"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures"
I was not so lucky. Walking through downtown Baltimore with my guitar and djembe, both in cases, I was on my way to a gig when I was stopped by police. I'm a professional musician, meaning I get paid on occasion, to play my songs in bars and other establishments and on the night in question I was going to make $100 and get a free dinner; a good gig for a solo musician.
Much of the music I write is about this world and the way things are: irresponsible consumption, war for more, social apathy. It was no surprise a that I should be arrested for standing up for my fourth amendment right to lawful search.
I had no reason to avoid being search; wasn't drunk, stoned or in possession of anything illegal. I was well dressed and happy to be going to play music. The police yelled from their car for me to "show them my guitar". Politely and with sincerity I told them I had to get to work.
When they stopped me I told them I had done nothing wrong and I was a musician going to play a gig; in the cases were instruments. I respectfully answered all their questions: where is your gig, what time, and so on. This was not good enough. They wanted I.D. and to search my bags. Keep in mind, I was walking downthe sidewalk in broad daylight, just like you. I simply repeated myself. They became angry and said they would arrest me if I didn't cooperate. I simply said I would not resist, but I would not cooperate in the stripping of my rights guaranteed under the constitution. I was a fool.
I was put in jail for 12 hours. I was not fed and I obviously never made it to the gig, so I missed out on getting paid.
The charges were dropped, as if that is any consolation. They had no choice but to drop the charges; I had done nothing wrong.
That is the country you live in. It is not getting better, at least for the innocent.
You can blindly judge me and think I did something that warranted being put on the ground, stood on by three police, cuffed so tightly that my left thumb was numb for a week; something other than telling them I loved them but they were wrong and peacefully standing up for your and my rights. You can think that and never know me, but like those police officers, you would be wrong.
Freedom is more burdensome than any career. When is the last time you stood up for yours?
Love, good food, peace, growth
I was not so lucky. Walking through downtown Baltimore with my guitar and djembe, both in cases, I was on my way to a gig when I was stopped by police. I'm a professional musician, meaning I get paid on occasion, to play my songs in bars and other establishments and on the night in question I was going to make $100 and get a free dinner; a good gig for a solo musician.
Much of the music I write is about this world and the way things are: irresponsible consumption, war for more, social apathy. It was no surprise a that I should be arrested for standing up for my fourth amendment right to lawful search.
I had no reason to avoid being search; wasn't drunk, stoned or in possession of anything illegal. I was well dressed and happy to be going to play music. The police yelled from their car for me to "show them my guitar". Politely and with sincerity I told them I had to get to work.
When they stopped me I told them I had done nothing wrong and I was a musician going to play a gig; in the cases were instruments. I respectfully answered all their questions: where is your gig, what time, and so on. This was not good enough. They wanted I.D. and to search my bags. Keep in mind, I was walking downthe sidewalk in broad daylight, just like you. I simply repeated myself. They became angry and said they would arrest me if I didn't cooperate. I simply said I would not resist, but I would not cooperate in the stripping of my rights guaranteed under the constitution. I was a fool.
I was put in jail for 12 hours. I was not fed and I obviously never made it to the gig, so I missed out on getting paid.
The charges were dropped, as if that is any consolation. They had no choice but to drop the charges; I had done nothing wrong.
That is the country you live in. It is not getting better, at least for the innocent.
You can blindly judge me and think I did something that warranted being put on the ground, stood on by three police, cuffed so tightly that my left thumb was numb for a week; something other than telling them I loved them but they were wrong and peacefully standing up for your and my rights. You can think that and never know me, but like those police officers, you would be wrong.
Freedom is more burdensome than any career. When is the last time you stood up for yours?
Love, good food, peace, growth
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