photo editor Chris Assaf away from the scene of a police-involved shooting on Feb. 21. He had been taking pictures from outside the police lines, but an officer told him he had to move back further. Assaf protested, stating he was within his First Amendment rights to be where he was standing. Another officer then forced him to move. The Sun is posting all of Assaf’s images from the shooting scene as well as photos taken by Sun photographer Lloyd Fox, who witnessed and documented the incident.

Lt. Eric Kowalczk, the chief spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department, said the department has opened an internal investigation into the allegation. He declined to comment more specifically on the incident, “because we have an investigation and we don’t want to prejudice that.”

Warning: Some graphic images appear in this gallery.

Aug 17, 2012

First Amendment under attack

Robert Hamilton 2 Comments The Baltimore Sun First Amendment, Patriot Act, photography, police

1 photo

Public spaces are fair game for photographers – a right protected under the First Amendment as free speech. But in recent years that right has come under attack by law enforcement and officials, who are challenging the constraints of what can and cannot be filmed in a public space. Now, more than ever, photographers would be well-advised to learn their rights.
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