Free speech

ACLU settles case involving the right to photograph police; MPD issues General Order reminding officers to smile for the camera

July 23, 2012

In settling an ACLU-NCA case, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department issued a groundbreaking new General Order explicitly recognizing that “members of the general public have a First Amendment right to video record, photograph, and/or audio record MPD members while MPD members are conducting official business or while acting in an official capacity in any public space.” The order reminds officers that such activity “does not constitute suspicious conduct,” and instructs officers that they “shall not . . . in any way threaten, intimidate or otherwise discourage an individual from recording members’ enforcement activities.”

ACLU testifies on proposed bullying bill

November 07, 2011

In May 2011, the ACLU-NCA submitted written testimony on Bill 19-11, the Bullying and Intimidation Prevention Act of 2011. 

While recognizing that "the problem of bullying, especially in the District’s schools, is real and pervasive," and supporting "the enactment of a statute that carefully defines the problem and requires the District’s public schools, public charter schools, and other government agencies to address it vigorously," we pointed out that this bill, like the bills introduced in the previous Council session, had a variety of serious problems, includingan overly broad definition of "bullying" and other provisions that would violate the First Amendmrnt.  We emphasized that the "primary goal of [a] bill should be to prevent bullying, not just to punish it after it occurs, and the only effective way to accomplish that is through education and training."  We therefore urged the Council to focus on education and training in this area, rather than punishent.

As of November 7, 2011, bill has not moved foward.

A copy of our testimony on the Bullying and Intimidation Prevention Act of 2011 is here.

Settlement in Carr v. DC

March 31, 2011
Carr v. District of Columbia

This class action lawsuit involves people who were arrested on the night of January 20-21, 2005 (the evening of George W. Bush's second Inauguration) in Washington DC, in connection with a march in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood.

WE HAVE RECEIVED THE SETTLEMENT PAYMENT FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

CHECKS WILL BE MAILED TO PARTICIPATING CLASS MEMBERS NOT LATER THAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Settlement in Carr v. District of Columbia

February 22, 2011
Carr v. District of Columbia

This class action lawsuit involves people who were arrested on the night of January 20-21, 2005 (the evening of George W. Bush's second Inauguration) in Washington DC, in connection with a march in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood.  Jump to the full story for links to court documents regarding the proposed settlement.

WE HAVE RECEIVED THE SETTLEMENT PAYMENT FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

CHECKS WILL BE MAILED TO PARTICIPATING CLASS MEMBERS NOT LATER THAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN. 

 

Protecting the Right to Photograph Public Buildings

November 18, 2010

On October 15, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security settled a lawsuit brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a person who was arrested for taking photographs of a demonstrator outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan from a nearby public plaza.  In the settlement agreement (click here), the government conceded that there are "no general security regulations prohibiting exterior photography by individuals from publicly accessible spaces," and agreed to inform federal building guards "of the public's general right to photograph the exterior of federal courthouses from publicly accessible spaces."  It also agreed to pay the plaintiff $4,850 in compensation for his false arrest.