cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/49306122
Videos made by members of the group, Danbury United for Immigrants, show three apparently unarmed men in “media” vests: two with cameras and “media” marked on the front and back of their bodies; a third with what appeared to be audio recording equipment, with “media” written only on the back of his vest.
One of the cameramen wore a black cloth mask covering the lower half of his face. A video shows him wheeling around to record observers at very close range, who were themselves making videos. In another video shot, he is shown quickly pulling up his mask as he rounds a corner and sees an observer’s camera.
ICE detained six people on that 81-degree day, who had been at or near the courthouse on White Street, several members of the group told me.
What about those vests marked “media?”
This appears to be highly unusual. I’ve found no references to it in news articles. ICE observers in organized groups in Connecticut and New York told me they have never seen it other than that one day in Danbury.
It’s also highly disturbing, if – as all appearances show – these men marked as media were not members of any independent press, broadcast or digital news organization.
Videos made by members of the group, Danbury United for Immigrants, show three apparently unarmed men in “media” vests: two with cameras and “media” marked on the front and back of their bodies; a third with what appeared to be audio recording equipment, with “media” written only on the back of his vest.
One of the cameramen wore a black cloth mask covering the lower half of his face. A video shows him wheeling around to record observers at very close range, who were themselves making videos. In another video shot, he is shown quickly pulling up his mask as he rounds a corner and sees an observer’s camera.
ICE detained six people on that 81-degree day, who had been at or near the courthouse on White Street, several members of the group told me.
What about those vests marked “media?”
This appears to be highly unusual. I’ve found no references to it in news articles. ICE observers in organized groups in Connecticut and New York told me they have never seen it other than that one day in Danbury.
It’s also highly disturbing, if – as all appearances show – these men marked as media were not members of any independent press, broadcast or digital news organization.
Don’t trust that the media is ever your friend, but if you’re at an event to record and propagate information, even for a biased political purpose, you’re media. Trying to restrict that to only validated independent media groups is both not in line with the concept of freedom of the press and not a good idea for our side. We have lots of single-person “media” attendees telling the story of oppressive government action.
If Media, then why fascist masked?
