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9/20 SF cops halt nude FREEDOM WALK
[ SFPD tells nude political demonstrators to "cover up". ]
...................
...................
To all it may concern:
I participated in a nude political demonstration for freedom and peace,
called a "Freedom Walk", on the afternoon of Saturday, 20 September 2008,
in the Castro gayborhood of San Francisco.
This demo was sponsored by the FKK organizatiuon (led by George Davis); and endorsed by Senior Unlimited Nudes (SUN) of SF (currently led by Tortuga Bi Liberty). It was videotaped by a third organization.
Several men gathered around 2 or 2:30 PM on 18th street near Castro.
Several of us disrobed, and walked nude along 18th street, toward the Mission district. After a short distance, a police car intercepted us. The SFPD ordered us to "cover up".
Most of us quickly did so.
My friend George Davis had a long discussion with the driver of the SFPD car, probably a Sergeant; and, eventually, George got dressed also. Then the officer emerged from his car, and conducted a polite conversation with several of us; most of which was video-taped.
At all times, his tone was cordial and respectful.
So far as I know, there was NO rudeness or other misbehavior by any officer at this incident; nor by any demonstrator.
I understand that Mr. Davis MAY file a complaint against the police officers, and/or the SF Police Department. Since he is an honest and truthful person, I don't expect him to allege that any rudeness or violence occurred.
Presumably his complaint, IF any, would concern the lawfulness (or not) of SFPD's actions here -- in that SFPD interrupted a completely lawful nude political demonstration, and ordered the demonstrators to "cover up"; and thereby violated the civil rights and civil liberties of the demonstrators, and also the general public's right to receive political ideas conveyed by such a demonstration.
SUN similarly asserts violation of such civil rights
and civil liberties;
but chooses to refrain from filing any complaints concerning SFPD suppression of this demonstration on 20 September 2008.
SUN chooses, metaphorically, to "turn the other cheek".
I affirm that the foregoing statement is true,
to the best of my knowledge and belief;
so help me, Aphrodite.
For freedom until death,
Tortuga Bi LIBERTY,
Senior Unlimited Nudes
P.O. Box 426937-SUN
San Francisco, CA 94142-6937
....
PS-- What is the email address of
the SF Police Department?
Since I don't have that address,
I'm sending this testimony
to the Mayor
and the Board of Supervisors.
I ask them (or anyone) to forward it to
SFPD and to
any agencies, officials, etc.,
who might be concerned.
......
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nakity/
SUN, POB 426937, SF, CA 94142-6937
Freedom until death!
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
Hi Tortuga:
On Wed, 9/24, I filed an
OCC [ Office of Civilian Complaints??? ]
harassment complaint
for the suppression by a SFPD officer, Badge #720,
of 6 Nude Freedom Walkers
on [ or near] Castro Street
on Saturday, 9/20.
I had a conversation with Dennis Maxson,
Senior Investigator,
and others at the OCC.
Basically, if I agreed to combine all the harassment complaints
into a police procedures complaint,
instead of complaints against individual officers who were named,
the OCC would procede to work towards issuing a bulliten
to all the San Francico police officers
on the [ California] Supreme Court ruling that basically states
that "nude is not lewd."
and work on procedures that would guarantee the rights of public nudists (or anyone who believes in a right to a Free Body Culture,
which is way more than most people in San Francisco).
I agreed.
Dennis Maxson said that he will keep me informed of the progress
of the OCC efforts.
Thanks for your participation on the Walk.
I'll notify you where and when we put up the video footage on the Internet,
and OCC progress.
George [ Davis]
[ george [at] fkkfreebodyculture.com ]
............
REPLY by
Tortuga Bi LIBERTY
(1) I'm glad that the complaint(s)
will now be directed SF Police Department policy;
rather than against individual officers.
In dealing with nude protests,
I think around 99% of SF cops
follow orders
(which I think they receive by radio).
(2) I think SDPD has a policy,
or policies,
or buncha SEMI-policies;
probably unwritten
(and thus hidden from sunshine inquiries);
probably evolving, since 1999 or earlier;
possibly inconsistent,
uncertain,
chaotic....
So why do I call this mess
a policy?
Because it's NOT LAW
(neither state law nor local ordinance);
nor is it
(usually!)
just each individual officer
ad-libbing.
But if policy seems too formal a term,
then one could speak of a
pattern of police practices...
(3) Or perhaps, anthropologically,
one could say that
" San Francisco police culture"
is evolving, gradually?
(4) The California Supreme Court decision, called
IN RE SMITH,
was delivered in 1972,
I think.
If one goes to a law library (pr maybe even SFPL),
gets the volume for 1972 (or June 72??);
looks in table of contents
or index
for SMITH,
it's easy to find.
I strongly suggest that you photocopy this decision;
so you can later
read it slowly
and carefully.
It's not quite as sweeping
as some nudes may think;
but it sets off a chain of
decisions by (lower)
appellate courts concerning
Los Angeles,
San Diego, etc.
I've read Smith at least twice
in the past 36 years (approx.);
but not lately.
(5) Please be assured of my respect
and friendship,
even as I criticize your
decision to file OCC complaints against SFPD.
