Keep in mind guys the Park Police are the ones who patrol the parks and memorials across DC. They're not directly part of the DC police force, but a separate entity. If you're from DC (as I am), you know their reputation: huge assholes who take their jobs way too seriously.
I worked at a boathouse that was on public park land. A park officer was blocking off the parking lot because of an event, I told him I worked there and need to run in to fill out some forms (10 min max). He said no way, go park somewhere else. I pleaded my case but he said no. He let me drive in to "turn around" so I could leave. I parked anyway and did my business. He caught me on the way out and wrote me a $100 ticket for "disobeying a traffic officer."
Even though the Park Police are huge assholes, that's not to say they're entirely wrong here. These people obviously had an agenda and expected to provoke something with their "silent dancing" in the memorial. They were doing it, and documenting it because they expected to get a rise out of someone. Was the reaction right or wrong? Who am I to say? But if a police officer says "hey cut that out, you're disrupting other peoples enjoyment of this memorial" or if they feel like you're dancing may somehow disrupt other visitors, then they have the right to ask you to do it somewhere else.
The problem with the US is a lot of people think they have the right, the ownership even, over land or space because they're deemed "public." Just because its public land, that doesn't mean you can jump in and make it your private land. And its not up to you to determine whether or not you're infringing on other persons enjoyment of that public land. If you gathered up 60-70 people and started a full fledged flag football game across a whole section of the DC Mall, I'm guessing the Park Police would roll up and ask you to take it elsewhere, secure a permit of some kind, or stop all together.
Are they infringing on your right to use that public space? Hell no. You and your group are assuming control of that space and trying to make it your own.
Anyways, I digress, but my point is, we have to recognize that rights and privileges are not one in the same, and just because something is deemed public, or built for public enjoyment, that doesn't mean you can take it over and make it private (even temporarily) for your personal enjoyment. It also doesn't mean you can ignore the police when they ask you to go somewhere else.
I worked at a boathouse that was on public park land. A park officer was blocking off the parking lot because of an event, I told him I worked there and need to run in to fill out some forms (10 min max). He said no way, go park somewhere else. I pleaded my case but he said no. He let me drive in to "turn around" so I could leave. I parked anyway and did my business. He caught me on the way out and wrote me a $100 ticket for "disobeying a traffic officer."
Even though the Park Police are huge assholes, that's not to say they're entirely wrong here. These people obviously had an agenda and expected to provoke something with their "silent dancing" in the memorial. They were doing it, and documenting it because they expected to get a rise out of someone. Was the reaction right or wrong? Who am I to say? But if a police officer says "hey cut that out, you're disrupting other peoples enjoyment of this memorial" or if they feel like you're dancing may somehow disrupt other visitors, then they have the right to ask you to do it somewhere else.
The problem with the US is a lot of people think they have the right, the ownership even, over land or space because they're deemed "public." Just because its public land, that doesn't mean you can jump in and make it your private land. And its not up to you to determine whether or not you're infringing on other persons enjoyment of that public land. If you gathered up 60-70 people and started a full fledged flag football game across a whole section of the DC Mall, I'm guessing the Park Police would roll up and ask you to take it elsewhere, secure a permit of some kind, or stop all together.
Are they infringing on your right to use that public space? Hell no. You and your group are assuming control of that space and trying to make it your own.
Anyways, I digress, but my point is, we have to recognize that rights and privileges are not one in the same, and just because something is deemed public, or built for public enjoyment, that doesn't mean you can take it over and make it private (even temporarily) for your personal enjoyment. It also doesn't mean you can ignore the police when they ask you to go somewhere else.
