were you looking in the windows of the firehouse why is that a crime if I'm free to go I'm free to stay this is public property no this isn't public talk to somebody in the firehouse God bless in the Heart of the City where everyone's eyes could see an ordinary afternoon was poised to host an extraordinary event this day began like any other for Jack a local activist known for holding authorities accountable armed with his camera Jack set out to document the happenings around a hustling Firehouse located on a busy street corner it's about [Applause] it enter Sergeant Carter a seasoned officer with a commendable record but a short fuse for what he considered interference spotting Jack he approached briskly his face set in a mask of official concern the sergeants were met with Jack's calm informed reply as he discussed his right to film in public this interaction was typical at first questions about Jack's activities and a request for identification were met with polite but firm resistance grounded in legal rights what's going on how are you okay I got a call you're looking in the windows of the firehouse and stuff is that what they told you that's that's the call what's going on oh okay what's your name what's that what's your name and badge number right here Sergeant skus skus what's your badge number 184 so what's that 13 what does that say that's for a fallen officer oh rest of pece okay so I I asked you are you looking into the windows of the firehouse is that what they told you sir that's what they told me so I'm asking you again were you looking in the windows of the firehouse why well that's why I'm here where you're looking in the windows of the firehouse why is that a crime no it's not a crime I'm asking is that what you were doing maybe am I being detained no you're not being detained sir but what are you doing on the firehouse property 95 same thing you're doing this your car you take it home you take it everywhere I that sir I'm not going to play games here that I don't have to answer it's a burrow vehicle this is what I work in you keep it clean my question to you is what are you doing at the firehouse that maybe made them feel uncomfortable I don't know ask them they called you I didn't call you well I'm asking what you doing on the firehouse property ask them they called you I didn't call you I don't need you I'm asking you what you are doing on the firehouse property they don't know what you what you doing on the house property sir I'm I'm here because I got called to inquire what you're doing here okay so that's what I'm doing here so why can't you tell me what you're doing here why you keep trying to talk to me if I'm not detained why are you on property that you're not supposed to be on says who this is Firehouse property so what is the reason that you're on Firehouse property why are you on fire house property okay I already answered that I'm here because I got called to ask what you're doing here looking into Windows of the firehouse oh okay so what what do you here looking into the windows of the firehouse for I didn't call you like why you in my face talking to me for for the for the more than fifth time no but like why are you in my face talking to me I didn't call you okay you didn't call me so why you talking to me I didn't no you didn't call me so speak to people that called you speak to them they called you they need your help I don't need your help no but I I need to know why you're on property that you're not supposed why do you need to know that who said I'm not supposed to be on it this is Firehouse property and you're looking into Windows is that what they told you yes oh okay who said I'm not supposed to be here okay what is your purpose for being here the tension escalated when Sergeant Carter perhaps feeling his authority challenged insisted Jack was causing discomfort and should cease filming Jack confident in his rights and the clear public nature of his location stood his ground this Defiance seemed to trigger a power play from Carter who threatened deten and demanded compliance I don't really answer questions this is public property I pay for this property I could be here if I want right you can't go looking into Windows why this a public building I pay for this building why can't I look inside of it my my tax dollars go to fun this building what are you doing here I'm just minding my business it's a beautiful day I didn't call you they called you I I know I told you I've been and I asked you my be in the you say no so I don't I walked away already I don't understand why you still talking to me I'm not doing nothing I'm just chilling same as you just chilling he can you can you chill away from the firehouse not looking into Windows am I am I being detained I told you you're not being detained mean am I free to go but why are you looking into Windows of property that's not yours this is mine I pay taxes this is public the people own this your name and bad number offic Kelly 219 nice to meet you does that matter yes why you don't pay tax taxes in do you pay taxes no yeah you get paid off of taxes no I pay my taxes how do you pay taxes on taxes you're a public servant you get paid by taxes that's fine this is do you live in Fair law does it matter yes I'm asking you a question okay I don't I don't really to answer questions honestly okay then you can get off this property am I free to go yes that means I'm free to stay right no if you found this video helpful please hit that like button and don't forget to share this video or make sure to subscribe to our channel the sergeant didn't expect Jack to know so much about the law Jack talked about important legal cases like hag V committee for industrial organization which show that people can use public places to exercise their rights under the First Amendment Jack explained that although the firehouse was on public land the sidewalk where he stood wasn't restricted like the firehouse itself if I'm free to go I'm free to stay this is public property no this isn't public property this is an emergency property please one sign that says authorized personnel only or private property cuz the fire department just like you you're the chief you tell he's you're the chief of police this is Fire Department property he's a fire department this is the people's property we pay taxes for this property sir this is public property no you don't this is a volunteer fire department it's still open to this is publicly accessible that means the public can be here you can't look inside why not it's not private private it's glasses what is what is a glass window for to see out you look inside just like some's house that's private property sir this is public property you know that if you're going to come here I don't know why you harassing me I didn't call you no you're right you did so why you harassing me somebody else did okay