Redwood Curtain CopWatch, based in the north coast of California, is part of a larger movement of self organized CopWatch groups throughout the US. Our local efforts seek to intervene in the drastic rise of the presence, militarization, and violence of the police, and build support networks based on self-determination, caring, and concrete needs.
We ALL Have a Right To Observe- And Document
WE DO NOT WISH TO INTERFERE,
WE SIMPLY WANT TO OBSERVE
Observe Police Activity
The right to watch is constitutionally protected activity based on our right to “freedom of assembly” and the people have a right to videotape—if cops are in a public place, cops don’t have a ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’.
Police are required to provide to you (member of the public) their names and badge numbers. In some places, the cops have cards they hand to people who ask for name and badge number.
Just because you ask the cops their names, does not obligate you to tell them yours. You are not required to provide ANY information to the police, contrary to their frequent intimidating demands that you tell them your name when you are watching them. "I am only observing" is all you want to say- if you say anything.
There is no legally established distance from the police encounter that you must keep when you are observing. Although the police have discretion to decide how far you must be from them (for "safety"), WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE what they are doing. Their 'discretion' should not require you to be so far that you can no longer observe.
