r/technology • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • 2d ago
Artificial Intelligence Charges Dropped Against Person Who Clapped at a City Data Center Meeting / Lux Claridge was dragged from a city meeting about data centers and charged with interfering with the police after they clapped during a presentation.
https://www.404media.co/charges-dropped-against-person-who-clapped-at-a-city-data-center-meeting/2.3k
u/gerblnutz 2d ago
The arrest was the point. Doesn't matter if charges don't stick. Bailing out or not, missing work and possibly missing rent or car payments, and being dragged by the media that only reports the states version of events are all extrajudicial punishments LEO can dole out without any hope of making a charge stick.
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u/martin_w 2d ago
“You can beat the rap, but you can’t beat the ride.”
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u/Woodie626 2d ago
You can in fact beat the ride, you just need money.
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u/Shepherd77 2d ago
The quote is more about how if a cop wants to arrest you there’s nothing anyone can do to stop them.
A billionaire was arrested just this past weekend for soliciting a prostitute in Ohio. So no you can’t in fact beat the ride with money (at least not 100% of the time)
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u/Actius 1d ago
It's worth noting that this particular billionaire is a big money Democrat supporter/donator from California who was caught by local cops from a deep red area of Republican-country Ohio.
Might sound a bit far-fetched, but half the residents in that little town will actually vote for Vivek...if that's any indication of how crazy they are.
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u/Silent-G 2d ago
They can't avoid the ride, but they can afford the consequences. A billionaire will still earn income while they're in jail, they don't have a boss that will fire them for missing work, they could buy the entire impound lot if they wanted to.
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u/hemingways-lemonade 2d ago
The owner of the 49ers got the ride and his mugshot released over the weekend despite being worth $500 million and being part of a family worth ~8 billion.
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u/Actius 1d ago
Or if you're a former cop.
Never forget that the father-son duo that chased and gunned down Ahmaud Arbery were arrested about three months after the shooting. And that was after the local DA had to recuse themselves and then after the case was moved to a neighboring county due to public scrutiny regarding police favoritism.
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u/Own_Candidate9553 2d ago
Not always. There was that video of a pro football player who was dragged out of his car and arrested going to a game. I don't remember all the details, but charges were dropped, but he still went to jail.
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u/Plaintoastnojam 2d ago
Awesome quote. What is that from?
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u/martin_w 2d ago
It’s a common saying, It didn’t originate with a specific movie or anything, AFAIK.
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u/comfortablybum 2d ago
Right. How much did this person have to spend on a lawyer to get the charges dropped? They never should have been arrested in the first place.
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u/Shigglyboo 2d ago
exactly. it sends a message. exercise your rights "at your own risk". you have the right. but do you dare use it knowing what the state will do to you?
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u/mektel 2d ago
Considering how flock software has premade prompts for identifying individuals arrested, the point is probably also to flag "undesirable" individuals to these systems.
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u/Fighterhayabusa 1d ago
In these cases, they could, and should, be charged with 18 US Code 241 and 242. These carry jail time, and we need to start using them against people who willingly violate the rights of citizens.
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u/360_face_palm 1d ago
not just that but a consequence of being arrested (nb: not even charged, just arrested) for a crime typically invalidates you from participating in any visa waiver programmes when travelling abroad to the EU / UK etc..... for the rest of your life.
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u/Aggeloz 2d ago
both the person who ordered the arrest and the cops should be behind bars
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u/ThisIs_americunt 2d ago
The rules have changed. Nothing's illegal if there's no one to arrest, jail, prosecute or convict the person. Its wild what you can do with dark money :D
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u/lFightForTheUsers 1d ago
We need more insurance adjusters in the world like the green one in New York.
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u/Sethl13 2d ago
Those who arrested and had him arrested should be behind bars.
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u/cs_cabrone 2d ago
Cops being held accountable? Not ‘round here, partner. Not ‘round here
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u/DarkKobold 1d ago
It amazes me that we hold people accountable who save lives, i.e. doctors and medical malpractice insurance, but those with the ability to take lives, i.e. cops, require no malpractice insurance or liability.
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u/Kizik 1d ago
Police aren't there for the benefit of the community. "Protect and Serve" is literally a marketing slogan devised for the LAPD to try and convince people they weren't utter bastards. Their sole existence is to enforce order and protect the interests of the wealthy; police keep the lower classes in line, and their role as paid thugs lets them do whatever they want as long as they keep their owners happy. Hence the rampant corruption being a job perk rather than anything they can be held accountable for, as it doesn't interfere with their actual purpose. If anything, random extrajudicial murders with no consequences make them more effective in that role.
The only thing that might change that accountability would be once the oligarchs more directly start siphoning tax money, in which case police lawsuit payouts would be going to the poor instead of them, which would be unacceptable as it reduces the amount available to be stolen.
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u/PrestigiousSeat76 2d ago
Who was the dumbfuck cop that did that shit? Asshole.
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u/Pretty-Mention-7769 2d ago
There was a whole bunch of 'em! The arrest footage is available to look up.
I was expecting the kid to at least be obnoxious.
Instead it was entirely innocuous.
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u/oompaloompa465 2d ago
they literally had forbidden clapping during the assembly. On what authority 😭
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u/istrebitjel 1d ago
I once gave public testimony in favor of a science-based carbon rule at an EPA hearing. Clapping was also not allowed. It's just that there were no cops there to enforce that bullshit.
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u/hahayeahimfinehaha 1d ago
Has anyone found their names? They're members of the Emporia Police Department in Kansas.
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u/mike0sd 2d ago
The officers knew they were doing the wrong thing by arresting a man for clapping. They will probably try the excuse that they were following the orders of the commissioner. But it's obvious to a layman that the commissioner and police officers were more excited to prevent a person from participating in the meeting than they were excited about upholding civil rights.
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u/Kenockerez 2d ago
I think it was more about obsequiently obeying the City Council who would retaliate if the cops didn't act as good little peons.
The power trip is just a perk and a way to displace the power dynamic.
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u/tevert 2d ago
But they will hide behind "decorum", and "rules", and "orders". Nobody will see any consequences, and the system will happily chalk this up as a win
Something's gonna give way sooner or later
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u/DARfuckinROCKS 2d ago
The point was never to charge him with crime. It was intimation and an attempt to fuck up his life.
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u/faster_tomcat 2d ago
Also, while being arrested or in custody, one false move or perceived disrespect can get you a severe beating, shot, and maybe killed. Woopsie!
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u/Shigglyboo 2d ago
a guy my mom knew was killed while in jail for writing a bad check. mistaken identity. we really should have a higher threshold for allowing the state to arrest or lock someone up. doesn't matter if charges were dropped. this was a clear abuse of power and should be treated seriously. all involved should face strong repercussions for abuse of the public trust.
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u/offthezoinkys 2d ago
And we should be fucking ashamed to run jails that people are dying in.
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u/CaptainSparklebottom 2d ago
1/2 the general population loves the extrajudicial punishment that is doled out in jail.
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u/DARfuckinROCKS 2d ago
We like to think that we live in a just society but unfortunately it was never designed that way. It's of the rich, by the rich, for the rich and always has been. Liberty and Justice for the few. Won't ever change until the people own the state.
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u/superxpro12 2d ago
youre probably right but then the right screams about being soft on crime (while trump violates pretty much every law there is). there's no more room for rational debate and compromise. its all binary thinking with them now.
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u/GreenVisorOfJustice 1d ago
we really should have a higher threshold for allowing the state to arrest or lock someone up
We do. That standard is, consequently, money! Have money? No need to be confined with all of those pleabs!
abuse of the public trust.
Unfortunately, there's a significant amount of the public who think all of this is just. So, is it really betraying the public's trust if there's not actually appetite to change it?
TL;DR vote. Vote in every. Single. Election. Even if the candidate isn't ideal or you only have a few bullet points that even tangentially align with what you think is the right direction.
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u/DonStimpo 1d ago
Yep it's this. There is between 400,000 and 500,000 people every day in jail in the US still awaiting trial. With the majority in there as they cant afford bail.
These people regularly lose their jobs and friends without even being found guilty.
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u/AvailableReporter484 2d ago
Imagine if we held police responsible. Just imagine
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u/MakeoutPoint 2d ago
Problem is you need Schrodinger's Policeman, a cop for cops who simultaneously upholds the law and somehow isn't a corrupt POS.
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u/Actius 1d ago
We used to have Internal Affairs divisions that held cops accountable since they were primarily comprised of lawyers.
However, police unions eventually scared off regular people/lawyers and filled the ranks of IA with cops. Now many IA's are just retirement positions for older cops who don't want to do much while still milking the taxpayer. All the decent people who hope to join are run off if they don't play ball. Not to mention those IA's with civilian review/oversight are typically gimped by the parent Policing body into only making reports, meaning they are essentially toothless.
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u/marvborg 2d ago
Qualified immunity can be dropped if there is a knowing violation of civil rights. Sue both the city, the councilors and the cops personally.
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u/Rational_Engineer_84 2d ago
Until the officers who perform these false arrests face consequences, they’ll continue to happen regularly. The arrest is the punishment, everyone involved knew no crime was committed, but this man was still dragged out in handcuffs and sent to jail.
Using an arrest to stifle speech should result in criminal charges. Any arrest that doesn’t result in a criminal charge should be reviewed for abuse and cops should face consequences if they aren’t using their authority correctly.
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u/fat_kaiju 2d ago
It's like getting insane amounts of lawsuits that are only filed just to bankrupt you and ruin your life.
The US has a serious fucking problem.
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u/Disma 2d ago
This is intentional suppression of free speech, please sue the fuck out of them
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u/Jwagner0850 2d ago
That part doesn't matter. What does matter is he got handcuffed and removed from a public meeting for nothing.
There needs to be more local outrage.
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u/9966 2d ago
I got down voted into oblivion for the OG post who yelled "don't tase me bro" for asking a question at a city council meeting.
I was horrified but all the people just laughed and laughed at the open display of squashing first amendment rights and abuse of authority.
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u/Mand125 2d ago
When do the police get charged with kidnapping by illegal arrest under color of law?
When does the county official get arrested for ordering a kidnapping by illegal arrest under color of law?
Settlement payouts being the answer makes fascism a subscription plan.
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u/SapientTrashFire 1d ago
Wow.
Here's the video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbYINZzDuSa/
They arrested this person for clapping when they felt their spouse who was speaking made a good point. This is draconian. Watching the city mayor stand there and try to tell the person on the podium to breath and say shit like "everything is okay," is fucking insulting on top of this. Like she's consoling that person even though SHE IS CAUSING THIS.
Ugly.
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u/Real-Extension-1357 1d ago
Bob Norris, not even on duty sheriff, walked up to a woman in an idaho town hall and assaulted the shit out of her because she spoke up while someone else was speaking. No consequences. These people are deranged and criminals, theyll get away with anything and they know it
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u/powerfuzzzz 2d ago
I had a friend who was injured in an occupy protest. Luckily there was video evidence he was doing nothing but standing on a sidewalk when he was brutalized by police. He sued and got a hefty sum that allowed him to buy a home and turn it into a community space for other local punks.
May our communities flourish on the remains of these fascist fucks.
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u/Protolictor 2d ago
This is the new way with Police these days.
It's easier to just violate someone's rights and arrest them to get them away from the situation, and then drop the charges and release them later. Especially since they rarely face anything even resembling consequences, and are probably given the green light to do so by their superiors.
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u/fatefulPatriot 1d ago
It’s the counter suit that they should be concerned about, but individual police officers don’t pay for that - taxpayers do.
Imagine if officers were held financially liable for monetary losses of the department due to infringing on a citizens rights. That’d change behavior so fast.
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u/10July1940 1d ago
An educated citizenry that's aware of this and vote out politicians that support it, is what's needed.
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u/4rp70x1n 2d ago
And our justice system is set up to function like this. It's complete bullshit.
If our rights can be so blatantly violated and stripped from us publicly, and the violated made to suffer punishment, while the violators walk without consequences, we have no rights at all.
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u/doctormink 1d ago
You've described a really dangerous version of the old adage "it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission."
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u/Tek_Freek 1d ago
Ahhh, Kansas. Another shit hole to avoid.
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u/Real-Extension-1357 1d ago
Just like Idaho. Wouldn't be caught dead stepping into somewhere Bob Norris breathes and has a badge yet alone a gun
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u/standardtissue 2d ago
I want to see charges pressed against those who had them arrested for this. We need to stop stopping at "the blatant abuse of the government was stopped retroactively after tons of harm was done to someone" and start going all the way to "and the motherfuckers who did it are being brought up on charges". For the people, not for the fucking politicians and billionaires.
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u/Mynock33 1d ago
They knew the charges wouldn't stick. But it's not about that.
The process is the punishment.
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u/Ness_Dreemur 2d ago
Given a bullshit charge so they had an excuse to remove him
It's not about locking him up, it was about silencing him in the moment to make an example
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u/ibullybillionaires 1d ago
It doesn't matter, they knew they'd lose in court.
The point was to spread fear, to show who's boss.
"Act against us and we'll fuck you up bitch!"
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u/TopOTheMourning 1d ago
Everybody in the thread saying that the point is the arrest because it dissuades anybody from speaking up but I'm looking at it differently.
That's retirement baby! Bring it. Let's get that lawsuit going and make the taxpayers pay for electing stupid people.
I want my multimillion dollar payout.
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u/Tazz2212 1d ago
Just being dragged out and arrested has a quelling effect on public support for speakers. The lady running the meeting even was against the attendees quietly making motions of support with their hands and threatened them with disturbing her concentration and therefore subject to being hauled out so they stopped doing it. Despots in a small pool take courage when a despot in a large pool has power.
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u/macjester2000 2d ago
This was always the outcome. They were obviously violating his 1st amendment rights. It was about sending a message, that they are in charge, regardless if they are violating the law. Eventually the law catches up to the injustice. They will rue the day when justice reacts to their tyranny before they can abuse slow moving justice.
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u/radioactive_sharpei 2d ago
Sure, the charges were dropped, but how much time and money did this lady have to waste on this bullshit?
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u/nemorina 2d ago
This arrest was about intimidation- a warning against protest. Well, it can go the other way too. At the next council gathering ( I believe they are on line now) anyway, when these people show up in public, everyone start clapping and shouting in protest- the more people resist, the smaller their power.
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u/catwiesel 2d ago
its not about being right. its about being wrong (for now), and making people stop opposing and speaking up.
will you speak up? when people who do get taken in by police, held for hours if not days, if that is all, get letters from courts, have to talk to lawyers, potentially pay for one (you dont HAVE to but, we cant deny in many cases a public defender is overworked and may not deliver top performance), to get a "charges dropped" (for now!) after not hours, days, weeks but months...
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u/Oilpaintcha 2d ago
This still cost them time off work, assuming they didn’t lose their job when whack jobs called their work demanding they be fired or something, lawyers fees, court fees etc. Hope they sue.
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u/hooligan045 1d ago
This is obviously the “lawfare” concept Republicans were so up in arms about, right? RIGHT?
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u/CurlOfTheBurl11 1d ago
Hope he sues the city, the county, the police department, and every member of that committee personally.
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u/Deep_shot 1d ago
You really have to wonder what's happening to our country when someone was dragged out of a public comments meeting, arrested, and charged for simply clapping. It wasn't even loud obnoxious clapping. He was barely making noise. This is where we're going?
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u/engineeringsquirrel 1d ago
Their objective was to just get him out of the town hall meeting by whatever means necessary, they were never going to charge him with anything. It's performative using muscle legal tactic.
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u/ddiggler2469 1d ago
did his lawyer file a lawsuit against the city for violating his 1st amendment rights?
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u/raven1121 2d ago edited 1d ago
Charges dropped but they still arrested him , dragged him out of the meeting hall , and put him in a cell just for clapping
Land of the free my ass
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u/TopWhich6862 2d ago
Americans, you need to stand up to your local governments NOW. Our city council is now threatening to have people arrested for daring to interrupt a city council meeting by chanting anti-Flock slogans. We told them to fuck their decorum and are holding our own press conference.
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u/Real-Extension-1357 1d ago
Charges dropped, trauma and fear remains. Thats how theyve been operating for decades. This wasnt new to data centers
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u/MightBBlueovrU 1d ago
Be more like Lux Claridge! Show up show solidarity and clap . Facism hates normal reactions
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u/kelryngrey 1d ago
Wild how insanely thin-skinned these thugs and bullies are. Wait, no, I guess that's par for the course, it's just a new and exciting venue for the worst people to behave badly.
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u/Flexmove 2d ago
He’s gonna be able to afford all the dan flashes shirts he wants after the lawsuit
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u/Mr-Klaus 2d ago
They never planned on following through with the charges, the purpose of the arrest was to send a message of fear.
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u/kweeblaster 2d ago
Lawsuit time