On Thursday, a Louisiana law will go into effect that will make it a misdemeanor for anyone, including journalists, to be within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer if the officer orders them back. The two independent journalists who sued, whose photos were used to support allegations against the police, said they wouldn’t have been able to capture those images if the law had been on the books during the protests.
Karen Savage was working for a news site focused on juvenile justice issues on the second day of the demonstrations in July 2016 when she photographed officers putting a Black man in a chokehold as they detained him. Cherri Foytlin, who was working for a small newspaper and a community media project, said she was within 4 feet when she photographed officers violently dragging a Black man off private property and arresting him.
The distance lets everyone know that they don’t want to be held accountable. Zoom lenses for everyone because they forget that they’re supposed to be serving and protecting everyone.
Everyone in Louisiana should blatantly back away from all officers to 25’. And use the very valid excuse that they just don’t want to be arrested.
Cop walks up to the counter to order, dude at the register backs into the kitchen. “sorry officer, I can’t serve you because I can’t enter the order into the system without risk of arrest”
Edit: looked up the other states. Indiana and Florida are others that should implement this “back away” malicious compliance. Both these states match the 25’, Indiana’s is under some legal question at the moment and Florida’s goes into effect in January. Arizona is at 8’ and only recording after being asked to stop. (Sorta reasonable but not really)
Edit Edit: Arizona’s was ruled unconstitutional.
