Biren asserts that, "Independent media continues to grow and
it's
important that we exert our rights and not allow ourselves to be
intimidated by a heavy hand. That said, it is true that 'you can beat
the rap, but you can't beat the ride' and this was one ride I could
have done without. I'm eager to go back to where I left off which was
reporting on the arrests at the Army Experience Center with a renewed
appreciation for what protesters are up against when standing by their
convictions."
The six protesters whose arrests were being documented by Biren still face trial this Spring. Attorney Hetznecker will also be representing them. He declined to comment further on the pending case.
In some locales after police abuse like this has occurred, the ACLU has negotiated with the police to establish clearly defined policies so that it doesn't happen again.
Regarding such efforts, Hetznecker explained that "Oftentimes, what is being sought is an injunction and/or a declaratory judgment regarding the police activity and those are very difficult to obtain regarding a broad pattern of behavior, but certainly it is something that I think is going to emerge again over and over and we see the press being subject to these false arrests and claims of criminality simply because they are present and covering and documenting in effect a political event."
Hetznecker then placed this in a historical perspective, "I think it is something
that is a fertile ground for future litigation, but it's not something
that hasn't been addressed in the past. It has, historically, but that
is true of the constant struggle for civil liberties. It is something
that is an ongoing battle and each new generation and each new police
technique and new advancement in technology has to be confronted by a
forceful response in declaration of liberty and freedom. Simply
because the police used these same techniques in the 60s and 70s and it
was resolved in one way or the other in the courts doesn't mean it's
not going to rear it's ugly head again and we have to respond in kind."
Concluding, Hetznecker noted, "I think it's something that is an ongoing battle and certainly a battleground that will go from the streets to the courtroom once the dust settles and I'm not talking about this particular case necessarily, but the overall issue of whether or not we have a serious intrusion into the first amendment rights of the press by the police in their attempts to exclude and eliminate independent coverage of events."
The six protesters whose arrests were being documented by Biren still face trial this Spring. Attorney Hetznecker will also be representing them. He declined to comment further on the pending case.
In some locales after police abuse like this has occurred, the ACLU has negotiated with the police to establish clearly defined policies so that it doesn't happen again.
Regarding such efforts, Hetznecker explained that "Oftentimes, what is being sought is an injunction and/or a declaratory judgment regarding the police activity and those are very difficult to obtain regarding a broad pattern of behavior, but certainly it is something that I think is going to emerge again over and over and we see the press being subject to these false arrests and claims of criminality simply because they are present and covering and documenting in effect a political event."
Concluding, Hetznecker noted, "I think it's something that is an ongoing battle and certainly a battleground that will go from the streets to the courtroom once the dust settles and I'm not talking about this particular case necessarily, but the overall issue of whether or not we have a serious intrusion into the first amendment rights of the press by the police in their attempts to exclude and eliminate independent coverage of events."
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