dailybeast--2019-10-31--Is the Paris Art World Dead?

Is the Paris Art World Dead?

Paris is not the up-and-coming art city. That’s Naples, or Shanghai, or Leipzig, or Los Angeles. It’s not the art champion of the moment. That’s Berlin. It’s not really even one of the old gods anymore, big, dated, but still influential, like its classic competition of New York and London. I often find myself wondering why.  Paris makes the cliché version of ourselves into a tough opponent. Even living here, no matter how many times I see the Eiffel pricking up in a rain-soaked vista, I can’t seem to stop myself from an awkward cooing. It’s a fight that, for whatever reason, I seem to take up against the part of myself that enjoys the simple pleasures of postcard histories. It’s a boring fight, but I think it’s an important one.  For those trying to be artists in this city (a distinction I fortunately or unfortunately must lump myself into), fighting the cliché, fighting the way Paris romances you with its past accomplishments, is crucial.  It’s too easy to lie down in the warmth of the city’s wet monuments, in the goings up and down of its sun, and in the countless -isms of art history that were born or made famous here: Cubism, Fauvism, Surrealism, Dadaism, Impressionism.. .the -isms go on. The risk inherent to making art in Paris is the easy comfort of living out a romantic image of the artist here, receiving the benefits of being a bohemian in the eyes of the outside world, and never contributing new ideas to the evolution of “Art.”  I feel I have the right to criticize the cliché because I arrived here as one. Twenty-two years old, and, like all good Americans, loaded with 1920s writer-kinks and painter-fantasies. In a desire to draw equivalencies between the past and present, I went out looking for living people doing the romantic stuff I’d read about. I found some like me, foreigners in 10th arrondissement poetry-bars and 20th arrondissement cheap cafés, clichés basically, and though it was cute to role-play together something sexy as a Parisian art community, there was a sadness in the act. There was something hollow in pretending to be a collective who had contributed ideas to the world without actually contributing our own.  A friend and I, with the help of other writers and artists we met, wanted to do something to crush that hollow feeling and make sure we had a chance to live our own “Paris moment.” We started a magazine, the Belleville Park Pages, as an attempt to record the work of our Paris-based peers. The magazine was designed to be cheaper than a pint of beer, and quick to read, one big sheet of paper folded like a map. We got the magazine stocked in places around the world, in the bookshops of our fantasies. We sold over 20,000 copies.  But the magazine was limited. In the media, the magazine and the people in it were constantly compared to dead names of the Parisian past. Dead Joyces, dead Fitzgeralds, dead Hemingways, dead Steins; dead everyone else. The magazine benefited from what I refer to as, “the Paris bump”, the benefit of simply being considered an artist in Paris without doing anywhere near enough good work to deserve the comparisons (read, “any at all”).  The magazine, at least in my opinion, was hamstrung by the romance of its overt Paris branding. Purposefully, there weren’t defined ideas and clear concepts driving its editorial direction. We wanted to give people a platform to say whatever they wanted. But in doing so, we didn’t give the magazine any identity to carry it beyond its Parisian sexiness, to make it something worth a value to the larger world beyond an image. That image could only sell so many magazines, and after three years we decided to stop due to money problems. In the aftermath of an important era of my own life, I felt lost. I was still living in Paris and so I tried to connect myself with a more local art community. One that was based less on the Anglophone cliché of the city.  I found the French art community of Paris, with its own writers and artists, and though it doesn’t suffer from the same aforementioned clichés as the foreigners who try to make it here, it still suffers from its own cliché: the weight of history. The amount of times I’ve heard sentences spoken by French artists like, “I can’t talk about X because Zola’s said it,” or, “I can’t talk about Y because de Beauvoir’s said it,” feels countless. That’s not a problem for Anglophones, Americans especially, with our grandiose sense of individual liberty. But the weight of history limits ideas just the same.  Because the big ideas are avoided for fear of intellectual comparison to the past, the Franco-Parisian art community seems to silo into nothing more complex than friend-groups who make art together. Disparate art defined by social connections instead of unifying themes. Friend-groups whose ideas do not intermingle, and in turn, do not really develop. Though this criticism is clearly a subjective failure, I don’t believe that art, and the beauty it produces by leveling diverse experiences on universal themes, can truly succeed when produced by small groups who don’t communicate.  For different reasons, the French and foreign communities of Paris are failing the same. Failing in the responsibility of projecting our new ideas, new thoughts on society represented through art, that would give something of substance for the outside world to analyze (the art world and the world generally). That failure defines the unified, international art community of contemporary Paris. And maybe that failure explains why Paris has lost its grasp on international artistic relevance.  To assess mathematically the decline of Paris as ‘Cultural Capital’ is difficult and dangerous. Difficult, because numbers struggle to capture theoretical influence. Dangerous, because numbers often take the form of financials, which limit artistic importance to the base of their monetary worth. But, if we start with the accepted assumption that France (Paris specifically) invented the “collector-driven” art market as we know it today, then here are some numbers that speak weight:  As reported by Artprice, a leader in art market research, France contributed only 2 percent of global art sales in 2018 (versus 39 percent for the U.S, 28 percent for China and 23 percent for the U.K.) They are one tenth the value of their U.K., London-centered, neighbors, their competition. Those numbers are even more disparaging when viewed in the context of Contemporary Art, current creation. Just 8 percent of France’s total 2018 art sales were considered “Contemporary Art.” There were no French artists in the top 100 auctions of Contemporary Art last year, world-wide. And Contemporary French artists made up only a tiny fraction of overall sales at the world’s leading auction houses: 1.4 percent of Christie’s 2018 sales, and 0.9 percent of Sotheby’s. This stands in stark comparison to burgeoning cultural capitals like Hong Kong, whose Contemporary sales amounted to 46 percent of total sales, a trend supporting China’s rise in art market importance.  To contextualize the decline differently, we could instead look toward France’s historically strong literary tradition. Between the prize’s founding in 1901 and Jean-Paul Sartre’s winning of it in 1964, France produced 12 Nobel laureates in literature. Since then, it has produced only two (though one could argue that Paris was instrumental in the lives of some of its famous inhabitants).  These numbers are very neo-liberal, very modern-capitalism, in that their relation to young, “up-and-coming” artists is trickle-down at best. The support of top awards or large-scale investment isn’t seen, directly, by artists still trying to make a name for themselves. But award recognition and a strong economy, localized within an art capital, does help. It brings attention to the urban artistic environment and gives artists a clearer ladder to climb (if their goal is, as it is for most artists I know, to make a living through their art). That attention, which I’ve felt more strongly in other art cities, is crucial for artists trying to win respect for their ideas beyond direct social networks.  I’ve had the chance to live for some short moments in New York and London and Los Angeles, and in all those cities I was often asked the same cutting question by artists: does anything still happen in Paris? That question, a metaphor for lacking attention, always made me sad. And, when living away from it, Paris was always a place I defended, though I’ve never had a great retort to throw back at the question.  I myself have consistently moved back to Paris after having left it. Three times I have left and returned. And though my inability to quit the place is biased, I’m sure, by my internalized clichés and personal love of the city, there are more legitimate reasons for staying.  The city, contrary to popular belief, is cheap. Or at least, cheaper than the other mega, Western world cities it competes with for influence. It’s cheaper than LA, with its automotive expenses. Much cheaper than New York, (with its manic urban renewal of affordable spaces). And a lot cheaper than London, with its crippling rent and public transportation costs. For a surprising and larger context, Paris is now even cheaper than my hometown, Portland (Oregon), the stereotypically cheap, small, and funky bastion of the United States. In Paris, a decent rent of €650 can be found easily, with plenty of €500 gems going around. In Portland, $1,000 rents are now normal and considered a steal by some.  Beyond price, Paris is small physically. You can move through it quickly. You can shuttle between multiple events and meetings and vernissages in a single night. Transportation is relatively cheap. And, if you know where to go, drinking is more affordable too. This all allows for a spontaneity of human interaction, based on the public space, that defines and improves an art community.  If the cause of an artistic hub is what I think it is, price and the ability to interact (or at least, find inspiration in your competition), Paris should be a place that still attracts artists and produces quality work. But it doesn’t. Or, it doesn’t produce like it used to, when it used to produce all of those romantic -isms.  This makes me wonder, what is Paris missing? It has the price. It has the space. And it still has the Paris Bump: the lingering reverence from the outside world. And so I return to its failure. The failure of the art community to project our views on the modern world.  I would be remiss not to mention the effect technology is having on art and artists generally, regardless of location. I’m not anti-Instagram, or anything like that. But the formula for success in contemporary art requires a buying-in to the cult of fame. It requires an artist to make a name for themselves online, on social media, prior to on-earth success. Often, the gatekeepers to financial stability in the art world ask for strong followings in order to access opportunity. That is the modern hustle, and we have to play. But to play requires a simplification of ideas, a reduction in complexity in order to fit within the single-word algorithms that manage contemporary attention. So if we live in Paris, where ideas struggle to grow beyond the city, and if we live in a time where ideas are being cut down to make space for visual, portrait-driven simplicity, then what can we as Paris-based artists do to reclaim some of our relevance?  Rather than be angsty about it, I set out to do my part, to do the best I could to improve our situation. I decided to “write” a book. I put write in quotations, because in reality, the book was written for me, in the words of Paris’ young, living artists.  I went looking for artists living in Paris. Young artists who had something interesting and definable to say about society. I sat down with them in various locations around the city, often had a drink, and then spoke with them for hours at a time. We didn’t speak so much about their art. More, we discussed their views on society. We spoke about identity, sexuality, mental health, urban life, love, loneliness, technology, and the future; all the things that everyone around the world seems to be discussing. We talked about a lot of things, and sometimes we spoke about Paris too. I put their words together and attempted to uncover a narrative of ideas that uncover the opinions which make Paris-based artists’ views on the world unique.  It’s my belief that, no matter their location, artists act like a funnel for society. They ingest the effects of politics and sociology, then turn out a simplified, accessible and inspirational reflection. When that reflection is good, it attracts attention and causes people to appreciate a person much more strongly than the simple, image-driven cliché distinction of “being an artist” or “being an artist is Paris” ever could.  The book, With Paris in Mind: Talking With Artists of This Generation, contains 16 interviews with 22 artists working across six art forms, all of whom have produced ideas that I love. I love their ideas, not because they inspire my own writing (though they do), but because their ideas inspire my life outside anything related to art. Their thoughts help make sense out of the confusion that comes from living through our modern moment, our confusing now. By hearing their ideas, and seeing how those ideas help me make sense, I know I will follow what these artists make in the future, to see how much more sense they have left to make. It’s a focus on this sort of reaction, real ideas and their potential, that I believe is needed in the Parisian art community. It’s the focus on ideas that will connect artists across developing thought and innovative theory rather than across friendship, clout, or cliché. And I think only then, when ideas have killed the cliché romance, will Paris possibly have the chance to regain some of its relevance in the eyes of the outside world.  With Paris in Mind is a collection of interviews and photographs with writers, musicians, filmmakers, photographers, fine artists, and chefs. You can find the book online here. Or in Paris starting November at Shakespeare and Company, Galignani, Palais de Tokyo and Yvon Lambert.


