Freeway Bloggers vs. LAPD CHP*
April 21, 2008 at 1:04 pm in Driving, Law Enforcement
As much as it pains me to do so, I find myself at the defense of a group of 9/11 Truthers – you know, those people who don’t buy that radical Islamic terrorists were responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center.
On April 11th, a handful of “Truthers” carried a banner reading “Google/YouTube 9/11 Mysteries” to a freeway overpass during rush hour to display to thousands of passing motorists.
Two hours into it, police stopped by telling them they had to stop because they were a danger and slowing traffic because, per the officer, people were trying to read the banner. Did I point out this was during rush hour?
On the video, the police officer also repeatedly asks the cameraman to turn off the camera. When asked what law was being broken, the officer cites PC 148, which happens to be the penal code for “Resisting, Delaying, or Obstructing an Officer.”
Maybe the video isn’t showing the whole story, but all I can see are a half dozen protesters holding up a banner and a few others jumping up and down. There is no threat to the public, and as far as I can tell, since the sign is never “installed,” doesn’t violate any law.
Is this a case of a couple misguided cops whose salaries are now paid in part by ever increasing garbage disposal fees, or are they actually doing their job and enforcing some law? [via Martin Hill/OpEd News]
*Will Campbell points out the officers in the video are California Highway Patrol, not Los Angeles Police Department, thus making moot my topical snark.
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