Know Your Rights: Copwatching 101
Summary
In this Strict Scrutiny bonus episode, host Melissa Murray interviews law professor Jocelyn Simonson about the legal rights surrounding "cop watching" and recording law enforcement. They discuss First Amendment protections, the distinction between protected observation and unlawful obstruction, and practical advice for activists engaging in ICE watching. The conversation highlights the gap between constitutional theory and on-the-ground policing realities.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Strict Scrutiny and guest Jocelyn Simonson
Defining cop watching and its historical context
First Amendment rights to film law enforcement
Time, place, and manner restrictions on recording
Defining interference and obstruction of justice
Physical proximity and consent laws for audio
Police orders to stop filming and phone security
Legal recourse and the gap between law and practice
Conclusion: The importance of collective action
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