Philly Cops Sued For Busting Photographers

Still shy, are we?

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and co-counsel filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of Christopher Montgomery, a Philadelphia resident who was arrested for using his cellphone to record an arrest.  The police also erased the video he had made.  This is the first in a series of lawsuits arguing that Philadelphia police officers routinely manufacture criminal charges to retaliate against individuals who observe or record police activity.

"When George Holliday recorded the beating of Rodney King, he taught us that ordinary people can use ordinary resources to fight police misconduct," said Reggie Shuford, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. "It is essential that we preserve the right—and the tools—for holding our public officials accountable for their behavior.