eveningstandard--2019-01-29--Best fashion exhibitions and clothing museums in London

Fashion is all about the aesthetic — so a museum is the perfect place to pay homage to different fashion eras and designers.  London is home to many museums with exhibitions covering all areas of fashion, from historic designs and contemporary trends to the future of the industry.  The V&A’s 2019 Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition has sent the capital into a fashion frenzy, so now more than ever is the time to see what other venues have to offer.  These are the ones to look out for if you know your Louboutin from your Lagerfeld.  This Bermondsey site is best known for exploring periods of fashion and their cultural connotations. The contemporary fashion museum was founded by British designer Zandra Rhodes back in 2003. This year it has a number of delights to tickle the fancy of fashion lovers. A four-month exhibition focusing on mini skirt revolutionary Mary Quant and designer Terence Conran will run from February until June, delving into the fashion, design and art of the Swinging Sixties. The show will present clothes, textiles, furniture, lighting, homewares, ceramics — exploring both style and the socioeconomic importance of this period.  Huge names in the fashion world have graced the interior of the V&A, including Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang, who both featured in the 2014 Weddings exhibition as well as gowns from Balenciaga, Balmain and Givenchy in the 2007 The Golden Age of Couture show. A much anticipated exhibition celebrating the life and work of the fashion designer Christian Dior opened in February, and will run until July. Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams is the largest retrospective on the French designer ever shown in the UK and it showcases a number of exquisite garmets alongside photographs, accessories and personal items.  This iconic London landmark is home to the British Fashion Council and regularly hosts fashion exhibitions in its 16th century neoclassical building. In February the popular venue, which hosts London Fashion Week events, will host an International Fashion Showcase presenting work from the best up-and-coming fashion talent from around the world. Likewise a fashion photography exhibition will run for slightly longer, until April, exhibiting the work of Hanna Moon and Joyce NG — two industry names to watch out for.  The clue is in the name here — expect lots and lots of beautiful fabric and garments in this collection. The impressive offering boasts materials made, sold, bought and worn in London from the 16th century to the present. There’s an eclectic mix with pieces made both at home and in studios of London couturiers, covering all occasions too, from gowns worn at extravagant occasions to pieces worn every day.  Open seven days a week with free admissions to all exhibitions, it’s hard to resist the Saatchi Gallery. The site focuses on presenting work from unseen young artists, or international artists who are largely unknown, rather than household names. Previous popular shows include Chanel’s Haute Couture show, titled Mademoiselle Privé, alongside with a selection of London Fashion Week events.  This London College of Fashion exhibition space continues to lay on an experimental programme of shows and events. Catering for both established artists and up-and-coming creative talents, the contemporary venue holds regular fashion, design, and art exhibitions alongside tours and talks. It runs a residency programme, supporting designers working in fashion and related fields. This year the gallery is hosting a Mundo Latinx exhibition, bringing together works from visual artists who raise questions around representation and identity.  This Kensington haunt specialises in contemporary design, covering all forms, from fashion and product to graphics and architecture. The venue continues to deliver a vibrant programme of exhibitions. Previous shows include one focusing on "couture's rebellious outsider" Azzedine Alaïa and the Women Fashion Power exhibition.  If fashion photography is more up your alley, this space in Soho hosts regular exhibitions alongside educational activities to promote the snap happy pastime and its impact on culture and society. Previous style exhibitions have covered the portraiture and fashion photography of Edward Steichen, when he was working powerhouse fasion titles at Condé Nast.


eveningstandard--2019-05-25--Celebrity art curator Jean-David Malat says London is one of top global locations for modern and con

Celebrity art curator Jean-David Malat says London is one of top global locations for modern and contemporary art

A renowned art curator celebrating the first anniversary of his Mayfair gallery has said London is one of the most important places in the world for modern and contemporary art.  Jean-David Malat, a London-based art dealer and curator, said the capital is more significant in the art world than Paris thanks to its "international" and "avant-garde" approach.  Mr Malat has worked for clients such as Kate Moss, Bono, Madonna and Natalie Imbruglia and represents a broad spectrum of international artists.  The Paris-born curator, who has established more than a dozen formerly-known artists, has run seven successful solo exhibitions at JD Malat Gallery since it opened in June 2018.  Speaking to the Standard ahead of the June 6 anniversary, Mr Malat said his gallery has gone from strength to strength and said London has been the ideal location.  “London is better than Paris for the art world,” he said.  “It’s more international, maybe more avant-garde. I’ve been in the city for almost 18 years and I just love it.  “I would say this city is one of the most important places in the world for modern and contemporary art.  “The last year has been very good, we had seven exhibitions and three sold out. We are getting more international and doing art fairs, Mexico in February and Seattle in August.  “With this job you can’t stop, you always have a new exhibition or a new artist and you have to make it happen, there is a lot of demand so you need to be active and supply.”  To mark the one-year anniversary of JD Malat Gallery, Los Angeles-based artist Andy Moses will make his London debut with his solo exhibition Echoes of Light from June 21 to July 20.  Curated by Larry Bell, who Mr Malat regards as “one of America’s most renowned and influential artists”, the exhibition is set to feature a range of concave paintings.  Mr Malat said the artist’s distinctive style is “simultaneously abstract and representational”, with one stand-out piece being Rad 1502, a curved canvas painted with acrylic.  Speaking about his work, Mr Moses said: “My quest is to create the sensation of light that appears to be emanating from the surface of the painting rather than being reflected off of it.  “I am honoured to be working with JD Malat Gallery for my first solo show in London.”  Currently on show at the gallery is the Urban Scene exhibition, with Chinese artist Li Tianbing's politically-focused art on show.  Specifically, Mr Tianbing refers to the “foul and evil-foreboding air” felt in China upon recent visits, which he said is due to the booming economy increasing the gap between the rich and the poor.  “He’s really one of my favourite artists,” Mr Malat said of Mr Bing, whose work he has been collecting since 2005. “I am very excited to be working with him on this exhibition.  “The series is a bit different, mostly it is about what’s going on in the world, the events in Venezuela, Paris and in other countries. His work is completely full of emotion.”  The Urban Scene exhibition is running until June 15 in JD Malat Gallery, 30 Davies Street, Mayfair. Echoes of Light is running from June 21 to July 20.


