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Labor & WorkersMayday Undercover Arrest Video
Video is now available of the "man in black", evidently
FINALLY -- sorry for the delay -- video from two
camera angles is here. These clips show very well, if you have the patience to look them over carefully and identify all that's going on -- that a demonstrator/photographer was pushed into the police line by someone clad in black, with a hoodie and mask, who then walked *through* the police line and up the stairs to hide on someone's front steps behind a tree. The arrest occurred just as another arrest was executed. Some felt the first arrest -- which appeared to be orchestrated as if to look like police lines were attacked -- was a distraction in order to execute the second arrest. When one videographer tried to position himself to get an image of the hiding saboteur, police charged him. (See video clip #2). When people demanded to know who the saboteur was, and even when one demanded that he be arrested (citizen's arrest, which the police have the duty to execute), he left the steps and walked offthrough many more police officers. Many thought this was clearly a police set-up. That may not be the case, but there is little question that the saboteur was working with police, and probably was a police officer. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Video Clip #1 First we see brief context, people walking peacefully on the march. Notice that the police huddle as someone walks past, then they flank him, then abruptly take him into custody. Just as that confusion is dying down, on the right side of your screen, the unidentified man in black busts past a woman with green hair, striking her bodily, as he pushes/shoves/controls/runs the indymedia photographer into the police line. The photographer is arrested. VIDEO CLIP #2: Again, brief context: flags and a ball is being played with. Suddenly a commotion behind, the first arrest. The same sequence, a woman with green hair is struck as the indymedia photographer (blue sweatshirt) is pushed into the police line. Video "hoses" around due to the chaos and difficulty trying to get the shot of both the arrest and also becauyse the videographer is realizing what really happened, is trying to keep tabs on the man in black and begins trying to address it. Man in black walks through the chaos at the police line and up onto someone's porch, hides behind tree. This is of course even more clear on full resolution video, but if you follow carefully it is clear. Videographer repositions up the street and tries to get a shot of the man's face, police charge videographer away. Man in black leaves porch. Videographer approaches line where the demand that the man in black be arrested is made repeatedly (not all on this clip). Video gets dark as videographer holds camera over head trying to see scene and decide where to focus, should have tilted camera down more to keep correct exposure. Man in black walks away. Someone remarked that this is reminiscent of the "ninja". Walk like nothing is wrong, walk through molasses, disappear into shadows. Of course all with the protection of a large group of police. Later video indicates that a police car arrives around where the man in black disappears. Man in black may have been ferried away in a police car. A number of people witnessed this and attempted to see who the man in black was, but police kept them back and controlled both ends of the block. Other cameras were present.
SECOND CLIP
Here is clip two. See above for description of
what is present in the clip.
SMALLER VERSION OF CLIP #1
These clips are of course more clear in the larger
format but because they're large, you may prefer to download the smaller clips which are better than 1/3 as big in file size. Also, I forgot to mention that this issue was discussed at length (with quite a few flameful tangents) at this storyspace: http://www.indybay.org/news/2002/05/125609.php Also, this smaller clip will look elongated top-to-bottom, kinda stretched out, because I was unable to create it at this smaller size in the "cinematic" 6:9 aspect ratio.
SMALLER VERSION OF CLIP #2
Last upload, whew!
You can still see what's happening fairly well, so especially on this big one consider saving yourself (and IMC! -- I assume it matters) the resources of downloading the larger one. Comments (Hide Comments)Sound on clip #1
Saturday May 4th, 2002 6:44 PM
The sound for some reason didn't really transfer
for clip #1, that's true on the original duplicate. Probably there's a manual control on that videographer's camera which needed to be set? I hope it's not so quiet on the original. The sound on clip #2 should be screamin' though, don't forget to turn the volume back down. description of man arresting photographer
Saturday May 4th, 2002 7:31 PM
I got a clear view of this police officer at this protest and even talked to him at a previous protest. Hes in his mid to late thirties, Asian, short black hair (maybe 1 inch but not enough to cover his ears), no beard or mustache but enough stubble to almost look like a mustache. When I talked to him at an SJP protest he just kinda dodged all questions (I was asking what he thought of the protest) and his accent was either local to Oakland or slightly east coast. At that protest he did not have on a hood and was standing off to the side (near the concerete bench underneith a railing across from the main entrance to the station) watching SJP protesters protesting in front of the Berkeley police station (right after the arrests at Wheeler). I talked to him for maybe 3 minutes and he didnt pretend to be a protester but also did not identify himself as a cop (I didnt directly ask though) . Im fairly sure Ive also seen him at other protests so it might be good to look through old videos and photos for a picture of his face and I could easily ID him (although Im guessing he always stands off to the side and trys to avoid cameras if hes undercover). At the SJP protest he seemed to be either a local from the city hall who had just walked outside or a plain clothes cop so its possible that he wouldnt hide himself at previous events.
