A couple weeks ago 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 our police department threatened to implement.
MPD claimed they were only looking for guns and offered amnesty to citizens who cooperated, but no one really knows what would happen if they found something. Any law-enforcement program that relies on coercing citizens into waiving their 4th amendment rights is inherently flawed and cannot be tolerated.
This video, by Flex Your Rights founder Steve Silverman, tells the story:
About 1:35 into the video, a woman mistakes us for the police and gives us consent to search. It's funny, but it also proves our point about why this information is needed. For all she knows, someone could have left some marijuana under her couch cushion that could get her kicked out of public housing. Giving consent is never the smart choice during a police encounter. If you need a refresher, watch this.
MPD claimed they were only looking for guns and offered amnesty to citizens who cooperated, but no one really knows what would happen if they found something. Any law-enforcement program that relies on coercing citizens into waiving their 4th amendment rights is inherently flawed and cannot be tolerated.
This video, by Flex Your Rights founder Steve Silverman, tells the story:
About 1:35 into the video, a woman mistakes us for the police and gives us consent to search. It's funny, but it also proves our point about why this information is needed. For all she knows, someone could have left some marijuana under her couch cushion that could get her kicked out of public housing. Giving consent is never the smart choice during a police encounter. If you need a refresher, watch this.
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