At some point, his police officer friend even told him he was wrong, and yet he persisted.

It would be wonderful if people did not simply cave and move on when others attempt to bully them and use fear to take away their civil rights.

I don’t know if this guy is really an asshole, but he certainly was full of himself and he honestly needed to be taught the difference between public space and private property. And I’m glad you showed him the difference in a way he’ll remember.

I had a similar experience recently on the other side of Old Town Pasadena, at the One Colorado building, with a security firm called “Andrews International,” detailed here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/muzzlehatch/2320597432/

You aught to be a grown man, not a puppet on a string….

Sure, Thomas Hawk, CEO of Zooomr, could have promptly moved on to another neon sign, but why should he have to do that simply because an arrogant bully feels the need to exert his self-assumed authority on a stranger taking pictures of his shop from the outside in a public space?

Do you think that the behavior by Anto Kamarian, “CEO” of Cigars by Chivas was appropriate? Is physical assault ok simply because someone refuses to obey a command to put away a camera and not photograph in a public space? Would physical assault be ok if someone refused to put out their cigar if smoking it in a public place where smoking is allowed?

Somebody attempted to justify Anto’s actions because of a previous crime, but if Anto Kamarian was so worried about crime from a recent burglary, why didn’t he call the police from the start or ask his police buddy to come out and talk to Thomas Hawk instead of approaching asking if he’s a reporter.

Clearly, Anto’s police buddy realized Anto was in the wrong and realized the potential gravity of the situation and attempted to pull Anto inside before he really got himself into trouble.

Frankly, Thomas Hawk did take the higher road by refusing to be pushed around by a bully and avoiding a physical altercation. One could debate endlessly on how the situation and the response to the situation should have been handled. However, at the end of the day, whether you like it or not, Hawk stood by his principal beliefs, for his rights as a photographer, and for the rights of the community which he represents. Thus, he felt obliged to share his experience with the online community, however unhappy his words make some feel.

Thanks for sharing.

RN

R

Your point would mean more if you were, perhaps, documenting something poignant when you where accosted like genocide, poverty, or soldiers deploying for Iraq and then returning, fewer in number than when they left.

I wish you would pick your battles more carefully. With your fiery heart, you could do a lot a good for downtrodden peoples who truly need to have their situations documented and explained. Instead, you use your indomitable strength for something as petty and as unbecoming of your character as this scuffle.

Its is absolutely wonderful that you are so patriotic and you revel in the freedoms this country provides. Why not see about traveling to Iraq and turning your wonderful camera on those who fight to protect your freedoms everyday. I’m sure the families at home would be estatic to recieve pictures of their loved ones from overseas, especially when time consuming duties prevent a lot of the soldiers from taking their own.

When you are done in Iraq, why not travel to Darfur, Sudan and document whether or not UN deployment of peacekeepers is having any effect, or to Banda Achee in Thailand to document how restoration of the tsunami area has progressed.

If international travel is not for you, I hear New Orleans, LA is still in dire need of exposure, as rebuilding there still proceeds at a very slow pace. Why, I am sure that even in your own city there are downtrodden people who struggles the world would love to learn about and embrace.

I implore you. Please use your talent and skill for things more worthy of them. Its a blessing that you have them in the first place. As you have so often said yourself, it is a blessing to be a in country that allows you to hone your photographic skill at just about any location you choose. So please, I implore, you to abandon petty debates such as this one (which deep down you know have only and will only benefit you in the long run) and take up the causes of the poor disenfranchised souls who truly deserve your “publicity”.

Thank you for your time,

L.J.