PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Activists harassed on city street
by Danny P Wednesday, Nov. 03, 2004 at 6:01 PM
dannyp@indypgh.org

I was just harassed, threatened with arrest, and accused of terrorism while waiting outside the Allegheny County Jail, waiting in solidarity for the N3 arrestees.

A group of around 7 of us were outside waiting in solidarity for the arrestees, making smalltalk, discussing politics, and waiting for someone to come and feed us pizza. Then, two police officers approached us and said they received a report that we were writing down license plate numbers, and they wanted to check all of our IDs.

Some in our group complied, but I refused. Last I checked county property was a public place, and I was doing nothing wrong and just sitting outside. I was asked if I had any ID on me, and I replied "I'd rather not answer that." He then asked me "if I was being disorderly" and I told him I didn't think I was being disorderly. I asked him if I was free to go. He told me I was not, as this was part of a "criminal investigation."

I then asked him if I was being detained. He didn't really answer that question, and repeated "I'm just trying to get your ID" - he told me it was against the law in Pennsylvania to not give your ID to a police officer. I told him I didn't think that was right, and he asked "why would I lie to you?"

Around this time, his partner came over and he indicated to him that I was being "uncooperative." He repeated the bullshit accusation that we were writing down license plates, and said it could be some sort of "terrorism." Now that I was talking to both cops, I asked the other guy if I was free to go. He told me I was. I asked if I could return later tonight, and I was told that if I returned that night I would be arrested for defiant trespass.

It was bullshit, but I didn't want to get arrested for nothing and have all of my possessions searched. I feel almost guilty for backing down in the face of the police. I think people should remember that cops do lie, cops do deny people their rights, and cops arrest people for doing nothing against the law (see the case of Ken Miller getting arrested at Point State Park for handing out leaflets).

Let's all remember that people go shit like this and worse every day; there are people in prison today who are there because they didn't know their rights, or their political beliefs- my experience was lousy, but it wasn't the worst thing to ever happen at that Allegheny County Jail.

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