John Kitzhaber goons attack presses first amendment.

Citizen Assaulted for Filming Governor at Publc Event

On September 23, 2010, A "Meet and Greet" and speech by ex-Governor (now running again) John Kitzhaber is being filmed. Approximately 10 minutes into the speech the moderator informs the public not to film.

That's just total B.S.,

If this was a governor or ex-governor's event, it would be public and fall under the laws of a public event.
So where are the official security...cops, etc.?

Also, why is noone saying anything to these people regarding first ammendment rights other than the two people who obviously still had their cameras running?

I really wonder what will happen to these guys, not trying to make this a racial thing, but what will happen given the state of things in the US, when not one but two african-americans assault a obviously unthreatening white guy in front of a large group of witnesses for standing up for his rights, causing not only damage of personal property but also physical injury? Especially given that African americans have been some of the most vocal in the country in defending peoples rights under the constitution?

I really hope they both get time for this. At least a few months each so they can realize that even if it's their church the event is at, a public event is just that and therefore falls under all the same laws and allowances as an outdoor event in a public park. If you invite politicians in, they are like vampires, you also let in all that comes with them, cameras being the most common.

yeah that is some total bs i had to goto wikipedia to see what party he was

censorship at a public event simply outrageous

whats more outrageous kitzhaber didnt even stop............................to stop or say anything about it

whats will be even more outrageous that dude will probably get elected.


actually looking out for the citizens yeah right just the ones who brutalize people who dont do what they say.


some serious

Don't worry, I'm sure the camera man will be charged with a hate crime for injuring that poor black guys hand with his face and his camera........Quick question, there were no police officers there? Seriously? Lets not forget about the first guy saying he'd take care of it......he needs to be tracked down as well. The three men involved on the aassault of this man need to arrested, never hapen though. As far as the elected official speaking......obviously he's fit to be in office, he showed no care for the people there, a typical response for the politicians of late it would seem.

LOL - that church is going to get SO SUED. That man needs to file a police report. He was assaulted straight up. But those weren't "Kitzhaber goons". Those guys had nothing to do with Kitzhaber's staff. Those were church goons.

If the church doesn't want the public in there filming, and if they don't explicitly have people sign contracts that show the attendees agree to not film, then all the church can do is request that the person not film. The attendees can decline the request, but they have no legal authority to ask the attendee to leave the church if said attendee isn't doing anything that is distracting from the event. The church NEVER has the legal authority to assault anyone. When you invite the public in, your locale, during the event, cannot be treated like a private club.

Videoing a candidate for public office is a completely reasonable activity.

Did you see how that lady tries to make it sound like the church has some sort of "authority" of law or rule despite the fact that a church which is open to the public is not a private club.

You can tell from the way the woman spoke, and the way the thugs acted and attacked this quiet man videoing that they have a culture of superiority which goes against the spirit of equality the public in general should express for one another.

reply to post by adifferentbreed


aint nothing going to happen man it will be exactly like that black panther case.

it will probably get twisted by the ncapp and he was guilty of "racial hatred"

reply to post by neo96


Yup, that's why I said he'll be charged for hurting the guys hand with his camera and face......
This sort of thing is only gonna get worse too, the longer it goes on, the more "normal" it becomes.....

reply to post by fianna


What would you do? To all the posters i ask this.
If that was me and i knew i had it on cam (them hitting me) trust me there would be to guys in the ER. Then i would call the cops with my "help i was attacked i had to defend myself and i don't feel safe here."

Interesting case.

Lawyer: Even at public event 1st Amd. has limits

“There is a very fundamental principle at stake here," Hinkle said. "The First Amendment is a restriction on what government can do; it’s not a restriction on what private parties can do. The church and the sponsors of that program had an absolute right to prevent anyone from filming it.”

He said it does not matter what kind of event it was. The bottom line is it was private property so the owners can set the rules as far as filming.

As for the alleged assault, according to Portland police, the videographer did file report with them and they are investigating it.

The videographer said he has more video to show but hasn’t posted it yet.

The first allegation of First Amendment rights violation sounds like it won't stand, but the physical assault definitely is illegal.

reply to post by Ferris.Bueller.II


just one question what if that was an african american filming in a church and two white guys came and told him to stop filming and punched him would you still think that there wasnt anything wrong with this?

reply to post by neo96


No, there'd be no change. All races have the same First Amendment rights and limitations, such as in this case. Why would there be a difference?

reply to post by Ferris.Bueller.II


the difference is they would be screaming racist!

but i see where your comming from but i do take issue with this.

we supposedly live in a free society and yet we dont


the issue is the guy was assaulted over nothing and it could have been resolved in another way other than brutality.

reply to post by neo96


I agreed above the physical assault was illegal. They should have just escorted him out of the building.

reply to post by Ferris.Bueller.II


They are looking into it are code words for nope, you're out of luck, unless the press really makes us do something. The cops won't do anything as usual.......what's funny is the norm shouldnt be normal at all....when a group of people wants equality the good goes with the bad, if I'd have punched one of them in the face, I'd already be in jail, and probaby facing hate crime charges.........seems in the name of equality, the three of them should be there. The other thing I thnk is funny is they got another camera angle of the attack....was that camera man punched in the face as well, if so why not?