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Maryland Capitol Police Chief apologizes to NOMTourTracker.com
July 27, 2010
By Adam Bink
Last week, NOM Tour Tracker reported that the Courage Campaign Institute’s videographer, Jethro Rothe-Kushel, was threatened with arrest by the Maryland Capitol Police at the NOM rally in Annapolis. You can see the video that Jethro shot of the incident, along with footage of Arisha Michelle Hatch confronting the officer here:
Jethro wrote at NOMTourTracker.com, a project launched by both Courage and Freedom to Marry:
After some secretive communications on his mobile device, and a conversation between Mr. Brown and a police officer, he finally began his rally at about 25 minutes after the hour. Like clockwork, just thirty seconds after the rally finally began, I was approached by the same officer, as you can see in the video.
I then tried to shoot from about 100 yards away at the foot of the square over the heads of a handful of his staffers who he instructed to stay close to the stage. Brown started talking about the aftermath of Prop 8 in California, but just I was about to capture some solid footage of the event, the officer again approached me and quarantined me to a corner across the street. This time he was stronger and came with a threat:
“Don’t make me lock you up!”
As we wrote at the time, Jethro had the right to videotape in a public place. This week, we were proven right, as the Maryland Capitol Police Chief apologized to NOM Tour Tracker for the way in which this situation was handled. His statement to NOM Tour Tracker:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the situation that occurred on July 21 at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis. I have thoroughly investigated this incident and have concluded that the situation should have been handled differently.
I regret the way this was conducted and take full responsibility for any inconvenience or embarrassment this may have caused. We are already in the process of instituting corrective training measures to address issues of this nature in the future.
We are also in the process of modifying our website to include the rules and regulations on the utilization of Lawyer’s Mall for both those who apply and are approved for permits, for those who are observing, and for any counter-demonstrators.
Once again I greatly appreciate you bringing this issue to my attention. If I can be of any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Phil Palmere
Chief of Police
Department of General Services, Maryland Capitol Police
Additionally, Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs spoke with Chief Palmere, accepted his apology, and conveyed his appreciation for he and his team for protecting our communities and our freedoms. We at NOM Tour Tracker appreciate Chief Palmere’s sincerity and his service.
Courage Campaign’s press release on this, including a statement from Rick, is in the extended entry.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2010
Maryland Capitol Police Chief apologizes to NOM Tour Tracker after videographer expelled from public rally
NOM Tour Tracker chronicles poor attendance and extremist rhetoric on secretive, anti-gay group’s summer bus tour
LOS ANGELES — The recent expulsion and threatened arrest of a videographer covering the National Organization of Marriage’s July 21st Rally in Annapolis, Maryland, prompted the Chief of the Maryland Capitol Police to issue a formal apology on Friday, and a promise to institute “corrective training measures.”
“I have thoroughly investigated this incident and have concluded that the situation should have been handled differently,” said Maryland Capital Police Chief Phil Palmere. “I regret the way this was conducted and take full responsibility for any inconvenience or embarrassment this may have caused.”
The apology came in response to video of the incident in which a Maryland Capitol Police Officer threatened to “lock up” Tour Tracker videographer Jethro Rothe-Kushel after NOM President Brian Brown asked the officer to remove Kushel from their sparsely attended public rally in Annapolis. Kushel had videotaped NOM’s three prior rallies, and even interviewed Brown, without incident.
The Annapolis event took place on the “Lawyer’s Mall,” a courtyard featuring a statue of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall beneath the phrase “Equal Justice Under Law.” Click here to view the video of the incident: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe9QNdcRplw
“I have spoken with Chief Palmere, accepted his apology, and conveyed our deepest appreciation to the dedicated professionals who protect our communities and our basic freedoms.” said Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs. “Sadly, NOM’s tour to promote discrimination in America has also sought to repress the speech and assembly rights of those trying to cover the tour.”
The Courage Campaign Institute launched the “NOM Tour Tracker” — on July 14th as a chronicle of first hand accounts, photos, interviews and video of the rallies and counter-rallies on each stop of the National Organization of Marriage’s “Summer for Marriage” bus tour of 23 Eastern and Midwestern cities. While refusing to disclose its funding sources, NOM has been a leading sponsor of initiatives to restrict the rights of LGBT families –from California to Maine.