21stcenturywire--2019-05-10--Julian Assange The UK Sweden and the Illusion of Justice

Julian Assange: The UK, Sweden and the ‘Illusion of Justice’

Whistleblower and political prisoner Chelsea Manning has been released from Alexandria Detention Centre in the US state of Virginia.  This follows the appeal made by her lawyers that continued detention would be a violation of law as it would be to punish her and not to ‘purge her contempt’ given her principled conviction in not cooperating.  She was held in contempt in March in relation to a grand jury investigation into the highly dubious, if not fabricated charges against WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange.  She is now facing the prospect of further detention as she has been subpoenaed to a different grand jury next week and by all accounts will continue refusing to cooperate.  At the same time Assange is fighting extradition from the UK to the US where it is likely he will face degrading treatment for the politically-driven charges against him.  The US and the UK, and Sweden in the case of Assange, have abused their legal systems to create a facade of  both ‘rule of law’ and ‘freedom through choice’, behind which Assange and Manning are persecuted.  As an army intelligence analyst,  Manning leaked documents to WikiLeaks which led to the exposure of horrific war crimes by the US,  including the  Collateral Murder cockpit video of the slaughter of unarmed civilians in Iraq in 2007.   For this Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2010, commuted to 7 in 2017.  While outraged by Assange for his role in publishing leaks, the Trump government has also now gone after Manning.  Manning believes this to be about revenge, and the discrediting of truth-tellers and whistleblowers who dare hold governments to account, as she expressed in a statement just prior to release:  “I believe this grand jury seeks to undermine the integrity of public discourse with the aim of punishing those who expose any serious, ongoing, and systemic abuses of power by this government, as well as the rest of the international community. Therefore, participating in this fishing expedition – which potentially exposes other innocent people to the grand jury process – would constitute an unjustifiable and unethical action. Now, after sustaining serious psychological injury from my current confinement, I don’t wish to expose any other person to the trauma and exhaustion of civil contempt or other forms of prison or coercion.”  The personal toll this has taken on Manning is immense:  “Without committing a federal crime, and after exhaustive testimony at a trial several years ago, I am again ripped from my life by a vindictive and politically motivated investigation and prosecution.”  Manning faces continued detention because she won’t surrender.  Assange is probably still alive and fighting because he has not surrendered.  For Assange this meant that while in the Ecuadorian embassy he could only access urgent medical help by risking arrest and extradition to the US, which could have meant the death sentence or a life prison sentence.  Surrender or death.  Death or death.  The illusion of choice hid persecution.  Manning makes this very point:  The illusion Assange had a choice is also essential for the British government  to carry off that he was a criminal fugitive hiding from justice:  “…Assange is in the embassy of his own choice...”   – Alan Duncan, Foreign Office  It is now evident that this was a lie.  Choice was an illusion for the public.  Assange would have risked the death sentence or life in prison by leaving the embassy.  This is what he could now face if extradited following his arrest on 11th April.  The British government lied.  What has now become apparent is that law is the government’s weapon of choice.  On 12th April, the day after Assange was arrested by the British police,  Labour MP Stella Creasey, with backing from over 70 MPs, wrote to the Home Secretary asking for Assange to be extradited to Sweden if its authorities re-opened the investigation into sexual allegations for which Sweden had requested Assange’s extradition in 2010.  This was based on no new claim of evidence, or due process, and could easily be seen as political interference to put pressure on the Swedish authorities.  The case itself has been condemned as trumped-up, a and violation of law.  Meanwhile, the Swedish authorities were not even  aware of the plan to arrest Assange:  “This is news to us too, and we haven’t yet processed the information…We don’t know why he has been arrested.”  – Sweden’s chief prosecutor, Ingrid Isgren  Creasey seemed to think this was about procedural oversight:  “The decision to rescind the political asylum of Mr Assange by the Ecuadorian authorities seems to have been something of which both the UK and US authorities were made aware in advance.”  How remiss of the UK government to forget the sexual allegations made by two Swedish women they seemed to care about for so many years.  Or perhaps the UK and US no longer needed the women:  extradition to the US could now be through the UK.  The sexual allegations, the initial vehicle for getting Assange to the US via Sweden, were presumably viewed as surplus to requirements on 11th April.  After years of hunting Assange on the pretext he was a ‘rapist evading justice,’ the U.K. government, like that of Sweden, a liberal champion of women’s rights, is exposed as fake,  exploiting sexual allegations for political agenda: in this case subservience to Washington’s attack on journalism and freedom of speech.  Millions were thrown at surveillance on Assange, a bounty the Crown Prosecution Service considered priceless, shown in a 2013 email to the Swedish prosecutor:  “I do not consider costs are a relevant factor in this matter.”  The statement made by  Women Against Rape in 2012 should help Creasey and Co. to understand why the British government did not notify the Swedes of Assange’s arrest but invested so much in these sexual allegations:  “Once again women’s fury and frustration at the prevalence of rape and other violence, is being used by politicians to advance their own purposes. The authorities care so little about violence against women that they manipulate rape allegations at will, usually to increase their powers, this time to facilitate Assange’s extradition or even rendition to the US.”  The illusion of ‘unavailability in the Ecuadorian embassy’  And now that Sweden has today announced it will decide next week whether to reopen the case for yet a third time, it is continuing its media circus tactics around Assange,  as previously pointed out by journalist John Pilger:  “For Assange, his only trial has been trial by media. On August 20, 2010, the Swedish police opened a “rape investigation” and immediately – and unlawfully – told the Stockholm tabloids that there was a warrant for Assange’s arrest for the “rape of two women”. This was the news that went round the world.”  Is the Swedish government creating a launching pad for reasserting itself as champion of women?  An opportunity for some face-saving for the calculated use of its prosecution services that took being dragged to the Swedish Supreme Court by Assange’s legal team before it would progress the preliminary investigation, while countless offers by both the Ecuadorian government and Assange’s lawyers for him to be interviewed were not taken up? As pointed out by former Foreign Secretary of Ecuador, Gillaume Long:  “There was no need for the Swedish authorities to delay for over 1,000 days before agreeing to carry out this interview, given that the Swedish authorities regularly question people in Britain and received permission to do so on more than 40 occasions in recent years.”  But should they decide to reopen the case, and have the case internationally scrutinised, an unlikely scenario according to Assange’s Swedish lawyer Per E Samuelson, it would mean all attention would then be on Sweden. This would remove it from the UK – convenient for the UK government to wash its hands of Assange and not be the betrayer of international law and of journalists and whistle blowers everywhere.  Sweden could take that title.  Creasey’s letter embodies the anti-human rights narrative that rejects the decision of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) that Assange has been subjected to arbitrary detention. It is this anti-human rights narrative the British government is using to continue persecuting Assange by keeping him in stark prison conditions after years of confinement, while he now fights extradition.  To justify sentencing him to 12 months inside high-security Belmarsh prison for skipping bail seven years ago,  the court rejected his defense of asylum, despite the risk of persecution to Assange being more obvious than ever, vindicating his asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy.   We have an anti-human rights government in power and some courts are standing in line behind it giving away their independence and integrity to serve the war criminals hunting Assange.  MPs used the withdrawal of his Ecuadorian citizenship and asylum rights, an act recognised as unconstitutional and in violation of international law, as an opportunity to extradite Assange to Sweden from where he would be extradited to the US.  Once there he would face inhumane treatment, as warned by the UN rapporteur on torture.  This was a cowardly act by the MPs.  They have undermined asylum and human rights laws,  Creasey herself being a campaigner for asylum rights in Britain.   What’s more, they exploited the emotive progressive political and feminist outrage to ride rough shod over due process for Assange, while they stayed silent on the government’s use of sexual allegations for political gain, ‘a violation of law.’  Such are the “champions of action.”  The integrity of two individuals, publisher and whistleblower, has rocked the foundations of the most powerful who thought they were untouchable.  Their resilience against the uncivilised US beast and its supine servants puts to shame our liberal ‘progressive’ politicians who daren’t stray from mainstream narratives, no matter how corrupt or fake, through fear of disapproval.  “Whatever one might make of my principles and decisions, I shall continue to make hard choices and sacrifices rather than relinquish my ethical positions in exchange for mere trinkets of personal gain or self-pleasure in the form of being released.” – Chelsea Manning  MPs should demand an investigation into:  Author Nina Cross is an independent writer and researcher, and contributor to 21WIRE. To see more of her work, visit her Nina’s archive.


abcnews--2019-01-09--Former Guantanamo Bay commander indicted for obstructing justice in 2015 death

The former commander of the Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay has been indicted on federal charges of obstruction of justice related to the January, 2015 death of a base employee who had confronted the officer with allegations that he was having an affair with his wife. Christopher Tur was found drowned in the waters of Guantanamo Bay two days after confronting Captain John Nettleton about the alleged affair.  Nettleton was arraigned Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida exactly four years to the day that Tur disappeared following the confrontation and subsequent fight between the two men.  At the time, Nettleton was the commander of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Nettleton’s command did not include the detention facility at the base that is overseen by a one-star flag or general officer. Tur was a civilian employee of the commissary on the base.  According to the indictment, on the night of January 9, 2015 Tur confronted and yelled at Nettleton at a party at the Officers’ Club with allegations that the Naval officer had had an affair with his wife, Lara.  A short time later Tur went to Nettleton’s nearby residence and the two men engaged in a physical altercation that left Tur injured.  Investigators found texts from Nettleson's daughter, the only other person in the residence at the time, describing a loud commotion in the house. When she went to investigate she saw an unknown man hovering above her father, who was lying on the floor, attempting to use a cellphone.  The person that Tur phoned told investigators that Tur had told him he was "at the Skipper's house" and "just knocked out the Skipper."  Nettleson's daughter's texts described loud arguing and fighting that lasted for another half hour.  The next day Navy personnel went looking for Tur after he had not returned home.  Tur's body was found on January 11 floating in Guantanamo Bay after an intensive search at the base.  An autopsy determined he had drowned but had suffered fractured ribs and a laceration on his head.  From the moment the search for Nettlson began and throughout the subsequent investigation he did not mention to base personnel, investigators or his superior officer that Tur had last been seen at his home. He falsely claimed that he had last ween Tur at the Officers Club.  He also did not disclose that Tur had accused him of engaging in an affair with his wife, engaged in a physical fight at his home and that Tur had been injured.  Investigators later determined through DNA testing that blood stains found at Nettleson's home belonged to Tur. They also determined that Nettleson and Lara Tur had engaged in an affair in 2014.  Three weeks after Tur's disappearance Nettleson was relieved of command and placed in an administrative job in Jacksonville pending the results of a joint Naval Criminal Investigative Division and Justice Department investigation.  ABC News cited a U.S. official who said information had come to light during the investigation into Tur’s death that led the Navy to relieve Nettleton of command. The official said the investigation found that Nettleton had allegedly been having an affair with Tur’s wife Lara, the director of the Fleet and Family Services Center at the base.