(6) A hundred years from now,
historians may decide that I was too cautious in 2008;
or that you were too rash;
or that both of us were wrong; or whatevuh....
Meanwhile, having been poltically active since
age twelve or so, I seek progress
without provoking regress.
-- Tortuga
(writing here as an individual)
.............
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nakity/
SUN, POB 426937, SF, CA 94142-6937
Freedom until death!
................
On Wed, 9/24, I filed an
OCC [ Office of Civilian Complaints??? ]
harassment complaint
for the suppression by a SFPD officer, Badge #720,
of 6 Nude Freedom Walkers
on [ or near] Castro Street
on Saturday, 9/20.
I had a conversation with Dennis Maxson,
Senior Investigator,
and others at the OCC.
Basically, if I agreed to combine all the harassment complaints
into a police procedures complaint,
instead of complaints against individual officers who were named,
the OCC would procede to work towards issuing a bulliten
to all the San Francico police officers
on the [ California] Supreme Court ruling that basically states
that "nude is not lewd."
and work on procedures that would guarantee the rights of public nudists (or anyone who believes in a right to a Free Body Culture,
which is way more than most people in San Francisco).
I agreed.
Dennis Maxson said that he will keep me informed of the progress
of the OCC efforts.
Thanks for your participation on the Walk.
I'll notify you where and when we put up the video footage on the Internet,
and OCC progress.
George [ Davis]
[ george [at] fkkfreebodyculture.com ]
............
REPLY by
Tortuga Bi LIBERTY
(1) I'm glad that the complaint(s)
will now be directed SF Police Department policy;
rather than against individual officers.
In dealing with nude protests,
I think around 99% of SF cops
follow orders
(which I think they receive by radio).
(2) I think SDPD has a policy,
or policies,
or buncha SEMI-policies;
probably unwritten
(and thus hidden from sunshine inquiries);
probably evolving, since 1999 or earlier;
possibly inconsistent,
uncertain,
chaotic....
So why do I call this mess
a policy?
Because it's NOT LAW
(neither state law nor local ordinance);
nor is it
(usually!)
just each individual officer
ad-libbing.
But if policy seems too formal a term,
then one could speak of a
pattern of police practices...
(3) Or perhaps, anthropologically,
one could say that
" San Francisco police culture"
is evolving, gradually?
(4) The California Supreme Court decision, called
IN RE SMITH,
was delivered in 1972,
I think.
If one goes to a law library (pr maybe even SFPL),
gets the volume for 1972 (or June 72??);
looks in table of contents
or index
for SMITH,
it's easy to find.
I strongly suggest that you photocopy this decision;
so you can later
read it slowly
and carefully.
It's not quite as sweeping
as some nudes may think;
but it sets off a chain of
decisions by (lower)
appellate courts concerning
Los Angeles,
San Diego, etc.
I've read Smith at least twice
in the past 36 years (approx.);
but not lately.
(5) Please be assured of my respect
and friendship,
even as I criticize your
decision to file OCC complaints against SFPD.
(6) A hundred years from now,
historians may decide that I was too cautious in 2008;
or that you were too rash;
or that both of us were wrong; or whatevuh....
Meanwhile, having been poltically active since
age twelve or so, I seek progress
without provoking regress.
-- Tortuga
(writing here as an individual)
.............
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nakity/
SUN, POB 426937, SF, CA 94142-6937
Freedom until death!
................
Please see
http://www.indybay.org
calendar
for Saturday:
......
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/26/18541493.php
...
http://www.indybay.org
calendar
for Saturday:
......
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/26/18541493.php
...
At Nude Peace Day 2008,
Japanese women artists photographed
black and white American penises,
at Baker Beach, SF.
The next NP Day will occur on the
second Saturday of
October 2009;
but its location and format aren't yet known.
....
At Decompression 2008,
a Burning Man event held in San Francisco,
several nude men attended, without any problems.
Please plan to bare there
in October (?) 2009, et seq.
......
On 25 October 2008,
the Saturday BEFORE Halloween,
SUN will try to hold an
OCTOBER PEACE VIGIL,
6pm to sunset,
at Castro and 18th Streets, SF;
clothing optional and top optional.
Costumes are welcome.
SUN opposes Cal Prop 8 (H8TE),
on the November 2008 ballot.
.....
--- SUN of SF
.......
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nakity/
SUN, POB 426937, SF, CA 94142-6937
Freedom until death!
..............
Japanese women artists photographed
black and white American penises,
at Baker Beach, SF.
The next NP Day will occur on the
second Saturday of
October 2009;
but its location and format aren't yet known.
....
At Decompression 2008,
a Burning Man event held in San Francisco,
several nude men attended, without any problems.
Please plan to bare there
in October (?) 2009, et seq.
......
On 25 October 2008,
the Saturday BEFORE Halloween,
SUN will try to hold an
OCTOBER PEACE VIGIL,
6pm to sunset,
at Castro and 18th Streets, SF;
clothing optional and top optional.
Costumes are welcome.
SUN opposes Cal Prop 8 (H8TE),
on the November 2008 ballot.
.....
--- SUN of SF
.......
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nakity/
SUN, POB 426937, SF, CA 94142-6937
Freedom until death!
..............
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