San Diego Police and Lifeguards Target Freedom of Speech

[Icarus94]

OWNED!!!!!!

[IExposeMormonism]

The whining sniveling emotional display is an attempt to to obtain thru crying what can't be obtained thru intimidation and abuse of law.She is probably part sea cow. Soon all humanoids will be required to leave any area a seal might land. In Santa Cruz she would be a saint. But I see no reason the bull horn can not be used. It is free speech. And keep the camera. She was in her rights. Hope she goes back for the free speech issue.

[fuckyourunning4040]

omg this is sick!!!!....and the police do nothing!!!.... instead they try to arrest you.....how the tides would turn if the people were the seals and got harrassed everyday....

[boatbrain3]

Welcome to San Diego. What you find there is that possibly because the town has always been overly dominated by the military, all the civilian authorities expect the same kind of obedience. Obviously, the cop's claim that they wanted to stop people from bothering the seals, but you prevented them, is total dreck, but that is a typical kind of cop lie as well. I'm not against the cops in general, but if someone gets wrongly arrested for free speech, it's a cop who is doing it.

[swisscowswiss]

the seals are beautifull animals that should have this area fenced of for them to be allowed to be on the beach peacefully. however you still have to listen to the law and the police.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

Not when the police are WRONG!!!!

[swisscowswiss]

what are they wrong about?

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

Everything

[t00l00]

It is a valuable treasure to the city and it brings money to the area. In fact, if done properly, it could even be allocated to make MORE money... Does it really make sense to spend money that the city does not even have to dredge the beach? We have plenty of safe beaches in San Diego. I grew up here, I know. Even as a young child I swam in the apparently "treacherous" waters of un-protected(by a man-made wall) Ocean Beach. If you really need to have no ripples in the water...(continued above)

[t00l00]

(continued from below)...if you were walk into a jungle and get attacked by a tiger or bit by a spider, does it really make sense to hold a grudge against all tigers/spiders/et cetera? It is the ocean and people do not "own" it. If you get attacked by a great white or a seal or a gold fish, that is the risk you chose to take. We are a part of the global ecosystem just like any other animal.

Now people issues: hundreds of people come to see this one-of-a-kind beach every single day.(continued)

[t00l00]

Dear human beings,

My name is Shaun and I am a member of the seal watch crew. Let us please be reasonable. First of all, I want to start with the confusion between the Harbor Seals and Sea Lions. Sea Lions are very prevalent in San Diego but these Harbor Seals are not. This is a very special place with only 2-3 hundred animals. They do not migrate, and they are not "multiplying like rabbits." As far as complaints of sea lions or seals harassing people; put it into perspective...(continued above)

[WS102]

I know you love seals and marine life, but I have been harassed by seals and sea lions. I surf and dive all over the NorCal, and have been chased around and harassed by aggressive marine mammals. My friend was chased and actually mounted by a male sea lion who was trying to mate with him while he was paddling around for waves. Sure, it was funny, but not cool since the sea lion charged me thinking I was a competitor. They are not pretty, innocent creatures. They are hunters, just like me.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

I love your sense of humor, you made me laugh. Thanks for the comment.

[ronnieDiii]

you sadden me

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

For all those who accuse me of deleting negative comments: I do accept negative comments as long as they contribute to a civil exchange of different points of view. Racial slurs, derogatory comments and threats will not be tolerated and will be deleted.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

Seals spend most of the day in a water, but they need to rest on land in order to survive. The seals did not show up here mysteriously after the wall was built: the rock the sea wall was built on was called Seal Point by the first settlers. Seals were hunted to near extinction in the 20th century and they population made a come back after the MMPA prohibited killing them in 1972.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

The MMPA states that: "It is against the law to feed, HARASS, hunt,capture or kill marine mammals. This includes any act of pursuit, torment or ANNOYANCE that has the potential to injure or DISTURB marine mammal." I do not accuse people that were chasing the seals off the beach of harmful intentions: my experience is that it's mostly ignorance, that's why I keep educating the public about respectful wildlife watching. The movie is intended to expose mismanagement of the beach by the government.

[italndiva]

I believe children should learn respect for all living things. This is a Federal offense for harassing the seals. Children need to be taught kindness not raised up to be animal abusers!

[DolpthinsCome2Wales]

Thank you for posting shame on all though people, Find a heart and leave them alone.

[wlaribee]

if soo many people want the seals to be protected from the dangerous tourists, then why has nothing been done to deter this obvious threat? oh, thats right..because nobody is hurting the seals (except for your bullhorn). But thank you for your concern for this endangered species.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

One greedy swimmer, one greedy lawyer, one old judge, one lawsuit: O'Sullivan vs City of San Diego.