breitbart--2019-08-20--Warren Emphasizes LGBT Protections in Criminal Justice Reform Plan

She echoed many of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) ideas, like ending cash bail, legalizing marijuana, eliminating private prisons, reducing the prisoner population, and implementing implicit bias training for officers. She also went squarely for Joe Biden’s (D) 1994 crime bill, calling for its repeal.  “The 1994 crime bill exacerbated incarceration rates in this country, punishing people more severely for even minor infractions, and limiting discretion in charging and sentencing in our judicial system,” she wrote, calling the “tough on crime” approach “wrong.”  “That punitive ‘tough on crime’ approach was wrong, it was a mistake, and it needs to be repealed,” she continued. “There are some sections of law, like those relating to domestic violence, that should be retained — but the bulk of the law must go.”  Unlike Sanders’ plan, however, Warren placed a significant emphasis on LGBT Americans, calling for the U.S. to “tackle” the problems within our criminal justice system by looking at the roots.  “That means implementing a set of bold, structural changes at all levels of government. And it starts by reimagining how we talk and think about public safety,” she wrote, using LGBTQ+ Americans as a key example:  “It should mean policies that recognize the humanity of trans people and other LGBTQ+ Americans and keep them safe from violence,” she wrote, later echoing Sanders’ call to “stop criminalizing homelessness,” which she says “disproportionately impact communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities”:  Housing provides safety and stability, but too many experience homelessness. To make matters worse, many cities have criminalized homelessness by banning behavior associated with it, like sleeping in public or living in vehicles. These laws draw people into the justice system instead of giving them access to the services they need. They disproportionately impact communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities, all of whom experience higher rates of homelessness. Rather than treating the homeless like criminals, we should get them with the resources they need to get back on their feet.  Warren also devoted an entire section to protecting “special populations,” including LGBTQ+ individuals.  “Vulnerable individuals like pregnant women, victims of domestic violence, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals often require special protections while behind bars,” she wrote.  “I’ll implement a rigorous auditing program to ensure that prisons are adhering to legal requirements to protect LGBTQ+ individuals and others from sexual violence and assault while incarcerated, and prosecute prison staff who engage in misconduct,” she added.  Ultimately, Warren calls for more “preventative” approaches to criminal justice reform, with a heavy emphasis on “reforming police behavior” and “demilitarizing” law enforcement in order to gain public trust:  Militarizing our police contributes to mutual fear and distrust, and there is evidence to suggest it can actually make officers themselves less safe. As President, I will eliminate the transfer of military-grade weapons and lethal equipment to local police via the 1033 program, prohibit local law enforcement from buying military equipment with federal funding, and create a buy-back program for equipment already in use in our communities.  “Our system is the result of choices we’ve made—choices that together stack the deck against the poor and the disadvantaged,” Warren wrote in a tweet Tuesday.   “We can create real law and order and real justice in our country by making long overdue big, structural change,” she added:


activistpost--2019-04-04--Chill the Fk Out Good Cop Stops Fellow Cops as They Horrifically Beat 3 Innocent Men

‘Chill the F**k Out!’: Good Cop Stops Fellow Cops as They Horrifically Beat 3 Innocent Men

Albany, NY — Utterly shocking body camera footage was released on Thursday showing what led to one officer’s arrest and felony assault charges and the suspension without pay of two others. What started over an alleged noise complaint quickly turned into a gang-style beat down of several innocent men.  On March 16, police were responding to a call over a loud party. When officers showed up, however, there was no loud party and all the lights inside the home were off. This wasn’t good enough for the cops, so one of them kicked the door into the home and ripped the occupant out onto the street and began beating him as he doused him in pepper spray.  For several moments, officers hold the man down as one of them kicks him repeatedly.  In total, three men were were all forced out into the street where they received this gang-style attack by uniformed assailants.  One of the most flagrant clips from the released footage shows officer Luke Deer shoving one of the men as he stood there with his hands in the air. Deer appears to snap and then jumps on top of the innocent man and starts savagely beating him.  As the footage shows, the man is not resisting and only trying to cover his face from the repeated blows being doled out by Deer. After his fists seemingly got tired, Deer then pulled out his baton and continued pummeling this innocent man.  The baton blows are so hard that the victim’s blood begins to splatter all over the concrete as he asks the raging cop why he is hitting him.  As another clip shows, two other officers—whose names have not been released—attack the other men and begin beating them.  The violence eventually becomes so unbearable that one cop felt it necessary to step in and stop it. As TFTP frequently points out, all too often police officers will do nothing as their fellow officers savagely beat innocent and often helpless and handcuffed individuals.  It appears in the video that these officers were going to do just that and beat these folks and get away with it. However, a good cop stepped in to stop it.  After Deer had his victim in handcuffs he jumps up in a fit of rage, seemingly ready to dish out more violence looking for anyone nearby that he can attack. At this point, we hear an officer yell at him to stop.  “Deer! Deer! Take a f*cking second! Chill the f*ck out, Deer!” the good cop says as he prevents the officer from hurting more innocent people.  Officer Deer appeared to be in a frenzy of rage ready to hurt anyone who was in front of him. Had this cop not stepped in to stop it, he may very well have beaten someone to death.  After the cops were done beating the innocent men, they arrested them all and brought false charges against them, all of which were dropped on Wednesday.  The first man who was seen getting pulled from the home was Lee Childs. He was charged with inciting a riot—for standing in his home with the lights out.  Armando Sanchez was the man with his hands up who was attacked by Deer. He was also charged with inciting a riot and resisting arrest.  Mario Gorostiza was also kidnapped and falsely charged. Had body camera footage of this incident not existed, all these bogus charges likely would have stuck as it was the word of these men against that of the uniformed officers. As for officer Deer, he has been arrested and charged with felony assault and official misconduct, a misdemeanor. He and his two fellow cronies who were also seen beating the innocent people have all been suspended without pay. “There are those in our community who believe that police always act responsibly and always tell the truth,” Alice Green of the Center for Law and Justice said Wednesday outside the courthouse, according to the Times Union. “Unfortunately, that’s not the case.” Below is one of the most egregious cases of police brutality TFTP has reported on in some time. It shows just how important filming police interactions is and serves as an example of why so many inner city people fear the cops. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project, where this article first appeared Steemit , and now on Minds.


activistpost--2019-07-23--Cops Mistakenly Raid Innocent Familys Home 3 TIMES in Just 4 Months

Cops Mistakenly Raid Innocent Family’s Home 3 TIMES in Just 4 Months

Chicago, IL — Because of their gross negligence and incompetence, the city of Chicago is facing a slew of lawsuits for raiding the homes of innocent people — allegedly by mistake. TFTP has reported on several of these lawsuits in which cops raided a four-year-old’s birthday party and held other children at gunpoint. Now, however, we have learned that one of these families has been raided — mistakenly — three times in just the last four months.  “There was no time to breathe in between,” said Krystal Archie, 38, whose home in the 6800 block of South Dorchester Ave has been repeatedly raided by incompetent and often extremely rude cops. “I’d get my house together, and they were back in my house.”  Al Hofeld Jr., whose law office represents multiple families who’ve been wrongfully raided by incompetent Chicago police, held a press conference Friday to address the issue.  “There is a silent epidemic of trauma being perpetrated upon the children and families of the South and West sides of our city by Chicago police barreling into the wrong homes, holding guns on children, handcuffing children … ,” Hofeld said.  Hofeld has filed half a dozen lawsuits in recent months, claiming in each that children have been traumatized by gun-wielding cops bursting into homes during raids. Each time police came to Archie’s home — between February and May — they came in search of illegal drugs and someone who doesn’t live in her apartment, according to the suit, filed in U.S. District Court. A spokesman for the city’s Law Department said Friday said he he had not seen the lawsuit and so could not comment. Archie said it has cost her hundreds of dollars every time she’s had to clean up after the police have come through. She says she expects them to come again.  “We have to now look over our shoulders, and who we look for to protect us … we can’t see them in that light any more,” she said.  Archie explained to FOX 43 that not only were the officers who repeatedly raided her home unapologetic, but they also made fun of the family as they held Archie and her four children, aged 7-14, at gunpoint.  Archie told FOX 43 that the officers burst in, pointed guns at their heads and destroyed the furniture. They also said the officers made jokes while raiding the home.  Archie’s children now live in constant fear of armed terrorists barging into their home at any time. Sadly, however, they have no recourse, because these armed terrorists are police officers.  According to FOX 43, when Archie asked police why they kept raiding her home, she said one officer told her they needed to figure out what was going on with her neighbors. She said he implied CPD was targeting her apartment because she had a connection to her neighbors, which she said she did not.  Police now claim to be investigating these raids, but if history is any indicator, it will have little to no effect on innocent families being terrorized by Chicago’s finest.  “Chicago police officers behave as if our children of color and their trauma is collateral damage in Chicago,” said Holfield.  And he’s right. As TFTP reported earlier this year, when Samari Broswell, 7, was celebrating her younger brother, TJ Broswell’s 4th birthday earlier this year, she never expected to see 17 heavily armed cops come smashing through her door. However, thanks to a severe case of police incompetence, that is exactly what happened.  Now, just like Archie’s family, this family is left traumatized while people who claim to ‘protect’ them instead ignore them and continue the same practice. In the Broswell’s case, police claim video from officer-worn body cameras showing the horrifying raid simply went “missing.”  But that is not all.  On March 15, Alberta Wilson says Chicago police woke her up, along with her four children as cops forced their way into her home. It was below freezing outside with ice on the ground and despite this fact, the entire family was forced from the home and made to stand in the freezing rain.  Thinking he was a threat, the cops even handcuffed Wilson’s 8-year-old son Royal, who was also forced to stand in the freezing cold.  “They are afraid to go to the washroom, they are afraid to sleep by themselves, they are very nervous and jump,” Wilson said of her children after the raid.  Also, just last August, two little boys who used to look up to police were traumatized and their view of police tarnished after a SWAT team burst into their home at night and held the entire family at gunpoint, including the children. The family was innocent and just like the above cases, the raid was on the wrong home.


