By Andrew Blake
The Washington Times
PHILADELPHIA — Photographing police activity without “any stated purpose of being critical of the government” isn’t constitutionally protected, a federal judge in Philadelphia has ruled.
In a 21-page decision put out Friday by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District Judge Mark Kearney dismissed First Amendment retaliation claims filed against the city of Philadelphia by two individuals who had been restrained while filming police in action.
“The citizens are not without remedy because once the police officer takes your phone, alters your technology, arrests you or applies excessive force, we proceed to trial on the Fourth Amendment claims,” he wrote.
Full Story: Photographing police not always protected by First Amendment, judge rules