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Federal Reserve Police Harass News Videographer
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I'm not sure whether or not to laugh or cry ...
Posted 40 months ago.
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the thud you just heard was my head slamming into my desk.
Posted 40 months ago.
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Believe it or not, I actually got a response back from the Fed Reserve staff on this topic:
Dear Mr. Webb,
Thank you for your request for information regarding photography in and around Federal Reserve Buildings. The 12 Federal Reserve Banks act as the operating arms of the Federal Reserve Board but are not government entities. I am not aware of a law that prevents private citizens from photographing federal buildings from public spaces. I am also unaware of any action that is being taken regarding this incident, but thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Again, we thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Board staff
Posted 39 months ago.
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Excellent news, Aaron! I made a half-hearted attempt to dig up contact info for them when this happened and never quite got that far.
They gave you a nice, sensible response, too.
Posted 39 months ago.
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JRSlaterPhoto [deleted] says:
I wonder what they are telling their security force though. That is the important information we're missing. I also like their reply, hopefully a calmer, more rational attitude towards photography is coming to town.
Posted 39 months ago.
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The following statement in the letter is irrelevant, and misleading in application to the above incident: "The 12 Federal Reserve Banks act as the operating arms of the Federal Reserve Board but are not government entities."
The building in this incident is the Federal Reserve's Eccles Building, housing the Board of Governors, not one of the twelve reserve banks. On the Federal Reserve's own website FAQ, one can find the following statements regarding the Federal Reserve:
"...a central, governmental agency--the Board of Governors--in Washington, D.C...."
"...it is an independent entity within the government, having both public purposes and private aspects."
[source: www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/faq/faqfrs.htm]
They're right in attempting some mission nuance regarding the twelve banks, but again, this was not an incident in front of one of the twelve banks, but rather in front of the Federal Reserve, involving an officer of the Federal Reserve Police. The Federal Reserve building is, obviously, a government building:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccles_Building
Originally posted 39 months ago.
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lightboxdc edited this topic 39 months ago.
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@Aaron Webb: Would you care to post that message in its entirety (headers and all)? It's brief, but is a useful nugget of information, and states plainly what so many U.S. citizens have had to fight to have acknowledged.
UPDATE: If you haven't a place to post the original, I'll post it for you. Of course, this forum is fine.
Originally posted 39 months ago.
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Keith McCammon edited this topic 39 months ago.
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for some reason, I just can't stop laughing at the SG's ignorance, I think it is all the "sir"s being thrown around...
Posted 39 months ago.
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This easter evening, down here in Richmond, my buddy Dan and I were shooting night photography near the federal reserve bank, which is by the way the tallest building in town and also quite photogenic. Anyways, about after a minute of shooting the street next to the building, a marked Federal Reserve Police Car came and parked for a moment. He turned his lights on after watching us and approached us. He politely told us that were not allowed to shoot photography of the building. Being that Dan and I are not "troublemakers" we didn't try to fight it, we simply asked to show that we were not taking photos of sensitive areas. Needless to say, we both felt mildly upset about the experience, given the constitution and all. Dan went on to blog about it. I thought it would be interesting to get a copy of that original letter from Aarron Webb and have a meetup outside of the building here in Richmond, where we photograph the building. I understand the need for security, but this is one of the many "crossings of the line" we've seen out of our government since 9/11. I'd be happy to organize.
Thanks,
Jacob C. Kelly
Posted 38 months ago.
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I know it's easier said than done but the problem is that we need to step up and defend our right to be there Photographing as long as it's really constitutionally legal to do so.
Giving into to these 1930's Germany demands only strengthen their resolve that what they're doing is OK.
Next time, stand up for yourselves right then and there. Make them back down when the Law is on your side.
Posted 29 months ago.
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hi. am trying to get in touch with the person who shot the video and was accosted by fed reserve police. thanks.
shina AT washpost.com
Posted 23 months ago.
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