I think we can all agree that (a) punching is bad, and (b) announcing rules is important

[heidi]

MIAMI (AFP) - A sheriff's deputy tackled, punched and arrested a US journalist for taking pictures of people waiting in line to cast early ballots in West Palm Beach, local media reported.

A sheriff's spokesman said later the deputy was enforcing a new county rule prohibiting reporters from interviewing or photographing voters lined up outside the polls, the Palm Beach Post said.

The deputy Sunday tried to grab the camera of James Henry, a freelance journalist who has written for The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Henry, 54, ran across the pavement but was tackled by the deputy, who pinned him to the ground, punched him in the back and handcuffed him, according to the daily.

He was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections Teresa LePore did not comment on the incident or the new rule, which had not been previously announced. LePore gained notoriety as the creator of the infamous butterfly ballot that confused thousands of voters in the chaotic and controversial 2000 election.

Her counterpart from Leon County, Ion Sancho, expressed outrage at the attempt to restrict reporters and photographers outside polling places, saying it was a constitutional right, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Le Pore's office had not announced the new rule before the incident.

Election monitors say sheriff's deputies themselves broke the law on Sunday by standing right outside polling offices while early voting was going on.

"We are considering filing a lawsuit," said Reggie Mitchell, a civil rights lawyer with the non-partisan Election Protection group that has deployed thousands of electoral monitors to Florida.

He said the law prohibits police from standing in the immediate vicinity of polling stations unless they are voting or called in to handle a disturbance.

Mitchell said deputies challenged Election Protection volunteers who were legally 15 meters (50 feet) away from the voting place.

Comments

[shelaghc.livejournal.com]

heidi8! Have you seen this at twistedchick's LJ yet?!!!!

...30% of registered voters in Florida have already voted, either through early voting or by absentee. Of those who have already voted, Kerry leads President Bush 51% to 43%.

Kerry in a landslide!

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

I would love to believe this, but I was led to think that they weren't counting votes yet!

[longstrider.livejournal.com]

I've heard those numbers from elsewhere as exit polls.

[obopolsk.livejournal.com]

That's scary and crazy. This election is making me incredibly nervous.

(Friended you from mctabby's Fandom Friending Frenzy, btw -- I'm not sure if I've commented in your journal yet.)

[hedwig-snowy.livejournal.com]

One word: Gestapo

[misako.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Reminds me of the link I posted earlier this morning about the teacher that randomly kicked a guy for wearing a GOP shirt. Where has this world gone with even just wearing a shirt of their party of choice incites violence, and there are rules enforced that haven't been announced to the public yet?

:: sigh ::

I'm a total politics girl, but the extremes are quite disturbing sometimes.

[cat-mom.livejournal.com]

My brother lives in Jupiter and I spoke with him and his wife last night on the phone; they were preparing to vote today. I mentioned something about expecting a wait, but he seemed to think that was only for early voting and that with all the regular polls open today there wouldn't be lines for voting. I'll be interested to hear about their experience!