so speak to them we are you're not wanted here how if it's public property it's not public property nobody asked me to leave so how am I not wanted if I was not wanted they say Hey sir would you mind leaving sure why not I'm not I'm first of all I didn't say n to nobody all I'm doing is taking pictures in public in publicly access's area in a public building I'm just exercising my rights that's it no what you're doing is trying to put something up on video I'm minding my business I didn't call you sir I didn't call you sir I'm pretty sure what you were doing I'm minding my business it was a beautiful day yes I know so what's the matter I so I asked you if I was being you said no I walked away so I walked away if I was looking for something I would stand here argue with you curse you out what types of stuff no I walked away how many times I asked you if I was being detained multiple times told and then I ask you I don't understand why you're still talking to me I'm I'm not doing that and I'm chilling then then walk away then walk off the property and we won't what's the big issue I'm chilling I'm just taking a look around it's a fire department is that not interesting I am not detaining ever since a little kid I want to be a firefighter you contact I don't I don't need to speak them I'm just looking around that's it and we won't have a problem why would we have a problem I'm not committing any crimes do you understand I'm just a I'm a free citizen in America take exercising my rights there's nothing wrong with that right I understand what you're saying so what's the we got a call who said I had a vehicle I just told you I paid taxes that must mean I live around here he's the one that just trained them on you know what you should do want to leave the property no I'm going to leave I'm not going to stay here forever I have I have a championship game to go to okay Kelly and officer skus I'm David by the way nice to meet you shake hands bump face that's okay that's okay I'm trying to be cial you know you should let them know listen he's engaged in a constitution Tech activity he's not committing the first amendment is not a con Free Speech Jack continued to explain his legal St referencing United States V Grace to articulate the boundaries of public versus restricted spaces do you know that there's there's like three or four aspects the First Amendment yeah freedom of speech freedom of religion right freedom to assembly and freedom of press right that means we're all the press that means on your free time you're the Press you can pick up a camera and you can work on a story and you can be pressed just like you can believe in whatever you want to believe in freedom of religion we all have the right to be pressed where's your press credentials we are all my press credentials is the first amendment where's your credentials to practice the religion you're practicing you don't know if I practice religion but it's called freedom of religion though you don't know if I practice to practice your speech free speech is the first amendment exactly just like freedom of the press that means we're all pressed right you don't I don't need credentials just like you don't need credentials to practice free speech I don't need credentials to record in public you know that you took a oh to protect our rights yes so I'm assuming you came here to protect my rights not violate them I didn't come here to violate your rights okay so you see I'm engaged in a protected activi it's protected yeah I know so are we yeah exactly your honor I'm David I'm just here recording in public you haven't been honest and with us you can clearly tell what I'm doing questions you refuse to answer questions because I don't have to answer questions that's why I ask you my being you also can't look in sir excuse me I'm talking okay you can't look in Windows at a firehouse and make people feel uncomfortable they have the right to be in this Firehouse of course I'm not bothering nobody apparent apparently you were I'm just looking apparently know that do I can't the way people feel or react I'm not threatening nobody I didn't say nothing to nobody if it makes them feel uncomfortable in the firehouse that they are responsible for then that's a problem so my rights end where people's feelings begin it's it's not it's not about your it's not about your rights you said they feel uncomfortable it's not about your rights but I'm I'm I'm it's not about your rights so what's it about okay they they are I'm trying to escalate I see you getet no but see what the problem is every time I start talking you talk over cuz I don't want you're yelling I don't want you be upset I want you to just you don't let me talk okay go ahead Jack felt Justified but also serious about why the confrontation was needed he finish the recording by urging viewers to know their rights and use them to make sure people in power are accountable and things are clear this isn't the town this is the town and it's voluntary they don't get paid they don't get paid theyt go talk to somebody in the firehouse God bless they tell Happ Father's Day if they tell me no I'm coming back I'm Le if they tell me that they don't want you here and you're not welcome here I just told you I was leaving if you leave then I was leaving lady I told you I got a championship game to go to I'm just I've never seen this five listen I've been nothing but cordial with you nothing but respectful I'm not cursing you out I'm not looking for no so I'm not doing it to I don't call you all I'm doing is walking around in public taking pictures that's it Cooperative Cooperative first of all like I said this is a voluntary fire department okay so they're not paid so no you don't have the same price as if it was a taxpayer is this not I'm sorry to cut you off is this not a publicly accessible area yeah okay I the I didn't see no signs that said responsible for their own Firehouse they're up they have to pay for that that's fine okay so no it's not so I go by signs I didn't see no signs that say restricted access what we're telling you so I'm assuming is you're giving an argument you don't want to leave okay I never said I want to leave I told you I was even turns already however Jack finished his recording by thinking deeply about what had happened that day he talked about how important it is for people to get involved in their communities and how powerful it is when people know what's going on as we wrap up today's video it's clear that understanding and exercising our rights is not just about knowing the law it's about ensuring that those in power respect these laws what do you think about today's encounter between Jack and Sergeant Carter share your thoughts in the comments below stay informed stay empowered and remember understanding your rights is the first step towards protecting them see you in the next video