Last Thursday, I attended the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Civilian Commission.
The board is staffed with appointees by individual members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, along with appointments by the board as a whole or from other agencies, including the Sheriff's department.
The Commission is not used to American citizens showing up.
They are not used to patriots, Pro-Trump conservatives putting pressure on the commission.
And we gave them more than they had bargained for.
Check out the outrageous behavior from the staffers and police at the front of the courthouse:
Gary is arrested for filming in the building?
The Civilian Commission meeting is under the Brown Act, which permits recording!
Unbelievable!
The LA Times reported this disregard for the First Amendment:
Sometimes people yell at the monthly turnout of the Los
Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, but on Thursday the
fireworks started before some attendees could get inside.
Yes, and much of this conflict began and ended because of the Civilian Commission's perverse move to have the meeting in a court house instead of in the Water District office along Alameda Blvd.
Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, but on Thursday the
fireworks started before some attendees could get inside.
Yes, and much of this conflict began and ended because of the Civilian Commission's perverse move to have the meeting in a court house instead of in the Water District office along Alameda Blvd.
A man attempting to bring a camera to the public forum, held
at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, was handcuffed and ultimately
ejected after he began filming a dispute with security guards over whether he
could bring recording devices into the federal courthouse.
The Brown Act permits men and women to bring in cameras and to record the meeting.
at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, was handcuffed and ultimately
ejected after he began filming a dispute with security guards over whether he
could bring recording devices into the federal courthouse.
The Brown Act permits men and women to bring in cameras and to record the meeting.
After being detained about an hour, Gary Gileno, a freelance
journalist and a member of We The People Rising, a group opposed to illegal
immigration, was issued a $280 citation for failing to comply with court
security officers’ directions.
He will contest this ticket no doubt. The charges should be dropped. The actions of the security personnel or inexcusable.
journalist and a member of We The People Rising, a group opposed to illegal
immigration, was issued a $280 citation for failing to comply with court
security officers’ directions.
He will contest this ticket no doubt. The charges should be dropped. The actions of the security personnel or inexcusable.
Gileno, who said he has filmed a public gathering inside
that courthouse before, said he’s well-versed about his rights at open meetings
and that what happened to him was “outrageous.”
that courthouse before, said he’s well-versed about his rights at open meetings
and that what happened to him was “outrageous.”
U.S. Marshals had been telling those entering the building
that no electronics were allowed, even if people were headed to the public
forum. The agents eventually let most people bring their phones and cameras
inside, although they did not allow people to hold up signs in the meeting.
They "eventually" let people bring in their equipment. So why this selective enforcement?
that no electronics were allowed, even if people were headed to the public
forum. The agents eventually let most people bring their phones and cameras
inside, although they did not allow people to hold up signs in the meeting.
They "eventually" let people bring in their equipment. So why this selective enforcement?
Mike MacBean, acting supervisor for the U.S. Marshals
Service for California’s central district, said officers who detained Gileno
were simply enforcing rules barring recording devices of any type inside
federal courthouses.
Service for California’s central district, said officers who detained Gileno
were simply enforcing rules barring recording devices of any type inside
federal courthouses.
But the ordeal highlighted an awkward situation for the
oversight commission, which is bound by the state open meetings law that says
anyone at official public meetings has a right take pictures, video or audio of
the proceedings, unless doing so creates a persistent disturbance.
The Civilian Commission are required to allow open access, signs, and electronic recording devices. It is beyond outrageous that the security and the court staff behaved the way they did.
oversight commission, which is bound by the state open meetings law that says
anyone at official public meetings has a right take pictures, video or audio of
the proceedings, unless doing so creates a persistent disturbance.
The Civilian Commission are required to allow open access, signs, and electronic recording devices. It is beyond outrageous that the security and the court staff behaved the way they did.
Unreal.
Commissioners have frequently said they want to foster a
welcoming atmosphere for anyone to come and speak about their experiences with
the Sheriff’s Department.
That whole movement went down in flames that day. I was so furious with the outrageous limitations on our life and liberty within the chambers. It was inexcusable that signs and cameras were forbidden.
welcoming atmosphere for anyone to come and speak about their experiences with
the Sheriff’s Department.
That whole movement went down in flames that day. I was so furious with the outrageous limitations on our life and liberty within the chambers. It was inexcusable that signs and cameras were forbidden.
“I felt a little humiliated having to take off my shoes and
stuff,” said Commissioner Heather Miller, a rabbi, noting the airport-like
security measures at the federal courthouse. “You talk about law enforcement
triggering things for people.”
"Triggering" is a good word.
![]("https://www.fedarb.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Bonner-Fedarb.jpg")
stuff,” said Commissioner Heather Miller, a rabbi, noting the airport-like
security measures at the federal courthouse. “You talk about law enforcement
triggering things for people.”