activistpost--2019-08-24--Houston Cop Who Lied About Raid that Killed Innocent CoupleCharged with Murder

Houston Cop Who Lied About Raid that Killed Innocent Couple—Charged with Murder

Houston, TX — The murder of an innocent Houston couple made national headlines earlier this year as police took to smearing their names and threatening those who didn’t believe their official narrative. As the months passed, we learned that the Houston police department’s raid on the home of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas was based on lies and they were murdered for no reason. In May, the case had reached a turning point after the family hired a forensics expert to examine the home and found that there is no evidence the officers encountered gunfire. And, moments ago, the cop who lied to attain the warrant for the raid—was charged with murder in the first degree.  Ex-case agent Gerald Goines on Friday was hit with two counts of felony murder and is still under investigation over claims he stole guns, drugs and money, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced at a news conference downtown. His partner, Steven Bryant, was also charged with one count of witness tampering. Both men are expected to turn themselves in by the end of the day, but prosecutors said a review of more than 14,000 cases and a broader investigation into the rest of the squad is still underway.  “We have not seen a case like this in Houston,” Ogg said. “I have not seen a case like this in my 30-plus years of practicing law.”  “Based on everything we’ve seen so far, that’s certainly something that should happen,” Mike Doyle, an attorney representing family members said, “but it really can’t be the ending point based on what we’ve uncovered so far.”  As we reported in March, these lying cops could be responsible for putting away hundreds of innocent people. Houston District Attorney Kim Ogg previously announced that 1,400 cases tied to Officer Goines are in question. And now, her office estimates that at least 800 more cases could be tainted which are tied to Bryant.  It is important to point out that the only likely reason these officers have been charged is because outside sources in the family stepped up and not only demanded answers but found them.  According to the forensics experts hired by the family of the victims, the officers who suffered bullet wounds during the raid on the innocent couple’s home were shot by their fellow cops. This is a direct challenge to the official narrative which states the officers were forced to kill the couple after the couple opened fire on them.  It is important to point out that even if the couple did open fire on the officers, the officers were in plainclothes when they kicked in the door to the home and fired first and killed their dog. However, this appears to never have happened.  According to police, when they kicked in the door to the home they were forced to shoot the couple’s dog, at which point Tuttle grabbed his .357 Magnum revolver and opened fire on the officers. Then, according to police, Nicholas moved in to disarm one of the officers, so they shot and killed her. However, according to the forensics experts, there is no evidence of this.  Furthermore, the forensics team noted that police never really investigated the crime scene and left behind mountains of evidence showing what really transpired.  “It doesn’t appear that they took the basic steps to confirm and collect the physical evidence to know whether police were telling the truth,” said attorney Mike Doyle. “That’s the whole point of forensic scene documentation. That’s the basic check on people just making stuff up.”  The independent forensic investigation was conducted over the course of four days by forensic expert Mike Maloney, a retired supervisory special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  His findings were nothing short of bombshell and imply that the Houston police department is engaged in a massive cover-up.  As the Houston Chronicle reported, “though police said they started shooting when the dog lunged as they came through the door, Maloney’s forensics team found that the dog was shot and killed at the edge of the dining room, 15 feet from the front door. Authorities never picked up the shotgun shell when they collected evidence.”  What’s more, the forensics team found no evidence that bullets were fired from the back of the house, where police claim Tuttle opened fire on them, toward the front door, where police claim they were shot.  “The initial bullet trajectories appear to be somewhat contradictory,” said Louisiana-based attorney Chuck Bourque, who is also representing the Nicholas family. “We see no evidence that anybody inside the house was firing toward the door.”  The bullet holes through the front of the house, that police claim came from the inside, were actually fired from outside the home at least a foot away, into the house, according to the forensics team.  “You can’t see into the house from there,” Bourque said, “you’re firing into the house through a wall.”  Randomly firing through a wall into a house where your fellow cops are standing is a good way to shoot your fellow cops. While the forensics team didn’t speculate, the evidence points to a story that unfolded far differently than what police are saying. And now, police are acting on the actual story.  It appears that when police kicked in the door and began shooting, the officers outside the home began firing into the home, shooting both cops and the innocent couple in the process. Thinking they were under fire from the couple, the other cops then shot and killed Tuttle and Nicholas. Even more damning is the fact that the forensics team found no evidence Tuttle’s .357 was ever fired in the home and the only bullets pulled from the walls were .223 and .45 caliber—which came from police. The forensics team also noted that the amount of evidence left behind by police was overwhelming, which means there was no way they could’ve actually conducted a thorough enough investigation to determine if the officers were telling the truth. “I can’t explain why all that was left — that sounds like something only the Houston Police Department and investigators can answer,” said former Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland. “If that evidence is connected to that shooting scene, I’d certainly be asking questions.” Sam Walker, a criminal justice professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, called it “sloppy” and said the uncollected evidence raises other questions, according to the Chronicle. “How many people have been convicted over the years as a result of sloppy investigations which failed to collect evidence that was there that would have exonerated the suspect?” he asked. “If they do it in this kind of a homicide case, what do they do in other kinds of investigations?” Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project, where this article first appeared. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds. Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Follow us on Minds, Twitter, Steemit, and SoMee. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month. Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2019-09-23--Watch as Cops Record Themselves Making Up Fake Charges to Kidnap Innocent Man Steal His Car

Watch as Cops Record Themselves Making Up Fake Charges to Kidnap Innocent Man, Steal His Car

Jasper, GA — If you still have any doubt that police are here just for your protection, the following video should be enough to convince you otherwise. An entirely innocent man, Charles A. Spradlin had committed no crime, had harmed no one, and was on his own property when two Georgia State Troopers illegally stopped him, kidnapped him, and stole his vehicle. The gross violation of rights was captured on video as the two troopers discussed the various ways to accomplish their illegal goals. The trooper’s conduct is now the subject of a federal lawsuit.  This infuriatingly corrupt incident unfolded on March 26, 2016 when Spradlin got a call from his neighbor — whose son happened to be killed by police — letting him know that officers had set up a checkpoint near his home. According to the lawsuit, Spradlin then got in his car, drove to the end of his driveway and parked on a hill to see where the checkpoint was. When he didn’t see it, he turned around and drove back to his home.  Spradlin would never make it back to his house, however, because Georgia State Trooper TFC Jonathan Salcedo pulled him over, kidnapped him and stole his car.  As the video shows, Salcedo admits that he pulled over Spradlin because he saw him turn around. It is not illegal to turn around. And, according to the lawsuit, Spradlin turned into an adjacent driveway, used his turn signal and obeyed all traffic laws. But this was irrelevant to this tyrant.  Salcedo immediately began to berate Spradlin, accusing him of violating a law that the trooper had just made up: turning around before a checkpoint. Spradlin told the trooper why he drove to the end of his driveway — to get a view of the police checkpoint — but the trooper couldn’t have cared less. He was going to make sure he turned this man’s day into a living hell.  As the video shows, Spradlin confirmed to the trooper that he had a driver’s license and asked for the basis of Officer Salcedo’s stop. According to the lawsuit, officer Salcedo became visibly agitated and told Spradlin to turn around and put his hands behind his back.” Spradlin was then handcuffed and locked in the backseat of the cruiser.  The officers then proceeded to illegally search the man’s vehicle. It wasn’t the search that was most infuriating, however. It was the troopers discussing what they could charge this innocent man with.  “Looks like his tires are worn, that’s our P.C. (probable cause) right there,” one trooper says. Worn tires are not probable cause for a stop and even if it was, this trooper had no way of seeing worn tires while the vehicle was in motion.  The officers then call their supervisor and ask him for permission to continue to violate this man’s rights. As the video shows, they were clueless of the law and were scrambling for a reason to kidnap this man.  “Let’s check his window tint,” the cop said, continuing to fish for something to find on Spradlin. The cops then illegally proceeded to search Spradlin’s vehicle, without his consent and against their supervisor’s orders. When asked by Spradlin why they were searching his vehicle, they claimed it was an “inventory” and not a “search.”  As the officers continue their illegal detainment, they turn off their recording devices in what was was likely an illegal conversation to figure out how to kidnap an innocent man and steal his car. When the mics turn back on, Spradlin is told his vehicle is being impounded and he is being arrested.  Police then stole Spradlin’s car and kidnapped him, falsely charging him with failure to display license, obstruction of justice, and having unsafe tires. It took two days for Spradlin to get his car back after he had to make bail and pay a $200 impound fee.  Three weeks later, according to the lawsuit, during a preliminary hearing on April 14, 2016, a judge dismissed the obstruction of justice charge because there was “not in fact evidence to sustain that a reasonable person would believe that a crime was committed.” He also dismissed the unsafe tire charge because there was “never any testimony that [the tires] were below 2/32 of an inch.” The prosecution later dropped the failure to display license charge.  Spradlin is now suing Salcedo for violations of his Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendment rights and he will likely win as the judge has already dismissed Salcedo’s claim for immunity.