Among other things, the NOM Tour Tracker has shown that NOM’s pro-discrimination rallies have been dwarfed in size by pro-LGBT equality counter-rallies at each stop to date. It has also revealed bizarre behavior and extreme rhetoric by many of NOM’s supporters.
The Courage Campaign has invited NOM to submit posts for its Tour Tracker, and respond to questions from the thousands of people who actively comment on the site. Thus far, NOM has not responded, and has instead stepped up security at its most recent rallies and instructed its supporters not to be interviewed on camera.
Since the Annapolis incident, NOM President Brian Brown has also left the “Summer for Marriage” Bus Tour, and been replaced by NOM Founder Maggie Gallagher.
“We launched the NOM Tour Tracker to give both sides of the marriage equality debate an opportunity to be heard,” said Courage Campaign Institute founder Rick Jacobs. “While we seek a constructive debate steeped in transparency and truth, NOM is showing itself to be a highly secretive fringe group with very little public support and contempt for the U.S. Constitution.”
Click here to view the NOM Tour Tracker: http://nomtourtracker.com.
###
Courage Campaign Equality is a part of the Courage Campaign‘s multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. For more information on “Testimony: Equality on Trial” — our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans — visit http://www.EqualityOnTrial.org
Having technical problems? E-mail equalityontrial AT couragecampaign DOT org for assistance!
50 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Alan E. | July 27, 2010 at 1:34 am
Subscription
2.
Ķĭŗîļĺę& | July 27, 2010 at 1:41 am
Submarylanding
3.
Michael | July 27, 2010 at 1:42 am
I'm glad to see that the Police apologized for this ugly incident. Radical anti-gay activist Brown should be ashamed of himself for censoring, intimidating and trying to silence the press for pro-equality Americans. But he won't be. He'll just find another way to twist it in order to make himself and the shrill anti-gay pressure group NOM look like the victims.
4.
anonygrl | July 27, 2010 at 1:43 am
Brilliant!
And good for Chief Palmere. He addressed the problem well, and I appreciate that he is taking steps to insure that similar situations will be better handled in the future.
And, as always, good for the Courage Campaign folks on the ground, for knowing their rights, and working to insure they are upheld, but doing so calmly and with dignity.
5.
Alan E. | July 27, 2010 at 1:43 am
Are you getting a confirmation email? I haven't gotten one for this post or the welcome post for Adam.
6.
Alan E. | July 27, 2010 at 1:47 am
ok I figured out a way to confirm my subscriptions (in case anyone else has this issue). I opened an old confirmation email and clicked on the link. At the top of that page should be a link to "Pending." You can confirm the subscriptions there as long as you have made a comment and checked the box on the specific post. You may have to hover over the title of the post to see the word "Confirm."
7.
Alan E. | July 27, 2010 at 1:53 am
Remember Dr. Rekers (who could forget?) Well Attorney General Bill McCollum is still defending him as a witness against gay parents being able to adopt:
http://www.towleroad.com/2010/07/watch-florida-ag…
McCollum's excuse is that other "experts" are afraid to testify because of fear of discrimination afterward. Again, paying the victim card.
Please note that there is a link to another post in which a UVA study has shown that kids of gay parents don't necessarily do any worse!
8.
Floor samples | July 27, 2010 at 2:13 am
To err is human. Good for the Capitol Police for apologizing. I'd love to know exactly how Brian Brown "instructed" the police officer.
I also wonder to what extent the "EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW" Thurgood Marshall memorial affected Brian Brown's instructions to the police officer. Brown may have realized, rightly so, that any photograph or video of a NOM rally with "EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW" in the background would have been a serious disaster.
When there is a movie made about the path to full marriage equality — and I'm sure there will be — the inconveniently positioned Thurgood Marshall display and NOM's behavior in Annapolis will make a great scene.
9.
Mark | July 27, 2010 at 2:14 am
The police are only human, and from time to time do make decisions that are not fair. But I do appreciate the Chief of Police for recognizing the situation, and for addressing it. If the shoe were on the other foot, I would expect no different treatment of videographers from their side covering our events.
10.
Sagesse | July 27, 2010 at 2:28 am
A useful civics lesson. Linking to the video is a nice touch.
11.
Dave in Maine | July 27, 2010 at 2:32 am
mee too!
12.
Ann S. | July 27, 2010 at 2:35 am
Subscribing. Or I may have to find an old subscription post, as suggested above.
