Lawrence O'Donnell Knocks One Out of the Park

I haven't really watched mainstream news in a long time - sorry Rachel, Ed, and Lawrence I love you but I find what you guys don't cover to be pretty important too - but things like this make me want to do so.  I will let Lawrence himself say the words for me.  This needs to be taken to heart with ALL police stations not just now, when the heat is on them, but forever and globally.

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However these words must not just go for the press, but for ordinary citizens. By taping the actions of the police they are able to make sure the police do not violate anyone's rights yet not interfere with their job.  They also document the officers who do go beyond that line and start their own crimes.

Ever since the Rodney King beating was taped there have been laws put into place stating it is against the law to tape police officials. In the areas where this has not been the case, the police instead lie to civilians and tell them they are not allowed to do it despite the fact recording police is a sometimes the only way to make sure they don't go outside their boundaries.

If it wasn't  for taped events like the Rodney King beating, the police intimidation in Miami on Memorial Day earlier this year,  or the execution of Oscar Grant (and it WAS an execution), people would be less likely to believe these events happen.  One of the many things the Occupy Movement has brought to light, and they are many, is that police as a whole have no problem trying to stop people from recording what they're doing.  Now the ball is in the court of the police everywhere.  Stop preventing people from taping you whether they're press or civilian.