activistpost--2019-11-14--Innocent Mom Speaks Out After She Was Kidnapped, Interrogated for Speaking Spanish

Havre, MT — Ana Suda and Martha “Mimi” Hernandez are both U.S.-born citizens who grew up in Texas and California respectively. But their lifelong citizenship and complete lack of criminal record would have no bearing on a US Border patrol agent hell-bent on taking ‘dangerous’ Spanish speaking women off the streets of Havre, Montana. Since that fateful day on which these women were detained for speaking Spanish, Suda says her life has become a nightmare.  As TFTP reported at the time, the incident happened on May 18, 2018, as Suda and Hernandez stood in line at a local grocery store. The two ladies were having a friendly conversation—in Spanish—an entirely legal and common activity which takes place in most grocery stores everyday in this country. However, the Border Patrol Agent in line behind them, saw their conversation as nefarious. He just knew they were evil criminal scum.  As the two innocent US citizens checked out at the register, this “hero” public servant demanded to know where they were born. Remember, they had done nothing wrong and were simply speaking Spanish. Still, Suda and Hernandez complied and told the officer they were born in Texas and California. But he did not believe them.  The agent then demanded the two women hand over their driver’s licenses which were apparently not enough to get them immediately on their way. The two innocent US citizens were then held against their will—otherwise known as kidnapping—by US Border Patrol Agents who completely humiliated them in front of their friends and neighbors.  “After Mimi and I told the officer that we were born in the U.S.,” Suda explained. “he demanded that we show identification. I didn’t feel like I could say no since he was in uniform and armed. We gave him our Montana driver’s licenses and then followed him outside into the store’s parking lot as directed. ”  During their illegal detainment, Suda and Hernandez were interrogated as if they were criminals. The scene is something akin to the era of “papers please” as these entirely innocent women were temporarily kidnapped and forced to prove they weren’t “illegal” human beings who should be shipped off to some ‘camp’.  Had they been “illegal,” the stop was still unconstitutional, as speaking Spanish is most assuredly not probable cause for detainment. Even if a person speaks no English at all, the state cannot detain them for it.  Nevertheless, this tyrant agent had no problem telling the women why he had taken them into custody. When Suda and Hernandez asked him why they were being humiliated and interrogated, the officer responded with brutal honesty.  Suda explained that, “Agent O’Neal — the name on his badge — got on his car radio and asked for backup, as if two moms holding a carton of eggs were a threat. As we stood there, I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach. I told him that I was going to start filming on my cell phone. Then I made a simple request, ‘Can you tell us in video why you asked for our ID’s please.’”  “He said it was because, ‘You guys are speaking Spanish which is very unheard of up here,’” said Suda.  For nearly an hour, Suda and Hernandez were held captive as other armed agents showed up in their uniforms and carrying guns—to investigate two American soccer moms—a shameful act indeed.  Now, Suda is speaking out. In an interview with BBC, Suda says she and her family have faced constant harassment over the video of her rights-violating incident. She was forced to move and her family is now separated.  Suda and Hernandez’ case is now the subject of an ACLU lawsuit as their detention was unlawful, unconstitutional, and entirely uncalled for.  Sadly, Hernandez says that her family has also been harassed repeatedly and have received hateful messages from people across the country.  Their children are even feeling the effects of this disgusting madness.  “At his high school, a teacher asked Mimi’s son whether he had brought his ID to class. My 8-year-old daughter is scared to speak Spanish and has started responding to me in English when I ask her questions,” said Suda.  Below is the infuriating and saddening video from last year.  Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project, where this article first appeared. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.  Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.  Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2019-12-13--“Drug Recognition Experts” Arresting Innocent, Sober People for DUI at Alarming Rate All Based on a

“Drug Recognition Experts” Arresting Innocent, Sober People for DUI at Alarming Rate All Based on a Hunch

As TFTP has reported on numerous occasions, motorists in police state USA are snagging DUI charges for being stone-cold sober. Roadside extortionists with badges calling themselves “experts” are the main culprits, according to several sources. Now, it seems, mainstream news media outlets are catching up on the sanctioned extortion and bravely reporting on the phenomena.  According to ABC 15 Arizona, stone-cold sober drivers in Phoenix, AZ are getting DUIs and have to spend thousands of dollars proving their innocence. It seems the source of the misunderstandings and illegitimate arrests, once again, come from Drug Recognition Experts (DRE), cops with badges and fancy titles who claim they can look at a motorist and on observation alone determine if someone is impaired.  You’d have to be God to know if someone is under the influence by simply looking at them. With that being the issue, worse still is the fact the DRE’s testimony often holds up in court without so much as a failed breathalyzer or a dirty toxicology report showing alcohol and drugs in someone’s system.  One Phoenix cop in particular, Officer David Morris, has made 56 DUI arrests since April 2018. In a state which annually doles out over 21,000 DUIs per year, Morris’ numbers are not all that astounding. It’s just that several of his alleged perpetrators whom he arrested for DUI were absolutely, completely, 100 percent, sober.  Tasha McConnell said her DUI was traumatizing. She said she was pulled over for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign but that Morris wanted to dig into her drug history immediately asking her what drugs she was taking, prescription or otherwise. He told her that “eye tremors” were giving her away and his supposed DRE experience made an expert at determining impairment. McConnell told the press:  Mike Toth also got arrested and charged for DUI after revealing to Morris he was taking antacids for his acid reflux. The officers involved in his arrest allegedly told him even acid pills could impair his judgement. Seriously. Originally pulled over for failing to maintain his lane, Toth described what happened next.  Incredulously, Phoenix PD and its leaders fail to see a problem in their officers’ actions in depriving people of their freedom, humiliating them, forcing them to lose sleep, and fight for their good name. No, the chain of command seems more content with business as usual than ensuring the public is fairly protected against unlawful arrests, searches, and seizures. Phoenix PD Detective Kemp Layden defended his DRE officers’ actions saying, in effect, even though the motorists’ blood tests were clean, there’s still doubt as to whether or not they’re impaired. Layden said:  Kemp and his so-called “experts” (phony experts according to many police accountability activists) quite possibly may be the latest iteration in policing for profit. Here’s the possible scam. Get enough cops certified as “experts” at detecting drugs and the system can be flooded with many more DUI cases, fattening the wallets of DUI lawyers, filling the prosecutors’ dockets, enriching the court by way of court fees, and getting the crooked judges who go along with it to easily get reelected for being “tough on crime”. Yeah right! It’s the antithesis of being tough on crime. It’s actually condoning highway robbery!  Let’s face it. Experts are developed, not rubber stamped. They’re learned, educated people who can lecture on a topic without referring to their notes. What they are not are high-school graduate cops who can sniff out drugs better than a drug dog by filling out a checklist and declaring someone to be under the influence. It’s one of the scariest scams we’re aware of, and we’ve reported on it many times before in states all across the union.  Our readers may remember a Buckeye, AZ cop who was also a DRE. He believed a child with Autism was under the influence of drugs while he was stimming, fidgeting with his string. It’s what some autistic kids do to de-stress. Officer David Grossman threw the boy down to the ground, injuring him to the point of surgery, and costing the taxpayers $5 million dollars when they sued. Yeah…that kind of expert…the kind who cannot tell an autistic kid from a meth head.  We interviewed a mid-30s Colorado man who got a DUI in Phoenix while as sober as the day is long. He stated he got a DUI one evening while serving as the designated driver for his friend squad. Unfortunately for David (not his real name for fear of retaliation), a Phoenix police officer pulled him over, gave him a field sobriety test, which he failed, and cited him for DUI.  David says he failed the roadside tests because he has a debilitating physical condition called vertigo and he simply has difficulty balancing on his feet. David claims his ailment in no way affects his driving. He says he blew .000 on the breathalyzer, and even with a clean toxicology report, the DUI stuck.  That’s right America. The cops who are sworn to protect and serve your constitutional rights are the same ones who can lie and say you’re impaired without any proof, and it will stand up in a court of law. That’s precisely why we need police activists and accountability advocates. The DRE scam is one such example of how cops are getting away with expert extortion and there’s not a damn thing anyone can do about it.  Jack Burns is an educator, journalist, investigative reporter, and advocate of natural medicine. This article was sourced from The Free Thought Project.  Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.  Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2019-12-20--Watch as Cops Frame Innocent Brothers for Cocaine, Try to Destroy Video — But it Survived

