ACLU says arrest of Flint Anonymous activist is unconstitutional

FLINT, MI -- An attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said Flint police officers appear to have violated the constitutional rights of an outspoken Flint political activist when they arrested him outside of his Carriage Town home.
Adam Gerics was arrested Sept. 27 by a Flint police officer outside of his home on Stone Street near University Avenue as he videotaped and shouted profanity at a Flint police officer who was talking to one of Gerics' neighbors.
The video shows a Flint police officer arresting Gerics after Gerics questions why the officer and a neighbor are walking by the front of his house. Gerics said he and the neighbor have had an ongoing dispute and the neighbor has since gotten a personal protection order against him.
"From the video I viewed, it appears that the Flint police officers violated the videographer's constitutional rights," said Michael J. Steinberg, legal director for the Michigan ACLU.
The video of the arrest has been viewed more than 57,000 times since it was posted Thursday, Oct. 3, on the video sharing site Live Leak.
Gerics operates a medical marijuana compassion club, claims membership in the Flint chapter of Anonymous -- an activist group that has protested everything from government surveillance to genetically modified food -- and has been a vocal opponent of many decisions made during the state takeover of the city.
"I have the right to film whoever I want walking up the street whether they are a cop or not," Gerics said.
The ACLU agrees.
"It is well established that Americans have the right to verbally oppose or challenge the actions of police officers, even if they do so using foul language," Steinberg said. "Additionally, the courts have held that individuals have a First Amendment right to videotape police officers' actions in public."