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 rodneyj43 rated 12 months ago - Good things to know if you are an activist...or just get pulled over in your car in the middle of nowhere. My most memorable moment in the few times I've been to a lawyers office was (very first meeting too):
Lawyer: "Did he read you your rights?" (as he reads at the police report)...
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16 Reviews
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- greenteaent rated 8 months ago
- "know your rights and know what you should or should not do to give them up"
- rodneyj43 rated 12 months ago
- Good things to know if you are an activist...or just get pulled over in your car in the middle of nowhere. My most memorable moment in the few times I've been to a lawyers office was (very first meeting too):
Lawyer: "Did he read you your rights?" (as he reads at the police report)
Me: "Yes, Yes he did"
Lawyer: "THEN WHY IN THE HELL DIDN'T YOU *ASSERT* THEM!!!!!"
So the moral to that bit of story is; when the officer says to you "With these rights in mind, would you like to answer some questions for me now?" The answer is simply and politely; "No, I would not." If they start asking questions before they read you the Miranda rights, use your judgment on what to answer (and what not to answer) and be somewhat emotionally neutral (don't be sickly sweet and charmin nor abusive) but cooperative.
Seriously though, police are generally not Nazis, they are generally average Joes that are just trying to do their job. And they don't like extra paperwork any more than anyone else and they have to write a detailed report for every arrest that could possibly used in a court of law, so knowing that you could see that a little politeness goes a long way. I can't tell you how many speeding tickets I have gotten out of simply because I didn't give the officer any guff, didn't act put out (even when I was late to pick up my kid, etc.), and remained calm. If you act scared and uncomfortable, they'll wonder why the sight of an officer makes you uneasy and will be suspicious.
This works for activists as well. Do not "stage" a "conflict" for the media (they honestly don't care anymore, haven't since the 60s), if you do, you are not a true activist in the vein of MLK (that's my standard for activism). I haven't participated in any actions since "the Battle in Seattle" simply because I didn't agree with the organizers and they consistently lied to the "hippies" they were there to organize (or, more aptly, they were there to 'herd the hippies' into the fray to overload the jails so they could get even more media coverage. The media coverage covered the vandalisim of the "circle A" people and a few hippies saying "Uhhh...yeah...uhhh..right...uhhh...no genetically modified crops?" It was atrocious). So if you are doing a small demonstration and the cops show up. Be polite, let them do what they need to do (even if it's arresting you, which they probably won't unless someone complains... a key fact people always miss), but make sure you talk to a lawyer as soon as you are 'booked' and let the lawyer talk to the police as they ask questions to make their report.
(incidentally, one of the things the protesters in the battle in seattle were promised by the organizers was legal representation. It was a lie, there was none. Many of those local kids lost their jobs and were evicted as a result of that 'action.' The organizers [DAN, the now defunct 'Direct Action Network'] just moved to the next town where the next 'action' was. And they had a following similar to the Grateful Dead's faithful following, and their 'following' was in on the deceit played on the locals. It disgusted me.)
- blucka rated 13 months ago
- A little aggressive, but good information for the common man, nonetheless!
From the page: "Follow these ten simply rules religiously and many of your rights will remain intact. I don't care how nervous, scared or drunk you are, THESE RULES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, and will help you tremendously in the short and long run. And remember - we are not your lawyer!
Keep this in your wallet - OR - Memorize it.
 edgeoforever rated 13 months ago- So, the guy who was tasered, asked for it by not knowing your precious rules? How about: Don't ask questions of people in power.
- beautifulcorpse rated 12 months ago
- With the militarization of the police this is definitely information worth reviewing. Particularly if you are an active dissenter.
- Spygirly rated 12 months ago
- If you have a confrontation with the police - know your rights and know what you should or should not do to give them up.
Just follow these 10 rules
Read about this in more detail here
- connietalk rated 12 months ago
- Awesome, thanks!
- prairiegirl66 rated 13 months ago
- some good tips..:)
- onewithit21 rated 13 months ago
- nice
- Amedizl rated 13 months ago
- I like that this was written. Too many people forget we have rights, and do not need to put ourselves in the position of a victim to bullying by authority.
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