Photography is Not a Crime

Cops lay down the law at spontaneous Obama victory celebration in Charles Village...In November 2008 I was arrested and spent the night in jail. My crime? Taking photos of Baltimore City cops. You can read my account in City Paper.

Since then, I've become very aware of the growing harassment and persecution of photographers who are doing nothing more than exercising their First Amendment rights, such as this retaliatory raid against a blogger in Phoenix.

If you're a photographer or videographer or journalist, please visit Carlos Miller's superb blog, Photography is Not a Crime. And always remember—barring a specific legal prohibition, you are legally entitled to take photos of pretty much anything you want on public property. You can find a The Photographer's Right: Your Rights and Remedies When Stopped or Confronted for Photography here (PDF). It's worth printing and keeping in your camera bag.

arrest, baltimore, media, photo, photographyMichael M. Hughes