I've been arrested twice in three years for photographing cops against their wishes

[RagingInMiami]

The first time was back in 2007 in an incident that was http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x272761">first discussed on DU. That compelled me to start a blog on photographers' rights because photographers getting harassed and arrested for doing something that is protected by the First Amendment is an ongoing issue.

The http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:OrSmzhIGePsJ:www.miamibeach411.com/news/index.php%3F/news/comments/reporter-arrested/+miami+beach+411+reporter+arrested&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a">second time was last year on Miami Beach in a incident I just started publicly talking about because I did not want it to interfere with the probation conviction from the first arrest.

I had been placed on a one-year probation after my first arrest because a biased judge allowed improper evidence during my trial. He allowed the prosecutor to introduce portions of my blog to convince the jury that I hate cops, which is why I got myself arrested, even though that blog did not exist at the time of my arrest.

Because of this, the jury acquitted me of refusing a lawful order and disorderly conduct, but convicted me of resisting arrest without violence. I appealed that conviction pro se (without a lawyer) and http://carlosmiller.com/2009/12/20/i-won-my-appeal">won it, which nullified the conviction and my probation, even though I served a year.

This is good because now all I am facing is a resisting arrest charge from my second arrest instead of a probation violation, which would have sent me to jail for a year. All for taking photos of cops in public.

So this is an ongoing battle for me. I not only write about these issues on an almost daily basis on my blog, I am out fighting the battle on the streets. It has cost me thousands in legal fees, way too many hours behind bars and several lost job opportunities because I am considered controversial.

This is why it is so important for me to win the Sun-Sentinel Best Overall Blog contest. I am currently in second place behind a blog about the Miami Dolphins which has a strong and loyal following, so they are constantly voting.

For me, winning the contest is more than the $100 gift certificate at Target. I'm willing to donate that to a poor family.

For me, winning the contest is about further establishing my blog as a legitimate source of information about police abuses. It's about making more people aware of these incidents that occur on a daily basis.

It's about sending a message to police and judges that people are paying attention.

And I really need DU's help in this because this is the only site that has the mass numbers that I need to help me beat that sports blog. And it would be almost like coming full circle considering I first wrote about my first arrest here where it ended up going on http://flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/402725350">Digg with more than 2,400 votes.

To vote, you need to register on the Sun-Sentinel, which takes a couple of minutes. However, once you register, you can vote at least once a day in each category.

This is what I ask of you:

1. Create a free Sun-Sentinel account (requires valid e-mail address). Click https://secure.sun-sentinel.com/services/site/registration/show-createprofile.register">here to do that.

2. Click http://interactive.sun-sentinel.com/community/ssblogcontest/voting/best.php">here to vote for Photography is Not a Crime as the Best Overall Blog in South Florida. You can type in "Photography is Not a Crime" into the search box on the screen or just find it in the drag down menu. Then click on "Vote For best overall."

3. Click http://interactive.sun-sentinel.com/community/ssblogcontest/voting/index.php">here and scroll down to the categories of "Art/DIY," "Photography" and "Politics" and click the "vote" link under Photography is Not a Crime (this step is not as important as step 2 if you're in a rush, but it helps).

Remember, you can vote in each category at least once a day until 10 a.m. (eastern time) on March 1st.