Playing catch-up on DNC photos: Wednesday, part two

Well, I told you it would take all weekend to catch up. And it's a three-day weekend, too.

More security theatre just inside the outer perimeter around the Pepsi Center. "Go Denver Police, and leave the driving to us."

"Seen any good riots lately?"

Taking you behind the scenes ... I found it interesting to see how they handed out the signs several minutes before they were needed. Here, for example, the tall "Biden" signs shortly before his introduction; we also got the "McCain: More of the Same" signs and the "Obama: Change We Need" signs shortly before those key points in Biden's speech.

My slightly out-of-focus view from behind the Florida and New Mexico delegations.

Here's a wider (and clearer) look from my vantage point during the Biden speech.

CBS News anchor Katie Couric: "Oh, John, I never get tired of that Chelsea Clinton joke!"

The CNN crew. "So that's when I thought, 'Hey, if Hillary can wear orange, so can I!' " The mention of Hillary sends Paul Begala into trance-like paroxysms of joy.

Possibly my favorite photo of the entire week: outside the Pepsi Center, five Aurora (Colo.) police officers cap a long night (as I often do) by enjoying a cigar. Said one, "Don't worry, it's not Big Tobacco."

UPDATE (9:45 am 8/31/08): I'm really proud of "trance-like paroxysms of joy." I hope Begala likes that, too.

Beware the Scary Penis™!!

Just another Friday night in St. Petersburg ... some puritanical asshole gets his or her panties in a wad, and someone gets arrested:

The night started with a complaint about a giant penis statue.

Before it was over, police had pinned the owner of the art gallery to the ground and taken him to jail.

"Oh, my God," said gallery owner Bill Schramm, his glasses falling off in the scuffle. "This is the city's response to a penis. That's fabulous."

Officers arrested Schramm and another man after a raid Friday night on the Erotic Lounge in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg. It wasn't the statue that they were arrested for.

Instead, investigators said they saw a nude man in the gallery, a violation of a city ordinance that prohibits places that serve alcohol from allowing the public display of genitals.

The gallery's show on Friday included a cypress penis statue larger than a person in front of the gallery. Schramm said he installed it there about 5 p.m.

Sometime during the evening, police received a complaint about the statue. A St. Petersburg police officer stopped by, told Schramm it was pornographic and told him to take it inside. He refused, saying it was art.

Later that evening, the show was still going on when police converged on the shop. As Schramm was talking to a St. Petersburg Times reporter about the statue, Sgt. Joe Collins dashed inside. Schramm put his hand up to stop him and tried to hold the door closed, police said.

In an instant, officers tackled Schramm, forcing him to the ground and cuffing his hands behind his back.

Officers sat him on a chair under the gallery's overhang while they searched the shop and detained the customers, telling them there was a liquor violation and asking to see identification.

Schramm, 46, was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and violating the city ordinance.

Inside, police found a nude man, Joshua M. Culotta, suspended from the ceiling in an aerial harness that Schramm earlier called a "chandelier."

"He was in plain view," said Collins, the investigating sergeant.

Officers said they arrested Culotta, 26, for violating the city ordinance. The man, who is deaf, seemed confused and told a reporter, "I was just modeling." As officers handcuffed him, he started to cry.

"He'll be okay. Misdemeanor charge," an officer told one of the man's friends.

The walls of the gallery were covered in erotic images. One painting depicted Superman in underwear with an erect penis.

I'm sure glad the city of St. Petersburg is looking out for our morality rather than, you know, paying attention to actual crime.

The arrests might not have been directly attributable to the display of a giant penis statue, but there seems to be little doubt that the St. Pete police wouldn't have had their suspicions, um, aroused had the big dick not been on the street in the first place. (No, I'm not talking about Jim Naugle ... this time.)

Sadly, the St. Pete police are developing quite a reputation for aggressiveness. Whether it's destroying the property of homeless people or, as here, freaking out over an artistic display, you have to wonder exactly what kind of training the Department is providing.

Final thought: "Giant Penis Statue" would be a good band name ...

UF student restrained and Tasered at Kerry speech

You've probably already heard about the student who was arrested and Tasered during John Kerry's speech in Gainesville yesterday.

Toward the conclusion of Kerry's UF forum, 21-year-old Andrew Meyer approached an open microphone at University Auditorium and demanded Kerry answer his questions. Meyer, a UF student in the College of Journalism and Communications, claimed that University Police Department officers had already threatened to arrest him, and then proceeded to question Kerry about why he didn't contest the 2004 presidential election and why there had been no moves to impeach President Bush.

A minute or so into what became a combative diatribe, Meyer's microphone was turned off and officers began trying to physically remove him from the auditorium. Meyer flailed his arms, yelling as police tried to restrain him.

