Nightline 6/7: The World is Watching (GOP convention and protests in NYC)

[Bozita]

This could be interesting. Here's their email:


The World is Watching

June 7, 2005


From the Zapruder film that recorded the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 to the Rodney King tape broadcast around the world in 1991, video evidence has certainly played a role in shaping contemporary American history. Videotapes played a particularly interesting role during the demonstrations that took place at last summer's Republican National Convention.


The city of New York installed surveillance cameras at locations surrounding the convention, cameras were attached to a blimp floating over the city and many individuals brought their own cameras to document the events. After nearly 2,000 demonstrators were arrested during the convention, these videos would prove to be vital documentation of confrontations between police and demonstrators -- particularly for the hundreds of people against whom charges were dropped because of such video evidence. Perhaps even more charges will be dropped as videotapes surface. So far since the convention, fewer than 200 of those arrested have pleaded guilty or been convicted.

Video surveillance is not limited to major events like political conventions. Just last month, the NYPD announced that it would like to install as many as 400 surveillance cameras across the city. Other major cities have launched similar initiatives.

So how do civil libertarians feel about this? Surely, they must be pleased that video evidence has exonerated demonstrators who were exercising their First Amendment rights. However, they have expressed strong reservations about the increasing prevalence of surveillance cameras. How will their use be regulated to prevent abuse? Don't citizens have a right to go to public places knowing their actions are not going to be recorded? The police say that cameras are effective as deterrents and investigative tools. Indeed, surveillance cameras have provided necessary evidence in arresting many criminals and the NYPD says that crime has dropped in areas where cameras have already been installed.

Tonight, correspondent Dave Marash examines the role of video cameras at the convention and correspondent John Berman takes a look at the relationship between the police and demonstrators. Finally, Ted Koppel will discuss the implications of the witness that doesn't blink with ACLU President Nadine Strossen.

We hope you'll join us.

Hillary Profita & the "Nightline" staff
ABC News Washington Bureau

[VOX]

1. Sounds interesting. Thanks for the heads-up, Bozita! n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Interesting

Will anybody have any video of this show?

[Mark Williams]

3. DEMbloggers.com

DEMbloggers.com will have the video of 'Nightline'.

[Bozita]

4. 5 minutes to airtime in the Eastern time zone

[halobeam]

5. I'm ready....

does anyone think that they will have an emphasis on the "merits" of this kind of surveillance, and those who are protesting this are of the same groups that utilized it to prove innocence? I lack trust, wonder why I feel this will "prove" it essential for the "good" of the people, instead of the true issue of the wrongful arrests and treatment of the protesters.

[me b zola]

6. Interesting way to frame the question

I'll be watching, thanks for the heads-up.

[Bozita]

7. 1800 arrests; 170 convicted --- Protestors were ruining the picture ...

... that NYC and the Republican Party were coloring.

Nine months have passed. Eighteen hundred arrested and only 170 convictions? Unfuckingbelievable!

BTW, how many cops were prosecuted for their actions on camera? Nightline didn't mention any.

These bastards make my blood boil.

[Stephanie]

11. Prosecute BLOOMBERG, not the cops

This was his policy. It was pre-emptive arrests for the convenience of Bush and his corporate sponsors, who presumed that they had rented out NYC for the week and none of the rest of us had a right to be here.

If you weren't in NY that week, beieve me, it was a frigging police state everywhere you went.

I talked to a girl last night who is a plaintiff in the ACLU litigation. She was just walking down the street, going home, when she was caught in a fucking NET and sent to Guantanamo on the Hudson for 52 hours, for NOTHING. For walking on the sidewalk.

[beltanefauve]

18. I'm a plaintiff too

and yes, it WAS a police state. There were 38,000 cops on the streets of NYC for the week. And we have 18,500 peacekeepers in Afghanistan. Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture??? When the cops told us to "keep it moving", and "off the sidewalk", there were so many up close that I was able to use a normal speaking voice and ask, "Where would you like us to move to?" The cops' instructions were exactly what got me netted, a deliberate bait-and-switch tactic.

[Bozita]

8. IMHO, this Nightline calls for a LEFTCOAST ALERT

[linazelle]

9. Is this supposed to be "news"? The convention was 8 mos. ago.

Pffffft. :eyes:

[Bozita]

10. Abu Ghraib happened 5 months before CBS broke the story

Maybe that wasn't "news" either.

If you've seen stories about protestors with video cameras during the GOP convention and those cameras causing prosecutors to drop all charges on those charged, please let me know.

[linazelle]

13. Nightlline is all sizzle and no steak...when their ratings fall, they come

trolling and throw out a bone like this to lure viewers in, then present some lightweight tripe that's usually a waste of time. If this show doesn't fit that mold, fine. But I'm not wasting my time helping their ratings and I get tired of the solicitations here that try to do that.

[Bozita]

15. Geeez, you could have simply ignored such solitications ...

... but, you couldn't resist.

[beltanefauve]

19. NYT

April 12, 2005 Page 0ne, "Videos Challenge Accounts of Convention Unrest" by Jim Dwyer

[Stephanie]

12. The litigation is NOW - they have to answer for what they did

Eventually, it must catch up with them.

How was the show? Missed it.

[Bozita]

14. Many German citizens were unaware of war crimes ...

... until well after the war.

How long do we in America have to wait to see even a single cop charged for what is quite obviously criminal assault during a protest demonstration?

Stephanie: Catch a replay at the link posted by one of the contributors to this thread. I think you'll like it.

[Stephanie]

16. Dial-up, or I would

We must have infinite patience WRT prosecuting their crimes. Else it will never happen.

[Bozita]

17. starting now on the leftcoast