This is getting ridiculous!
This from FIT snappers snap snappers…
PHOTOGRAPHERS who regularly cover protests now find they are routinely being photographed themselves – by the police. London Freelance Branch member and photographer Jason Parkinson told the Freelance that he and other Branch members including Marc Vallée and Dave Hoffman, “as well as three other photographers, were all photographed and documented by the FIT Team.”
Read the full article here.
So who’s next I wonder? People that are simply walking by and stop a few moments to watch a protest or demo? An innocent bystander accepting one of the flyers that are frequently handed out at demos?
And of course, I’ve been photographed by the cops at virtually every demo/protest I’ve covered photo-wise!
However, all is not lost for some activists are now beginning to respond with their own tactics. Check out the fitwatch initiative!
I have read articles here about the same sort of thing; whereby authorities (and I use that word loosely) are quite interested in the relationships that have or are forming between various groups, each with their own agenda (environmentalists, anti-war groups, anti-globalization, etc.). As a matter-of-fact I recall an article that particularly disturbed me in that the ‘authorities’ were actually members of the military police (it was an anti-war demo).
However, I confess to REALLY liking one thing about these FIT teams: they have cool gear! I love that all-in-one setup that can rest on one shoulder. That looks so sweet.