200: Reflections

7 of ?

Reflections

As the fire dies down we see some of the item left behind when the homeless left the tent city. As they knew not of where they might go or what they might need when the got there along with the limited ability to move stuff many of their daily use items were left behind. It was heart wrenching to watch Bob leave, what had been his home for the past six years, for the last time. Bob was followed closely by Maggie, his dog (See Post 23), Maggie had the look of something is wrong and I think it us going to be bad.

Reflections on other related issues. In the time since 911 scrutiny of photographers has increased drastically. Some times the police have really gone overboard. One instance comes to mind of a photographer was arrested and taken to jail for photographing in a subway station. The photographer was taking picture for a photo contest sponsored by the subway company. I have always defended law enforcement's rights to stop and ask what you are doing. I have done this frequently on various photography forums. That is the reason I never minded when the police stopped and asked what I was doing on my photo excursions.

In taking pictures in Monroe for the past ten years the police have never said anything to me except for one occasion when someone (so they said, now I wonder) called 911 and reported a sniper on the Skyway Bridge, that is until recently. I even wrote the police Chief a letter commending her on the professionalism of her department during the event. Generally every time I see a law enforcement officer I take the time to tell them "thank you for doing a thankless job." I have always supported law enforcement up to now, but no longer.

As I just eluded to in the previous paragraph the situation has recently changed. In the month of November I was questioned 13 times all by city police. I had attributed this to me letting my hair and beard grow long. A friend pointed out to me that my hair and beard has been long a lot longer that that. As the paper noted the police department has been putting the contrived eviction together for a couple of months. I now realize that due to my association with the local homeless, I, like the homeless, have become a victim of police harassment.

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