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Some Drake fans leaving a concert last week at the Apollo Theater in New York City were surprised to find themselves being filmed by the NYPD without their consent. Privacy advocates voiced concerns over the potential use of the footage, but the NYPD claimed the community affairs officer was simply collecting video for the 28th Precinct’s social media account to “highlight community events.” Straight Arrow News contributor Rashad Richey argues that this type of controversial tactic by law enforcement only adds to the “us and them narrative.”
Okay, what in the hell is going on?
So the New York Police Department set up a camera at a Drake concert and recorded everybody, literally, everybody. And then when they were questioned about it, they acted as if, “oh, my goodness, no, that’s not what we were doing, we were doing something for our social media campaign, our public relations campaign.”
First of all, nobody signed up to be part of your public relations campaign when they went to see a Drake concert. And also, keep in mind, people pay good money to see this concert, and not be recorded by the police. There’s a reason, ladies and gentlemen, why the government has to follow certain rules. That’s a reason why cops have to follow certain protocol.
Here’s the other thing. Do you not find it ironic that the police can go into a concert and just start recording everyday citizens, and there’s no issue from those who are supporting the blue. But the same cops have supported legislation to stop them from being recorded, they don’t want to be recorded by citizens. But they want citizens to be recorded by them. No warrant, no suspicion, nothing. This doesn’t make sense. And then the spin comes from the New York Police Department: “Well, this was all just part of a social media campaign, a public relations dynamic.”
Who signed up for it? Did anybody buy a ticket to the Drake concert sign up to be part of a public relations campaign on behalf of the New York Police Department? Hell no. All right. That didn’t happen.
Not only is it immoral, in my opinion, it is also unwise. Here’s the thing. Do you just want people not to like you? I’m talking to the police. Do you just want to keep an us and them narrative?
