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No Warrant, No Search [Video]: Flex Goes Door-to-door with DC ACLU

Submitted by Steven Silverman on April 22, 2008 - 6:16pm.

A couple weeks ago Scott and I joined the National Capitol Area ACLU for a door-to-door outreach effort in Southeast D.C. warning citizens about a "knock and talk" program the DC Police Department threatened to implement.

This short video, which was my first behind-the-camera creation, tells the story:

I couldn't have scripted this much better: At about 1:35 into the video, a woman mistakes us for the police and eagerly invites us in to search her home. It's funny, but it proves our point about why this information is needed. (For all she knows, someone could have left some marijuana under her couch cushion for an officer to find and get her and her family kicked out of public housing.)

Responding to the unexpected public backlash generated through such community outreach, DC Police Chief Lanier recently announced that her so-called Safe Homes initiative would be scaled back. Under the new plan, police will not go door-to-door requesting consent. Citizens wishing to be searched must instead call the police and invite them into their homes.

In other words, the good guys won, and Chief Lanier was left to take the blame for her hare-brained initiative.

For a refresher on how to refuse home searches, watch this.

» Steven Silverman's blog | printer friendly page

you guys are funny

Submitted by rachel (not verified) on April 23, 2008 - 11:56pm.

wow, sounded like a really bad plan in the first place.. ive always liked the drug money for guns trades myself.. you know, you could have posted signs instead of causing a semi riot. DC has one of the highest crime and murder rate, im sure the mayor was trying to make a improvement, while giving the wolves (unjust cops) too much power.

» reply

When can we pre-order the new dvd?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 24, 2008 - 1:55pm.

The fund raising for the new dvd must be at a snail's pace because I remember when I heard you all wrapped up filming and that was almost a year ago. What's up?

» reply

Not Yet

Submitted by scottmorgan on April 28, 2008 - 3:46pm.

It's taking longer than we hoped, but we've been making steady progress. To clarify, filming hasn't begun yet, as we must first complete the entire budget. We've typically been avoiding going into too much detail about the process, which is incredibly tedious and often involves building relationships with folks who don't want to be identified publicly at this point in time.

Suffice to say, pre-ordering won't be happening in the near future, but the project is still moving forward slowly but steadily.

» reply

semi-riot?

Submitted by dw (not verified) on April 24, 2008 - 1:59pm.

Haha! Semi riot? They just sang a song and walked around door to door.

» reply

The Government is given too m

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 24, 2008 - 8:11pm.

The Government is given too much power by the uneducated public. They are as crooked as they can get. Get EDUCATED PEOPLE and Flex Your Rights before they are all taken away

» reply

INNOCENT

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on May 3, 2008 - 5:09am.

Notice they are all black. Figures.

If you aren't doing anything wrong what is the problem?
What are you trying to hide? I would invite them in to search, offer them tea and donuts and sit back and let them waist their time.
Nothing illegal in my house. I'm not worried.

» reply

search warrants

Submitted by ROBERT E CALLAHAN (not verified) on May 5, 2008 - 1:51am.

I was a member of a militia after I gotout of the military. The group was a mix of mostly asian, hawaiian, and a few white people. Some how we were identified as a White supreamicist organization. Which made no sense. A few members had their home searched and guns removeds. All this eventhough, the militia was legal under the state constitution. The search warrant I wound out later was bogus. My friend was held while they supposedly got it and later he looked at it and it was never signed by a judge.

No Warrant, No Search [Video]: Flex Goes Door-to-door with DC ACLU

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