[wlaribee]

lady, you are entitled to your opinion and your right to express your opinion....but you are sooo far in left field in your manner of thinking. There are other ways to conduct yourself to get your voice heard...but obviously the sane people of san diego don't share your views,thats why you have to go to the extent you do to even be noticed,kind of like my 2 year daughter when she doesn't get her way. Different ages...same concept. Wine, cry (nice fake crying in the video), stomp and act obnoxius

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

You are wrong: more than 80% of people of San Diego and 90% of La Jollans want protection for the seals: please check the results of the Zogby poll on APRL website. Most of people you see on the beach are unaware tourists, not locals.

[captainspearo]

Wack-job can't even come close to describing you. The only maniac here is you.

I really think if you had a medical review they would committed.

Please stay on your medication, your scaring the children...

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

You can't come close to describing me, because you have problems with English. Do you slap your  chest a lot when angry?

[emmetscrub]

So instead of being helpful to a wildlife cause, you act like a total idiot. Maybe you should volunteer at Hubb's or Seaworld. Even though they capitalize on animal captivity, they do a lot of good work towards saving and healing sick and injured animals.

Too bad someone as passionate as you act, does not seem to have the limited mental capacity or sanity to be around people who are really committed to helping wildlife.

Get some pscyh help and maybe, just maybe you could help.

I doubt it.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

SeaWorld's rescue and rehabilitation program does not accept volunteers. Obviously you haven't tried or you would know that.

[wlaribee]

i guess everyone needs a purpose in life, yours just happens to be that of a wackjob. no one is harming the seals. the life gaurds and police are obviously tired of your crap. your entitled to speak your mind, make a spectacle of yourself, but don't interfere with law enforcement...you'll never win.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

You are so wrong, we already did win in the past: go to the Union Tribune website and search for "Soliciting ordinance ruled unconstitutional" by Terry Rogers.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

Sir, the problem is that they do the same thing to me when I move. I am harassed by them even when 100 feet away. It is not about me moving, it is about them targeting my speech. They don't want the seals on the beach and they hate environmentalists.

[socaltodd]

I nominate this lady for an Academy Award for "BEST FAKE CRYING IN A SHORT CRAPPY FILM"

[emmetscrub]

If you are really concerned about the seals, do some volunteer work at sea world or hubbs. When you do this kind of crap, you not only make yourself look like an idiot, you make your cause  look trivial. The crying at the end was a nice touch, made you almost sound sane there for just a few seconds, almost.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

Amusement parks like Sea World keep wild animals in captivity and exploit them for profit.

As an animal rights activist I am against them.

[SDlobsterman]

What about Hubbs? It is not an amusement park - rather it is a research facility that has a breeding program that has helped re-establish tryly threatened marine species like the White Seabass, cowcod, and other fish. Try volunteering there instead of harassing beachgoers.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

It is part of Sea World, I do correspond with them. Do you volunteer there?

[SDlobsterman]

I've done fundraising. My way to help, WITHOUT harassing the public.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

Fundraising for them??? They have billions of dollars!!! They put a tiny, pathetic amount to "conservation" to gain positive publicity and brainwash people into thinking that they are pro-environment. No thank you, I'd rather protect wild habitat where I live and deal with real issues in my community.

[SDlobsterman]

If you were really just trying to "protect wild habitat" I'd be all for you, but the fact is that you are down there harassing people. I drink my morning coffee on the benches there 5 or 6 days a week and I've SEEN how you hassle innocent beachgoers. You've got a good message - conservation is a great thing - but your message is getting lost by your very bad tactics. You could be so much more effective, yet your actions make you come across as a nut and you lose credibility.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

I do not believe a word you say: you sit there drinking coffee and you don't stop me from harassing "innocent beach goers" ? You seem cowardly.

[SDlobsterman]

Cowardly? If not wanting to get into an arguement with someone who appears to be unable to have a rational, reasonable discussion without resulting to name calling is cowardly, then fine, I'm a coward.

You just proved my point however. Instead of putting up a reasonable arguement to my point, you instead called me a coward. No facts from you, just insults.

That's what is ruining your message and turning off reasonable people and making them NOT want to help you.

[SDlobsterman]

Wait, you say above you only delete posts tohat don't promote "CIVIL" exchange, yet yeou freely choose to insult me - calling ME a coward. That is the height of insanity, hipocracy, and cowardice. You are worthless. Actually, that's not true. You have inspired me to get off my "cowardly" but. Before today I would swim at other beaches out of respect for the seals. From now on I am going to exercise my right to swim at the children's pool as often as I can. Good work!

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

There is nothing uncivil about the word "cowardly" : cowardly, adjective, included in all English dictionaries. Learn how to spell before insulting others. You can swim wherever you want, nobody stops you. Do not make me responsible for your own actions, your disrespect for other people and seals is your own choice.

[lavender880]

SDlobsterman,

Oh that's really mature of you. ( sarcasm )

You have changed your mind about swimming at another beach as not to disturb the seals, but now you choose to disturb the seals because you are ofended by a WORD? ...oh grow up! Those seals were there WAY before any of us! Let them be.

[fishmarc]

SDlobsterman: These people are deliberately abusing these seals and that is NEVER ACCEPTABLE. Try to sugarcoat this anyway you like but it is disgusting. Pups have died and the people DO NOT NEED TO BE THERE, THE SEALS DO.