"Triggering" is a good word.
Robert C. Bonner, a former federal judge who serves as chair
of the civilian oversight panel, said he recommended that the federal
courthouse be used for the meeting. The commission has been trying out
different locations in search of a more permanent home.
of the civilian oversight panel, said he recommended that the federal
courthouse be used for the meeting. The commission has been trying out
different locations in search of a more permanent home.
Of course he did!
“The cameras are not allowed in a federal courthouse, that’s
all I can tell you. These aren’t my rules,” he said.
all I can tell you. These aren’t my rules,” he said.
Bonner said he was not familiar with certain provisions of
California’s open meetings law, known as the Ralph M. Brown Act, and that he
relies on county counsel for advice on the legalities.
California’s open meetings law, known as the Ralph M. Brown Act, and that he
relies on county counsel for advice on the legalities.
What?!
This man is a former federal judge, and he has no knowledge of the Ralph M. Brown Act?!
Wow!
“Why is it that people would have to have their own separate
audio recording when we have an audio recording that picks up everything that’s
said?” Bonner asked.
audio recording when we have an audio recording that picks up everything that’s
said?” Bonner asked.
The commission posts audio files of its meetings online, but
there is typically a lag time of a few weeks.
there is typically a lag time of a few weeks.
The lag time is certainly convenient.
Brian Williams, the commission’s executive director who
approved the location, said he wasn’t aware that cameras were not allowed
inside federal courthouses. He said he would keep that in mind when deciding on
future sites for the monthly meeting, which has recently been held at the
Metropolitan Water District building next to Union Station.
Wow! Pretty incompetent, I must say.
approved the location, said he wasn’t aware that cameras were not allowed
inside federal courthouses. He said he would keep that in mind when deciding on
future sites for the monthly meeting, which has recently been held at the
Metropolitan Water District building next to Union Station.
Wow! Pretty incompetent, I must say.
“I want to make sure the public has unfettered access,”
Williams said.
Williams said.
Peter Bibring, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties
Union of Southern California, said the oversight commission has an obligation
to follow state law and should not hold meetings in places where people aren’t
allowed to bring cameras or other recording devices.
This is the second time in two weeks that I have applauded a decision by the ACLU. They are actually defending the First Amendment rights of conservatives and patriots of all backgrounds!
Union of Southern California, said the oversight commission has an obligation
to follow state law and should not hold meetings in places where people aren’t
allowed to bring cameras or other recording devices.
This is the second time in two weeks that I have applauded a decision by the ACLU. They are actually defending the First Amendment rights of conservatives and patriots of all backgrounds!
Also on Thursday, the commission approved a resolution
opposing President Trump’s statement last month to a crowd of law enforcement
officers in which he told them, “Please don’t be too nice,” when arresting
people.
I say that we condemn the antics and bigotry of the Civilian Commission.
opposing President Trump’s statement last month to a crowd of law enforcement
officers in which he told them, “Please don’t be too nice,” when arresting
people.
I say that we condemn the antics and bigotry of the Civilian Commission.
Their disregard for our First Amendment rights and the violations of the Brown Act were insufferable.
The president was “appearing to encourage and condone out of
policy and inappropriate use of force against suspects,” the commission’s
resolution said.
How about the use of force against me, when I was speaking at the podium? The Vice-Chair asked for me to be removed from the room, but he did not have the right to do that. No one in that room had the right to have me removed or to tell me to sit down and say nothing.
policy and inappropriate use of force against suspects,” the commission’s
resolution said.
How about the use of force against me, when I was speaking at the podium? The Vice-Chair asked for me to be removed from the room, but he did not have the right to do that. No one in that room had the right to have me removed or to tell me to sit down and say nothing.
In fact, the three officers on duty ended up backing away from the podium, but one of the officers told me to "be civil."
What?! Shame on them!
Commissioners and members of the public also discussed the
Sheriff’s Department’s mental evaluation teams, which pair deputies with mental
health clinicians to respond to calls requiring special handling of mentally
ill people.
The whole Civilian Commission needs a mental evaluation. That should not be too complicated.
Sheriff’s Department’s mental evaluation teams, which pair deputies with mental
health clinicians to respond to calls requiring special handling of mentally
ill people.
The whole Civilian Commission needs a mental evaluation. That should not be too complicated.
Final Reflection
Gary Gileno, the man who was arrested and cited just for having a camera and exercising his First Amendment rights, put together a great video of what happened to me in the meeting.
In fact, the video has gotten incredible traffic, despite YouTube's intense efforts to siphon off or squeeze the viewership for Gileno's videos: