Off-Duty Cop Protesting in “V” Mask Charged For Refusing to Identify Himself

Posted by: Rick Wells Posted date: December 04, 2013






The way the system gets to us as a whole is by first attacking an unpopular group. Legislation to curb the activities of the KKK couldn’t possibly be opposed by any non-racist person. And conversely, if you did oppose Chapter 876 Section 12 of Title XLVI under Florida law, you must be one of those racist KKK supporters.

That may have been true then. It’s not anything near reality today. The law is still there for abuse though, and given an opportunity, those in power will find a way to abuse it.
That particular Florida law states: “no person or persons over 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask hood, or device whereby any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter upon, or be or appear upon any lane, walk, alley, street, road, highway, or other public way in this state.”
The violator in question is not a Klansman. He’s Ericson Harrell, 39, a North Miami Beach police officer. His crime was wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and demonstrating against obamacare. He was also wearing a black cape and holding an upside down American flag, a symbol of a nation in distress.
If you are not familiar with the Guy Fawkes mask, it is the type worn by the character “V” in “V for Vendetta.” It is also the assumed identity of the computer hacking activist group “Anonymous.”
Harrell was approached while protesting by police in Plantation, Florida who requested that he remove his mask and produce identification or provide his name. Harrell refused multiple requests and was taken into custody. He identified himself as a police officer during the frisk, as he was in possession of a pistol.

Harrell was charged with obstruction of justice and with wearing a hood or mask on the street. He was given a notice to appear in court but was not jailed. Harrell, a fifteen year veteran of the North Miami Beach police, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
It would be interesting to see how many other jurisdictions around the nation have “show your face laws” on the books. The right to privacy and other protections under the Constitution are being eroded, but this one took a little advance planning.
We now know, in a civil unrest or any other type of event, anyone participating can be subjected to forced surveillance including facial recognition software. We can be arrested without other cause in what might be a perfectly orderly exercise of the freedom of assembly, held and processed by the State of Florida.
Back door solutions to the problems of those pesky Constitutional rights are always there for any despot willing to look hard enough. For those citizens feeling like the police state is creeping ever closer, things just got a little creepier.
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Rick Wells

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