New York, NY — To all those who make the bogus claim of “if you don’t do anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about,” consider the following case as even more evidence of how ridiculous that assertion is. Two innocent brothers were framed by NYPD cops who were caught on video destroying video evidence of their egregious act. Luckily for the brothers, the hard drive in the video recorder survived and it caught these badged criminals in the act.  Earlier this year, apparent criminals with the NYPD’s gang unit executed a search warrant on a store owned by two brothers. The entrepreneurs had committed no crime, were conducting 100% legal business, yet they were kidnapped by officers and caged for over a month on false charges.  The cops accused the brothers of having a large amount of cocaine and when they were booked into jail, the DA’s office provided no documentation and asked for the two brothers to be held without bail.  “It was the worst day of my life,” said one of the brothers, who asked not to be identified by name, according to NBC 4. “We never had drugs in the store,” he added.  Highlighting the level of criminality associated with this raid is the fact that the cops used the notoriously faulty field test kits to test the “cocaine.” As TFTP has reported on numerous occasions, tens of thousands have been convicted and served time for crimes they didn’t commit because the cases against them relied on horribly unreliable field drug test kits. So prone to errors are the tests, courts won’t allow their submission as evidence. However, they are continued to be used by law enforcement, needlessly ruining thousands of lives.  This time, however, the test kits showed that the substance tested was not drugs. Yes, you read that correctly. The cheap faulty kit actually returned a negative result for cocaine, but the cops arrested the innocent brothers anyway and had them locked up without bail.  The brothers would spend over a month in jail before lab tests for cocaine came back negative. All the charges were then dropped, but their lives and business had been ruined by their absence. When the brothers finally went back to their store, they found that cops had left behind the field test kits — which all showed negative results. That wasn’t the only thing cops left behind either. As NBC New York reports:  Attorney Marvyn Kornberg, a criminal attorney who represents the brothers, said, “It’s a unit gone wild, that’s what it says to me. They think they’re above the law. They’re ripping out cameras. What are they afraid of the public seeing?”  Naturally, the NYPD, who claims this incident is “under investigation,” said they destroyed the cameras for “tactical” reasons.  “That’s ridiculous,” said Richard Rivera, a former police officer in West New York, New Jersey, who is now a police tactics expert, according to NBC 4.  “They could have covered the cameras. The way they come in doesn’t indicate that any of them is concerned about a remote feed. They’re not worried about security. It’s like a walk in the park to them,” he said, noting that there is no legitimate reason to destroy evidence in that manner.  “This whole incident is a huge mess for them,” he said. “If this is an ongoing drug case, they would want to preserve the evidence, not destroy it, and that’s exactly what they did.”  When asked why they would recommend no bail for the brothers, the DA’s officer pointed the finger back at the NYPD, saying they relied on their word that the claims were true. Unfortunately for the brothers, this blind trust in badged criminals would land them in a cage for over a month.  To date, the brothers still have no idea why these criminals from the NYPD showed up at their store that day. As part of their lawsuit against the city, they have demanded prosecutors turn over the underlying basis for the search warrant. They have also filed a notice of claim to sue the city and the taxpayers will undoubtedly be held liable for these criminal cops.  Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.  Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.  Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


birminghammail--2019-01-13--Innocent dad has Universal Credit stopped - because civil servants think hes in Birmingham Prison

Innocent dad has Universal Credit stopped - because civil servants think he's in Birmingham Prison

An innocent single dad had his Universal Credit stopped – because civil servants said he was in Birmingham Prison.  Lee Carroll said the wrangle with bureaucrats was the worst experience of his life.  The 36-year-old, who lives on Merseyside with his ten-year-old daughter, said he was left feeling "like a criminal" as his claims of innocence fell on deaf ears.  He even held his phone up so the civil servants he was dealing with could hear the noise of everyday life in a bid to prove he was not in the Winson Green jail.  Lee, who works in a Novotel in Liverpool, said: “I have never been in prison, on bail, or wanted by police.  “I was made to feel like I had done something wrong, like I was a criminal. I even said to them how can I be ringing you now on my mobile from prison, when prisoners don’t have mobiles?  “And I put the phone up so they could hear noise in the background of traffic and music, while I was walking through town.’”  Lee told the Liverpool Echo he went to police for help, wrote to his MP and contacted Action Fraud. He added: “I told the DWP my employer had said she would send in a letter and told them to check my earnings.  “I said I could fax them over, but they just left me with no money.”  He contacted the Department for Work and Pensions after he noticed his monthly payment had been suspended.  But an advisor told him he would not be receiving the money because “he was in prison in Birmingham”.  It is believed the error was caused because another man with the same name and date of birth as Lee was on the system.  Now the DWP has apologised and said the mistake was caused by an “administrative error”.  Lee, who was due a £751 payment in January, said: “It is the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my whole life.  “I knew I was going to get the payment on a certain date so you sort of budget for that date.  “All my last wage in December went on Christmas and council tax. I don’t have family I can turn to for help.  “I am one of those people that is going out to work to save them money and then they do this. I get up and go to work and still take my daughter to school. It is just shocking what they have done.”  A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “ We have apologised to Mr Carroll for this administrative error and reinstated his benefit payments immediately.”


birminghammail--2019-03-18--Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya declares shes innocent in first video since release from jail

Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya declares she's 'innocent' in first video since release from jail

Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya has vowed to continue as a "voice of change in Parliament" in her first video to be published since she was released from prison.  In the clip, posted on her social media channels the day before the start of a petition that could unseat her, she claims that she is innocent of perverting the course of justice.  The Peterborough MP was found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey and was sentenced to three months in prison.  The 35-year-old, who was elected as a Labour MP, served just 28 days for lying about who was driving her car when it was caught speeding in July 2017.  She was released on February 26.  Ms Onasanya, a solicitor, still received her £77,379 salary while in jail despite missing votes in the Commons.  In the video, posted on Monday, she says: "I am telling you I am innocent and will continue to pursue avenues to clear my name.  "If you wish for me to continue as your independent Member of Parliament I am willing and able to do so but the choice is now in your hands.  "I would like to say I have a deep gratitude to all who have offered prayers, support and love during this difficult period of time over the past few months and also say to you all, thank you.  "I will continue to be your voice of change in Parliament for as long as you wish me to do so and if you do wish me to do so I can tell you I will continue to lobby Government, I will continue to fight for social justice with all of the veracity and power that I have been so far, and continue to be your voice, because you deserve nothing less."  Jurors at the Old Bailey were told that she colluded with her brother Festus after her car was clocked speeding at 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney, near Peterborough, in July 2017.  She was sent a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) to fill out, but it was sent back naming the guilty driver as Aleks Antipow, an acquaintance of her brother, who was away visiting his parents in Russia.  Festus Onasanya, 34, from Cambridge, was jailed for 10 months after he admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including the July 24 incident.  Ms Onasanya claims in the video, posted on Monday, that her defence "was never put across in the media".  Giving evidence at her trial, Ms Onasanya said that when she received the notice of intended prosecution (NIP) she left it at her mother's house for whoever had borrowed her car to complete, assuming she had been in London.  She said that while being pursued over the NIP she suffered a relapse of multiple sclerosis and was admitted to hospital for three days, and said that when she asked her brother about the ticket he told her it was all "sorted".  Ms Onasanya appealed against her conviction, but this was thrown out at the Royal Courts of Justice.  A recall petition will be opened on Tuesday and voters will have six weeks to sign before it closes at 5pm on May 1.  If it attracts the signatures of 10% of eligible voters, about 7,000 people, Ms Onasanya will be forced out and a by-election called.  Under recall rules, Ms Onasanya will be permitted to stand for re-election.


breaking911--2019-11-27--Cop Convicted of Excessive Force After Innocent Man Was Kicked Into Critical Condition While Being B

Cop Convicted of Excessive Force After Innocent Man Was Kicked Into Critical Condition While Being Bit By K9

Today, a federal jury convicted Brett Palkowitsch, 32, an officer with the St. Paul Police Department, of using excessive force against an unarmed civilian.  “The behavior of the defendant will not be tolerated and the Department of Justice will seek to prosecute those who abuse their power,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “We commend the officers who came forward and brought about the opening of the investigation. We also thank our law enforcement partners who assisted in this case.”  “Law enforcement officers receive certain powers from the government so they can protect the rights of the citizens they serve,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge, Jill Sanborn. “When an individual officer’s actions violate that trust, he or she should be held accountable which the jury confirmed with today’s verdict. We thank all those who assisted on this case,” Sanborn added.  The evidence presented at trial established that the Defendant and other officers responded to a 911 call alleging that an unidentified black male with dreadlocks and a white t-shirt had been involved in a street fight and was carrying a gun. Upon their arrival on scene, officers found no evidence of any street fight, but they noticed one man who matched that general description, sitting in his car talking on a cellphone. One of the responding officers, along with his police K-9, approached the man’s car and, without identifying himself as a police officer, yelled at the man to get out. The man, later identified as Frank Baker, got out of the car, as the officer yelled commands and the police K-9 barked loudly at him. Seven seconds later, the officer released the K-9, which took Mr. Baker to the ground and began mauling his leg. While Baker was on the ground, screaming in pain, the Defendant arrived and kicked Baker three times in the ribs. The defendant’s kicks broke seven of Baker’s ribs and caused both of his lungs to collapse, putting him in critical condition. Officers found no gun at the scene and no evidence that Baker, a 52-year-old grandfather who lived in the neighborhood, had been involved in any fight.  Two of the officers who witnessed the defendant’s actions that night, Officers Joseph Dick and Anthony Spencer, reported the Defendant to their supervisor. Dick and Spencer both testified for the government at trial, about the defendant’s use of force and about harassment and retaliation they suffered after stepping forward to report a fellow officer. Dick, Spencer, and a third officer from the scene told the jury that they saw no legitimate reason for the defendant’s kicks. Additionally, officers testified that the defendant boasted afterward about having kicked Baker.  Following more than two weeks of trial, the jury in the U.S. District Court in St. Paul, MN, deliberated for 11 hours before finding the Defendant guilty of using excessive force.  The Defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.


chicagotribune--2019-11-21--An Illinois man spent two decades in prison for a murder he didn’t commit but ‘never gave up hope.’