He was then pushed to the ground by six officers, at which point Meyer yelled, "What have I done? What I have I done? Get away from me. Get off of me! What did I do? ... Help me! Help."

Police threatened to use a Taser on Meyer if he did not "comply," but he continued to resist being handcuffed. He was then Tased, which prompted him to scream and writhe in pain on the floor of the auditorium.

After the incident, Capt. Jeff Holcomb of the UPD said Meyer had been charged with disrupting a public event and placed in the Alachua County jail.

I actually find the video of the event very disturbing.

If you have about six minutes, go see the full video here. If you only have a couple of minutes, scroll ahead about a quarter of the way, to the point where Meyer is apprehended and the university police try to remove him from the auditorium.

I don't care if he's asking a question beyond the allotted time (which I understand Sen. Kerry permitted) or even if he's being overzealous. I think the police officers' actions here are clearly excessive. So much for free speech at the University of Florida.

UPDATE (10:33 am 9/18/07): I can't find the linked video on YouTube, but there are many if you search for them. Here's the most complete one I could find; the video quality is poor but the audio is quite clear ... and indeed Sen. Kerry called on Meyer.

Orlando man arrested for feeding too many homeless people

Oh, fuck me. Are you kidding me?

Eric Montanez, 21, is the first to be arrested under [Orlando's] controversial ordinance that bars feeding large groups of people in downtown parks without a special permit.

The rule was approved last summer after residents and businesses in Orlando's gentrifying downtown complained that parks were being used as soup kitchens.

The arrest enraged volunteers, who said it was proof that the city cares little for its neediest residents.

"Police are arresting people for feeding the homeless," local ACLU President George Crossley said. "This has been a truly disgusting day."

[...]

Homeless advocates and city officials have butted heads since the passage of the ordinance in July. The law bars groups from feeding more than 25 people without a special permit. Groups may have two permits per year.

The Central Florida ACLU filed suit in Orlando's U.S. District Court in October arguing the ordinance is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, activists skirted the rule by having several organizations host the weekly Lake Eola meals, and making sure no one group served more than 25 people.

Police kept close tabs, sometimes taking photos and ticketing volunteers' cars.

[...]

The arrest came about 5:15 p.m. Food Not Bombs, CodePink, an anti-war group, and the local Young Communist League fed 35 people rice, stew, salad and bread pudding.

Undercover officers filmed the food line, meticulously counting Montanez serving "30 unidentified persons food from a large pot utilizing a ladle," according to an arrest affidavit.

Police approached Montanez and asked for his identification. They considered issuing him a summons on the misdemeanor count, but when he tossed his ID, police took him into custody, the affidavit says.

Jonathan Giralt, 16, a Boone High School junior who was near Montanez, disagreed with the police account. He and other volunteers said the activist showed his ID and complied with police orders.

"I was like, OK, this guy [Montanez] is going to be arrested for absolutely nothing," Jonathan said. "It makes me feel unsafe."

Police also collected a vial of stew as evidence.

Some things just defy commentary. I don't know what to say, other than this may be the most heinous ordinance ever enacted and enforced by an American city, and the way the police monitored the situation and counted those being fed is appalling.

And a vial of stew as evidence? Well, sure, it might be tainted with drugs. Or Keith Richard's father's ashes. Who knows?

St. Petersburg police ignore the Constitution

Apparently the cops in St. Petersburg are tired of protecting retirees, so they've moved on to wanton destruction of property:

Mayor Rick Baker says he had no idea that top city officials, including the police chief and one of his deputy mayors, planned a raid on homeless camps Friday in which police slashed tents being used for shelter.

"I did not know that the operation had occurred until it occurred," Baker said Monday. "I was aware that the fire marshal had identified a very grave concern. I did not know the specifics to the solution."

In some cases, police officers tore apart the tents while homeless people were still inside, cutting the fabric with scissors, knives and box cutters. The raid on the "tent city" at 15th Street and Fifth Avenue N came just days after two homeless men were slain and jolted a community still frightened because the killers are still at large.

Videos of officers cutting apart tents have received hundreds of views on YouTube and other Web sites.

This would be one of the videos in question:



And here's another, somewhat more graphic one a longer version of the video:



This is disgraceful, and the City of St. Petersburg justifiably is taking a lot of heat. Apparently they've never heard of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The justification for the raid? Concern about potential for fire:

Authorities were concerned a fire, started by residents cooking and smoking in tents, could spread quickly through the camp. They said a new, bigger camp has addressed their safety concerns.

"I was aware that the fire marshal had identified a very grave concern," Baker said. "I did not know the specifics to the solution."

This is not only flimsy, but it's no excuse for what the police did, without probable cause nor provocation. As a former resident of St. Petersburg (1977-80 and 1997-99), I'm deeply disturbed by this, and I strongly advocate the severest sanctions possible for those responsible for the raid.

(h/t to Holden for bringing this to my attention)