13.
Marlene | July 27, 2010 at 2:51 am
If you want to contact Chief Phil Palmere and thank him for his prompt response:
Email: phil.palmere@dgs.state.md.us
Phone: 410-767-6744
Snail mail:
Chief Phil Palmere
Department of General Services
DGS Police Department
301 West Preston Street, Room M-5
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2305
14.
Darlene | July 27, 2010 at 3:03 am
I am sorry I did not see anything about disciplinary action against the police officer who violated the people's rights.
While I appreciate Palmere's response I find it too weak and toothless. It reminds me of the "I'm sorry," from a 3 year old. I think a lawsuit would be appropriate.
The officer should be suspended for a week without pay, at a minimum. These paramilitary groups only understand punishment, not policy.
15.
Kathleen | July 27, 2010 at 3:07 am
subscribing
16.
Richard W. Fitch | July 27, 2010 at 3:15 am
While the chief's apology should be acknowledged, the fact remains that Tour Tracker was denied the opportunity for some unique footage and the officer involved seems only to have gotten a tap on the wrist for his unconstitutional actions.
17.
Ronnie | July 27, 2010 at 3:17 am
Well Michael what do you expect from Brainless Brown Suit…
He's perfectly fine with denying our freedom or religion, freedom of speech & expression (ie. advocating that we (LGBT) have no right to use the words "marriage", "wife", & "husband" & how they configure into our lives & thinking that he & other anti-gays have a right to control how we express our love for each other). As well as violating our 14th amendment rights….
Therefore he has no problem with violating freedom of the press, & denying the tax paying public into a public event unless you conform to his anti-American cult. He's a Fascist Pig.
<3…Ronnie
18.
JayeinMD | July 27, 2010 at 3:17 am
And in other NOMfail news: looks like our friend Louis has now made his "blog" by invitation only.
https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL=http…
I guess ole Maggie is finally figuring out that NOM's "supporters" are actually the lunatic fringe – - all 30ish of them per rally and that by us and the rest of America actually seeing/hearing/reading their true intents might actually reveal the TRUE hate and prejudice of their organization. Kinda blows their cover that they're only against gay marriage doesn't it? No…they are really about pushing back any recognition of gays in society.
19.
anonygrl | July 27, 2010 at 3:21 am
I think that the Chief has probably spoken to the officer in question and set him straight. I don't see this as something worth making such a big deal about. Sometimes officers make mistakes. It is one he, and now his fellow officers, are unlikely to make again, and I think that is good enough. The largest harm done was that a video could not be made of that stop. Sad, but certainly not tragic.
Sometimes I think it is perfectly ok for the outcome of a mistake to be that a lesson is learned, and no other punishment is required.
20.
anonygrl | July 27, 2010 at 3:32 am
Scene 1: Last night on the NOM bus.
Maggie: Louis! You TOLD them we are not going to be in South Bend?? We were hoping that this would throw them for a loop when they arrived and found we were not there!
Louis: Well, they read my blog, what can I do?
Maggie: AND you told them that Brian was rejoining us? We were counting on them playing that "Where is Brian?" card again and looking like idiots!!
Louis: Errr…
Maggie: Did you not understand that when we said we needed to distance ourselves from you, because your blog was coming across as too conservative, and discriminatory, and don't even get me started about what those Courange Campaigners have said about the whole "that obviously isn't their baby" thing… that we meant you were to STOP TRYING TO HELP US?
Louis: But I was only writing the truth.
Maggie: I know that and YOU know that, but it doesn't help our cause much if THEY know that.
Louis: I posted a disclaimer! I said I was a third party who was a co-sponsor of the tour!
Maggie: Remember the NOT HELPING thing? That falls under it.
Louis: Fine, so what, you want me to restrict my blog so they can't read it?
Maggie: Yes!
Louis: OK, I will set it so that only invited readers can get in. (he does so)
Maggie: (looking over his shoulder at the screen) So, who does that leave who is reading your blog?
Louis: (checks, then sullenly) No one.
Fade to black
21.
Bolt | July 27, 2010 at 3:34 am
Is adoption for everyone available in Florida, right now, as this legal challenge moves through the court system?
Is it a state challenge, or a federal challenge?
22.
