According to the Trump Administration, Video Recording Law Enforcement Is “Violence”

The Freedom of the Press Foundation calls bullshit on the latest Homan-Noem-Miller scam-o-rama.

The supposed violence by reporters? Recording videos. At least three times recently, a government official or lawyer has argued that simply recording law enforcement or Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers is a form of violence. In July, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem proclaimed during a news conference following ICE raids on California farms that videotaping ICE agents performing operations is “violence.” Noem lumped video recordings in with other forms of actual violence, like throwing rocks or Molotov cocktails at agents.

Then, in August, Justice Department lawyer Sean Skedzielewski argued, during a court hearing over the Los Angeles Police Department’s mistreatment of journalists covering protests, that videotaping law enforcement officers “can be used for violence.” He claimed recording is violent because it can reveal officers’ identities, leading to harassment, and can encourage more protesters to join the fray.

Also in August, the government applied similar logic as it fought against the release of Mario Guevara, the only journalist in U.S. custody after being arrested for newsgathering. ... In a bond hearing before an immigration court in July, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the government argued that Guevara’s recording and livestreaming of law enforcement “presents a safety threat.”

I’m not entirely sure what they’re teaching in law schools these days beyond Billable Hours 101.

In L.A., government attorney Skedzielewski didn’t just argue that video recording is violent. He said that meant that justified officers in using force against people videotaping them. This claim—made in a court that’s already restrained police from attacking journalists after they were documented violently assaulting and detaining reporters repeatedly—should seriously alarm journalists and anyone who wants to record police.

Government Lawyer Eyechart there really let the kitty out of the burlap. If videotaping is violence, then law enforcement has the freedom to be violent in response. See how easy it is to kill a republic with words? After all, what is a republic but words on paper? We are the manifestation of those words, and we are doing a lousy job of it.