infobong.com

Granted I study media in grad school, but it seems like media - or media-creation devices - are playing a huge role in political action. This story about the NYPD's rough handling of photojournalists during the F15 rally suggests "Some cops viewed anyone with a camera as a target for verbal or physical aggression." I wonder if the plummeting costs of sophisticated digital cameras and increasing ease of desktop publishing has lead more activists to carry cameras to rallys. Certainly the Indymedia project has encouraged activists to publish their own accounts of political action. If both activists and ordained journalists are carrying cameras, maybe cops are scared of all media. Or maybe they're trying to supress the media.

At the Lost Film Fest tonight, we watched footage of demonstrators trampled by police horses, indiscriminately pepper-sprayed, and otherwise beaten at F15 in New York. If our troops are protecting our freedom, they should send them to New York, cause democracy's in danger there.

The troops might be at protests, but nurturing democracy seems to be the last thing on their mind. Here are some downright creepy pictures from F15 in DC where military personnel are shown using cameras. The caption refers to the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 which prohibits soldiers from engaging in civilian surveillance and other law enforcement. State-controlled National Guard units are excepted. DC's not a state, so there maybe different rules there. Regardless, this image of a soldier fighting with a camera reflect the importance of the role of media creation today.