An Illinois man spent two decades in prison for a murder he didn’t commit but ‘never gave up hope.’ A judge just declared him innocent.

Wrongful conviction experts said while it’s not unusual for prosecutors to take no position on attempts by former defendants to get certificates of innocence, it is rare for a state’s attorney to actually advocate for one. Rowe said he made the choice after having an officer from the Kankakee Police Department take a look at the case with fresh eyes.


democracynow--2019-11-06--Is Texas About to Execute an Innocent Man? Rodney Reed's Family Demands Retrial Amid New Evidence

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.  AMY GOODMAN: The state of Texas is facing growing calls to halt the execution of Rodney Reed, an African-American man who spent over 20 years in prison for a rape and murder he says he did not commit. A group of 26 Texas lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, penned a letter this week asking Governor Greg Abbott to stop the execution planned for November 20th. More than a 1.4 million people have signed an online petition to save Reed’s life. Supporters include celebrities Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna and Meek Mill.  Rodney Reed was sentenced to die after being convicted by an all-white jury for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites, a 19-year-old white woman. The two were having an affair at the time. But substantial evidence has since emerged implicating Stites’ fiancé, a white police officer named Jimmy Fennell, who was later jailed on kidnapping and rape charges in another case. In a major development, a man who spent time in jail with Fennell signed an affidavit last month asserting that Fennell had admitted in prison he killed his fiancée because she was having an affair with a black man.  Later in the show, we’ll be joined by Rodney Reed’s brother and sister-in-law. But first, let’s turn to the documentary A Plea for Justice, made by Filmmakers for Justice.  AMY GOODMAN: An excerpt from A Plea for Justice about the Rodney Reed case. Last month, the popular daytime TV host Dr. Phil aired an interview he did with Rodney Reed on death row.  AMY GOODMAN: Rodney Reed, speaking on the Dr. Phil show ahead of his execution scheduled for November 20th.  Well, I recently sat down with Rodney Reed’s brother and sister-in-law, who we’ll hear from later in the show. They recently came to our studio along with Bryce Benjet, a senior attorney at the Innocence Project. I began by asking Bryce Benjet to lay out the story.  AMY GOODMAN: Bryce Benjet, senior attorney at the Innocence Project. His client Rodney Reed is scheduled to be executed by the state of Texas November 20th. When we come back, we’ll be joined by Rodney Reed’s brother and sister-in-law. Stay with us.  AMY GOODMAN: “Mercy, Mercy Me” by Marvin Gaye. This is Democracy Now! I’m Amy Goodman, as we continue to look at the case of Rodney Reed, the African-American man scheduled to be executed November 20th by the state of Texas for a murder and rape he says he did not commit. Growing evidence shows Reed was framed as part of a cover-up to protect a white police officer, Jimmy Fennell, who killed his own fiancée, Stacey Stites. More than 1.4 million people have signed an online petition to save Reed’s life. I recently sat down with two members of Rodney Reed’s family: his brother Rodrick Reed and his sister-in-law Uwana Akpan, as well as Rodney Reed’s attorney, Bryce Benjet of the Innocence Project. I asked Rodrick Reed how it felt to have his brother face the death penalty all these years.  AMY GOODMAN: That’s Rodney Reed’s brother Rodrick Reed, Rodney’s sister-in-law Uwana Akpan and his attorney Bryce Benjet of the Innocence Project. Rodney Reed is scheduled to be executed by the state of Texas November 20th for the murder of Stacey Stites in 1996. In late October, Reed’s legal team filed an application for clemency with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles after a man revealed that Stacey Stites’ fiancé, Jimmy Fennell, a white ex-police officer, had admitted to the murder while he was in prison for another crime. I want to end with the words of Rodney Reed speaking recently from death row to Dr. Phil.  AMY GOODMAN: That’s Rodney Reed speaking to Dr. Phil on death row in Texas. Rodney Reed is scheduled to be executed by the state of Texas November 20th.  When we come back, we look at election results from around the United States with John Nichols of The Nation. Stay with us.


freedombunker--2019-01-17--Watch a Florida Cop Botch a Drug Field Test on Video Then Arrest an Innocent Man

Watch a Florida Cop Botch a Drug Field Test on Video, Then Arrest an Innocent Man

Body camera footage obtained by Reason appears to show a now-fired Florida sheriff's deputy blatantly lying about the results of a roadside drug test during a traffic stop last year.  The video shows the April 17, 2018, traffic stop of Florida resident Steve Vann by former Jackson County Sheriff's deputy Zachary Wester. Vann was subsequently charged with possession of methamphetamines and paraphernalia as a result of the traffic stop, but state prosecutors later dropped those charges as part of a review of more than 250 cases that Wester was involved in since his hiring in 2016.  State prosecutors have dropped criminal charges in more than 100 cases involving Wester after body cam footage released last September showed the officer allegedly planting drugs in a car during another traffic stop. A Florida judge also vacated the sentences of eight people whose convictions were based on evidence and testimony by Wester. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an investigation into Wester, and several people have filed federal lawsuits against him.  In the body cam footage obtained by Reason of Vann's arrest last year, Wester searches Vann's truck after pulling him over for a traffic violation and appears to find a small plastic baggie in the vehicle's center console.  "Honesty is going to go a long way with me," Wester tells Vann, holding up the baggie. "Have you ever seen this before?"  "No, no what is that?" Vann says. "Where'd you get that?"  "The center console," Wester says as he walks back to his cruiser to perform a roadside test of the baggie for methamphetamines.  "There ain't no way, man," a distraught Vann says. "Oh my god, you gotta be fucking kidding me."  Wester then uses a Nark II field test for methamphetamines and MDMA. According to the manufacturer, the field test "will develop an IMMEDIATE (within 2 seconds) Dark Blue color as a positive reaction after breakage and agitation of the 3rd ampoule. If the color development is an immediate Pink slowly transforming to Lavender, you DO NOT have either Methamphetamine or MDMA."  Wester shakes the field test for about 10 seconds, checking it several times, but it remains red. Looking right at the small bag of pinkish red liquid, Wester then says "blue" and returns to Vann to tell him the substance tested presumptively positive for methamphetamines. The field test occurs at roughly the 3:45 mark in the video above.  The Jackson County Sheriff's Office confirmed to Reason that it uses the Nark II field test and that a positive result for methamphetamines should turn the solution blue.  Wester presses Vann to admit that he knew the meth was in his car, but Vann, breaking into tears at several points, continues to deny knowing where it came from. He appears confused and devastated throughout the exchange.  "I'm going to have to take your vehicle, too," Wester tells Vann. "Listen buddy, I don't think you're a bad guy."  At one point, at around 11 minutes 50 seconds into the footage, Wester drops some of Vann's personal effects into the trunk of his police cruiser, at which point he picks up the field test and looks at it again. It's still clearly red.  The Tallahassee Democrat first reported last September that local prosecutors were dropping dozens of cases involving Wester after body cam footage appeared to show him planting a small baggie of meth in a woman's car during a traffic stop.  The Democrat later published accounts by several other people who claimed they were framed by Wester during traffic stops. Before joining the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Wester was fired from his previous job at the Liberty County Sheriff's Office for for inappropriate relations with women, the newspaper reported.  In 2016, The New York Times reported that the $2 roadside field tests that Wester and countless other police officers around the country use to establish probable cause to arrest someone for drug possession are unreliable and easy to misinterpret:  There are no established error rates for the field tests, in part because their accuracy varies so widely depending on who is using them and how. Data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab system show that 21 percent of evidence that the police listed as methamphetamine after identifying it was not methamphetamine, and half of those false positives were not any kind of illegal drug at all. In one notable Florida episode, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies produced 15 false positives for methamphetamine in the first seven months of 2014. When we examined the department's records, they showed that officers, faced with somewhat ambiguous directions on the pouches, had simply misunderstood which colors indicated a positive result.  Such tests are not admissible evidence in court in most jurisdictions in the U.S. Instead, samples are sent to state forensic labs for verification.  Many of Wester's victims had prior criminal records for things like drug possession. They were, in other words, easy targets. No one would believe their word against a police officer's. If Wester hadn't been wearing a body cam, and if he hadn't of been sloppy enough to film his amateur sleight-of-hand attempts and lies, all of their charges would likely stand, and he would still be patrolling the streets.