In a previous comment I was suspicous of another black bloc looking person in the crowd who was seen talking to the undercover officer but from these videos I am pretty sure that the person in the white hooded sweatshirt and camo pants is not a cop (hes eating food not bombs food in one of the frames which is unlikely for a cop :) ) on actual video his face may be visible
Saturday May 4th, 2002 7:48 PM
Look around 7:49:07 on the actual video (2nd clip) and you may be able to see his face (and he may have more of a mustache than I just said I remember).
thanks
Sunday May 5th, 2002 1:45 AM
Thanks for putting up these clips. This is ridiculous. The cops should be busted for this. Anyway you can play this video at the next police review board meeting, with large local attendance?
the mark more clearly
Sunday May 5th, 2002 5:47 AM
![]() maninblack1-crop.jpg here's a more clear capture
i bet we have photos of him somewhere wow!
Sunday May 5th, 2002 10:26 AM
I've been regularly attending events with my dig video camera to get clips JUST LIKE THIS! Fry these pigs... this is outrageous.
I wasn't present at this event, but I almost went.... we might have had a third angle... oh well. Thanks SO much for this beautiful camera work. This proves how important indymedia and OUR cameras really are. Keep up the good work! POWER TO THE PEOPLE! ok... i'm beyond impressed
Sunday May 5th, 2002 10:42 AM
I watched it over and over, and I have to say, BRAVO! This shit deserves an award for videos of the year!
I cannot thank you enough for this beautiful footage. Now we need to make a mockery of the corporate media for not wanting to play it!!!! POWER TO THE PEOPLE! Questions. Who has answers?
Sunday May 5th, 2002 4:18 PM
So what are we going to do about this?
--- Do those who were arrested want this issue to got to the police review commission or what? Are they going to go public with this? Was the photographer who was pushed into the cops charged with assaulting an officer? Why was he targeted? Did anyone get a good look at the person who did the pushing? (he needs to be found - and taken to task. Who does he work for?) Is it possible for witnesses who saw provacateur to look at mug shots of local BPD officers and local FBI agents - maybe make a match? Is this Berkeley COINTELPRO in action? ----- BERKELEY POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION 2121 McKinley Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703 (510) 644-6716, TDD: (510) 981-6903, prc [at] ci.berkeley.ca.us http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/prc/meetings.htm Police Review Commission Meetings Police Review Commission meetings and Boards of Inquiry are open to the public and everyone is welcome. Agendas and minutes of the Commission meetings are available on the City Clerk's website. The meeting schedule is as follows: Second Wednesday of every month, 7:30 p.m. South Berkeley Senior Center 2939 Ellis Street, corner of Ashby Fourth Wednesday of every month, 7:30 p.m. North Berkeley Senior Center 1901 Hearst Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Way Banned
( nrthrd2000 [at] yahoo.com )
Wednesday May 8th, 2002 11:53 AM
I was walking up toward College Ave one fine afternoon to get a burrito, and heard the march coming.
I could see the cops were really out... and preparing the way in front. A couple of them looked agitated. There were several cars full of cops, and some unmarked cars running around also, motorcycles. One cop looked at me and he looked like he was all jacked up. They seemed more uptight than usual. I've seen bike rallies and other demos/marches, and have usually not seen the cops act so uptight like this. Later, as the march got down to yuppie central (Ashby and College), I watched for a bit, and then got a burrito. Went back to the area and walked around the intersection, and as I headed north on College here come about 10-12 cops (going south) to push it seemed the protest out of the area. I heard a bullhorn, then a couple minutes later, people started leaving the intersection and moving down Ashby. There were about, it seemed, 50 cops that came down Ashby into College at the same time. It looked like a lot more than normal(?). They dont use that many on Tele. Maybe they wanted to impress the shopkeepers. I didn't see the arrests. It was definately exciting, and I wish I had a camera now, even a disposable. Next time. Keep up the good work. John, a banned person from Telegraph |