John | July 27, 2010 at 3:34 am
I agree, the officer made a bad call. That's bound to happen once in a while when there is a 'battle' going on. I found complaining about it over the top, because the police aren't our opponents. However, it is nice to see how it was corrected by the chief.
23.
Kathleen | July 27, 2010 at 3:37 am
No. Florida is one of the few states where gay individuals can't adopt. I'm pretty sure this is a state court case.
24.
Kathleen | July 27, 2010 at 3:40 am
Here's a page that has a link to a FAQ. It's a state case. http://www.aclufl.org/adoption/gill.cfm
25.
PamC | July 27, 2010 at 3:45 am
+10000 !
very very funny
26.
Em | July 27, 2010 at 3:55 am
Have we given any thought to one of our own posing as a NOM supporter to get access to Louis's blog?
This is a win-win situation, since if Louis is reading here, he'll have no choice but to assume everyone who requests an invitation is a spy, thus either we get access or he gets no more readers or publicity. Your move, man.
27.
Alan E. | July 27, 2010 at 4:06 am
I figured out that the subscription emails were being sent to my spam folder among a bunch of other stuff that isn't spam.
28.
Alan E. | July 27, 2010 at 4:09 am
Also see this link about how the Attorney General in Florida continues to support using George Rekers:
http://www.towleroad.com/2010/07/watch-florida-ag…
29.
Alan E. | July 27, 2010 at 4:10 am
It's funny that he had to use a Blankenhorn action to be able to get stuff introduced. Not an actual expert, per se, but someone who works close enough to be called an "expert" in court.
30.
Alan E. | July 27, 2010 at 4:11 am
Not sure how that previous post got in there. That was an old version I was trying to post this morning.
31.
anonygrl | July 27, 2010 at 4:18 am
I'd love too, but I could not even figure out how to MAKE a request. The only thing I could see was a log in for those who had already been followers (all 16 of them if I recall correctly).
Hey, anybody of us one of the 16? If so, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to… well… ummm… I guess read the blog and let us know what goofiness Louis is spouting today?
32.
StraightForEquality | July 27, 2010 at 4:19 am
Brilliant!
33.
Kathleen | July 27, 2010 at 4:21 am
My favorite quote of McCollum's is, "I don't believe that the gay family model is good for the kids." Interesting that a state's AG thinks public policy and state law should be based on his personal beliefs, as opposed to say … objective scientific evidence.
34.
Dave in CA | July 27, 2010 at 4:36 am
Blog by invitation only? Ha ha! That says volumes about their embarrassment and desperation.
I can't believe it's a coincidence that they did this immediately after their South Bend change and re-change of plans which would have allowed us to follow them (had it happened). Now that Maggie is back in the saddle again she has to show them how to take control of the message and out-flow of information.
35.
Sagesse | July 27, 2010 at 4:49 am
@ Kathleen,
He's attorney general, but he's also running for governor.
36.
Garland | July 27, 2010 at 7:44 am
I do appreciate Chief Palmere's prompt apology and the ongoing work of law enforcement to preserve and protect our civil rights. It may provide some context to recall that as of early last year, Equality Maryland (EM) was clearly designated a "terrorist organization" by the Maryland State Police (MSP). Now, the MSP and Maryland Capital Police (MCP) are both state agencies but are, indeed, different organizations. I expect, however, that in the course of their duties, the officers comprising the MCP, MSP, and other law-enforcement agencies must coordinate and work with one another (as well as having cross-organizational career trajectories). This suggests that the opinion of EM which was held strongly enough by MSP officers to motivate their official action of designating EM a "terrorist organization" may well be shared (to a greater or lesser degrees) by officers comprising other proximal law-enforcement agencies.
The actions of the MCP officer in transgressing Mr. Rothe-Kushels basic rights in deference to privilege asserted by Mr. Brown makes more sense in the context of a "terrorist organization" narrative. On the other hand, if this were about a single misinformed officer, surely there were other officers present who could have redressed the officer's actions in real time. I'm not confident that technical fixes proposed by Chief Palmere will get at the actual problem. But they are, I suppose, a start.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2009/0…
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2009/0…
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/maryland-gays-amon…
37.
JonT | July 27, 2010 at 12:21 pm
“Send one active ping.”
“Aye sir!”
38.
Sheryl Carver | July 27, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Thanks, Marlene – just sent out a quick “thank you” to him.
