Originally Posted by
Wilbur
Hard to say whether this individual was disorderly or not, but the very thought that the words of the US Constitution were what sparked an arrest make me sick to my stomach.
'Interfering with screening' is nowhere defined and (probably intentionally) vague. While I do agree with the sentiment, reciting the 4th Amendment loud enough for everyone in line to hear and exhorting those same people to take photos seems to me to qualify as interfering. I don't think it's disorderly conduct in the spirit of that law, but as everyone should be aware that is a 'catch-all' charge that police will lay simply to enable an arrest.
If, as claimed, she lowered her voice so as not to be disruptive I'd say that's neither interfering nor disorderly. Whoever told her she could not continue to speak and certainly the 'you have no rights' individual are in clear violation of 42 USC 1983 regarding the 1st Amendment. To wit:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges,or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law...
And a further example, if one was necessary, that airport cops are
not the passengers' friends. They are there to back up the TSA workers. Always.