WI Capitol Police Target Individuals, Block Press Access

[Ellipsis]

Gotta love this pic. It's the usual suspects... starting to get to know them all by name.


BatmanWI
The thoughts and experiences of an activist/photographer.

WI Capitol Police Target Individuals, Block Press Access

Posted on September 26, 2012

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After taking pictures of the cops shoving Arthur, I ended up being the last person with a press pass to try to enter the press conference (because, of course, the “real” press doesn’t care to cover a story about a citizen being shoved around by cops.) When I tried to walk through the door, four Capitol police officers stood in my way and denied me access. I told them that I was a member of the press, showed them my press pass, and said that I had already been cleared as press two different times today. When they still didn’t let me through, I asked them why I was being denied access to the press conference, and officer Steingraeber simply said that the answer is “no,” and refused to give me a legitimate reason.

Later, one of my friends asked again why I was denied access, and Steingraeber then said that we would need to bring it up with the Department of Administration, which makes me believe the order to deny me access came from them. My friend, Leslie Peterson, was also targeted during the press conference. The cops know she is a member of the press, but she did not have her press pass on her. She did get into the press conference, but was then singled out and removed from the room.

Once the press conference was over, I approached the lady who had first let me into the press conference, and questioned why she hadn’t told them I was actually allowed in although she had been standing right there the whole time. She said, “You misrepresented yourself.” The only reason for her to think that is because the cops had told her that I was not actually a member of the press, which is a lie. I explained to her that I am an activist and an independent photojournalist, and that the cops know me as a “protestor.” I then went on to tell her that I typically don’t wear my press pass, but that when I decided to use it today, I realized that I was now acting as press and not a “protestor.” At that point, she softened up a bit, and even seemed to feel bad about accusing me of misrepresenting myself.

It didn’t surprise me one bit that the Capitol Police decided to not allow me into the press conference because I have a history with them. I have been very active during the protests in Wisconsin, and the cops all know me by name. But today I was acting as press, and instead of allowing me to cover the event like I have the right to do, they decided to let their personal feelings about me get in the way of upholding the US Constitution. Had they allowed me access to the press conference, I would have gotten some pictures, posted a few updates, and maybe the radio station would have picked up the story. Instead, they choose to target me and deny me access, which gave me an even more interesting story to report on.


http://batmanwi.com/2012/09/26/wi-capitol-police-block-press-access/