[Imc-uk-features] proposed feature - Police, lies, and video tape

[ben at riseup.net]

Cops, lies, and video tape

[photo still of IMC raid in genoa or hand over lens photo (can't find one
due to kosmos server playing up when I tried)]

While dozens of police are on trial for abuses in Genoa in 2001 (including
the raid on the Indymedia Centre which left British independent journalist
Mark Covell critically injured), trials have been taking place in New York
in relation to over 1,000 people arrested during the Republican National
last year. This week (more than four months after NYC IMC first broke the
story of possible perjury by NYPD Officer Matthew Wohl in the case of RNC
arrestees [ http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/147815/index.php
]) a front page story in the New York Times
[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/nyregion/12video.html -
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/309066.html] reveals the role
played by independent video evidence
[http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/138832] in the dismissal of
false charges brought by the police.

The availability of cheap video technology has led to an increase in the
amount of video being presented as evidence in court. However, the police
in this country have a long history of have targetting 'unsympathetic 
journalists' [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/309066.html] in an
attempt to both avoid public scruteny of their actions and stifle
publicity about protests. In a recent example, a freelance journalist was
arrested just minutes after filming an arrest that occured during a
protest outside a meeting of G8 environment ministers taking place in
London [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306666.html &
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306777.html
]. It was reported afterwards that the police kept the camera and footage
but have since dropped charges
[http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/308413.html].

New indymedia initiatives have recently launched to help increase the 
publication and distribution of independent videos. Check out the
Indymedia Video Distribution Network [http://video.indymedia.org/en/
], and also IndyPeer [http://www.indypeer.org/] and IndyTorrents
[http://indytorrents.org/].

On the 14-15 May in London, Indymedia UK will be hosting an independent 
media convergence for independent journalists, media activists, techs, and
artists from all over Europe to meet each other and plan non-corporate
media coverage of the G8 taking place in July.
[http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307237.html]

If you are intertested in video activism you might like to check out the
Indymedia Middle East Film Festival in London on the 26th - 30th April 
[http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/308539.html]. You may also be
intertested in the Real2Reel [www.real2reel.co.nr] benefit this saturday
16th [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/309073.html].


Further info and background links:

IMC UK Links
Video Journalist Arrested on Greenpeace Demo
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2001/05/5546.html

Journalist Arrested filming gardaí
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2001/09/12398.html

Free Speech attacked
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/01/284278.html

Terrorism Act Affects Photographers
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2005/03/306307.html

Anti-war demonstrator arrested for filming
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/03/287805.html

Harresment of media activists
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2002/11/45259.html

Journalist arrested brutally by Israeli Border Policemen
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/cambridge/2004/12/302889.html

Ewa Jasiewicz arrested in Tel Aviv Airport
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/08/296237.html

Other links:
http://www.undercurrents.org/breaking.htm
http://www.undercurrents.org/policing.htm
http://www.cultureshop.org/details.php?code=GTHEM