One tends to get more of the behavior that is rewarded. I would definitely like to encourage police chiefs to take responsibility & effect changes in training/procedures when necessary..
39.
Richard A. Walter (soon to be Walter-Jernigan) | July 27, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Thanks, Adam. Will catch up tomorrow sometime. then I will have more cogent comments to add.
40.
Chris | July 28, 2010 at 1:54 am
I'm glad to hear that the Chief apologized as well but I think that the bigger picture is not being addressed. My problem is this…..if the police force is supposed to uphold the law…shouldn't they at least KNOW the law??? Instituting corrective training measures??? How about basic law?
41.
Richard A. Walter (s | July 28, 2010 at 2:03 am
Wait just a minute! Equality Maryland was designated a "terrorist organization"!?! How are they making that determination, and upon what fallacies in logic is it based? Would someone please tell me how any organization that is based upon upholding the Constitution of the US and extending full civil rights to all citizens of this country can be called "terrorists"?
Oh, wait, this is Maryland we are talking about. Home of whatever that preacher's name is that thinks all gays should be either killed or exiled.
42.
Garland | July 28, 2010 at 5:27 am
From the various articles and source documents, it seems that Equality Maryland was designated a "security threat" by the Homeland Security and Intelligence Division of the Maryland State Police. This designation translated into "terrorist" for the MSP and justified surveillance of the group — some of the surveillance reports from 2005-2006 are available at the first link in my original post. I have no knowledge regarding surveillance of individual members of Equality Maryland. The MSP designation has since been rescinded. (I have no knowledge of how or when that occurred.) The designation and surveillance reports were published in ~Jan 2009. Legislation to restrict the MSP's surveillance of peaceful groups was introduced soon thereafter but I haven't checked its current status.
43.
Richard A. Walter (s | July 28, 2010 at 6:52 am
Garland, can you post the links to these source documents? I would truly appreciate it. This sounds like more Bush-Ridge era stuff where they were trying to turn this into a police state as was done from 1933 to 1945 in Germany.
44.
Garland | July 29, 2010 at 5:01 am
can you post the links to these source documents
I posted a msg with numerous links late yesterday. I'm assuming that message is pending moderation. (Indeed, a posting with many URLs should trigger manual review.) If it doesn't appear by tomorrow, I'll try again.
45.
Richard A. Walter (s | July 29, 2010 at 9:11 am
Thanks, Garland. It hasn't shown up yet, so what you may want to do is form your posts with one link per post. That is what Kathleen had to do, especially when she was receiving several legal documents pertaining to the case at one time.
46.
Garland | July 30, 2010 at 12:54 am
can you post the links to these source documents?
Trying again with some links.
The Maryland ACLU was an important actor in discovering the improprieties. Their catalog on the issue is here: <a href="http://www.aclu-md.org/Index%20content/NoSpying/NoSpying.html” target=”_blank”>www.aclu-md.org/Index%20content/NoSpying/NoSpying.html .
The report of an inquiry by former Maryland Attorney General Stephen H. Sachs is here: <a href="http://www.aclu-md.org/Index%20content/NoSpying/SachsReport.pdf” target=”_blank”>www.aclu-md.org/Index%20content/NoSpying/SachsReport.pdf . (Investigates surveillance of peaceful groups [and designation of "Terrorist"] by the MSP, not specific to Equality Maryland.)
Case reports specific to Equality Maryland:
47.
Richard A. Walter (s | July 30, 2010 at 5:23 am
Thanks, Garland. the links made it through this time.
48. Show us what really happe&hellip | August 26, 2010 at 12:51 pm
[...] stop. From its supporters speaking in tongues and calling for the murder of gay people, to police threatening Courage’s Tour Trackers with arrest at NOM’s behest, NOM has been unmasked as a fringe group masquerading as [...]
49. BREAKING: Vota Tus Valore&hellip | October 4, 2010 at 3:23 pm
[...] are, so he tried to have us evicted in Annapolis over the summer, an event for which the police apologized to Courage Campaign Institute. Alfonso argued he and his staff have “freedom of movement” and tried to intimidate us [...]
50. BREAKING: Vota Tus Valore&hellip | October 5, 2010 at 7:25 am
[...] are, so he tried to have us evicted in Annapolis over the summer, an event for which the police apologized to Courage Campaign Institute. Alfonso argued he and his staff have “freedom of movement” and tried to intimidate us away [...]
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