[SDlobsterman]

Hey, I agree people shouldn't harass the animals. the FACT is, however, that these seals are acticnd differently than normal seals do according to people with a lot more PhDs after their names than I or (presumably) you have.

What I can say with authority (10 plus years as an ocean Lifeguard, 8 more years as a paramedic, and over 30 years as a surfer, diver, fisherman and waterman, is that there is no place in San Diego that is as safe for kids to enter the sea than the Children's pool.

[italndiva]

Untrue, there are tide pools open to children in Del Mar, Point Loma, Coronado and every single beach location. Even La Jolla. IF anyone should know this you should. So don't feed people lies. That is an out and out LIE!

[SDlobsterman]

There is a MASSIVE difference between a tidepool and a safe beach. The pool is unique in there are no strong rip currents like all nearby beaches have, it's ALSO protected from all swell directions. Children can play in the water safely there in a manner that is not found elsewhere in SD. There can be a 10' plus swell and it's still safe for kids.

Or are you saying that you know more about what's safe in the ocean than a waterman, lifeguard and paramedic with DECADES of experience?

[italndiva]

Then you just have lost the progessive thought pattern. You keep saying DECADESSSS! Well, I survived growing up in the oceans here and only once had a problem as a teen. No life guards around. I have never, ever had one person complain about there in no childrens beach in San Diego. Why are YOU whining? You must like children very much! Well, if parents want a safe place they can go to Mission Bay and there is a playground there too! You aren't forward thinking and stuck being a LIFEGUARD=BITTER

[italndiva]

Does this apply to all the seal watchers? I am glad you enjoy the seals. We need all the help we can get to protect the mammals lives. If they can't beach they will die. Maybe if you think you can do a better job then please help us help them. Thank you.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

I think you mistake me for somebody else.

[italndiva]

Where may I ask?

[bwd]

Thanks for attracting great whites to our beaches!

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

I am attractive; therefore I attract.

[bwd]

You ignorant woman. Why not help your native country with humanitarian aid rather tha attract sharks to our beaches. Go home alien..

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

How do you know I don't work on humanitarian issues? Do you know me in person? My native country is highly developed and does not need humanitarian aid. On the other hand, there are 37 million Americans living in poverty. Watch Oprah's report on invisible lives.

[bwd]

You are so ignorant. I want my child to play in his pool. Why don't you work with humanitarian aid in your native country? You would do much more good to humanity than attracting Great White Sharks to the coast. Your accent is very rough too...

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

Why don't you complain about my "rough" accent to Governor Schwarzenegger?

[socaltodd]

You're a better actor than the Governor. That was the best sobbing I've ever heard in a short film. Your accent though is....about a million times more annoying than his.

[wsbman]

wasn't the "childrens pool" built for the CHILDREN (HUMANS)! stupid tree huggers, are you even a US citizen? go back to where ever you came from! get a life!

[OceanSwimmer]

wtf

[WS102]

Get a job hippie. The seals are fine. In fact, I wouldn't mind if there were a lot fewer of them around.

[Oceanlover1976]

Great job police! Please throw away the key

[SurfinSB]

the bullhorn is scaring them

[SDlobsterman]

I agree - right at the beginning of the vid, the seals are ignoring the kids, but the exact second you hit the bullhorn, they jump. Maybe less loud noises would be a good idea.

[quentindvr]

YOu suck ass..

[bigblockcommando]

You are a freaking LOON! Since the seals have been protected so long they have multiplied like rabbits. Its time that we started a limited harvest of them.

[italndiva]

they give pups once a year. How stupid you are! Why do you HATE the seals?

[4EuroDressageimports]

Did they actually arrest you, or did they just cite you?

[italndiva]

They did not arrest anyone. No one was doing anything against the law except for those that were harrassing the seals. They were not spoken to at all. So the bad people that broke a Federal law got away with a crime.

[estew777]

Good for the police.........serves you right. You may need to take a course in comprehension. Check out the local junior college.

PS- I notice you delete any comment NOT favorable to your opinion.

[italndiva]

Two police officers for one woman! Big brave San Diego Police. Don't they have something better to do than harrass and say they will use ANY force possible against her? Yet not uphold the law? That is sad. They are pussies!

[italndiva]

untrue..here you are! The police aren't doing their job and she did NOTHING wrong. Plus why do they have a life guard at a tide pool? The life guards surf there. REPULSIVE!

[SurfinSB]

they have a life guard because people are allowed to swim there, the lifeguards are probably bored because you scare all of the people away, and tell them not to go onto the beach .

[Oceanlover1976]

Good Job San Diego Law Enforcement...Keep up the Good work!

[italndiva]

No law against using a bullhorn. He isn't withholding the law. If you love the ocean then you should respect life. You are proving you are NOT!

[downdiver2]

You should have been arrested, I think you are causing more grief than anyone out there.

[italndiva]

Wrong downed diver. You have 73 miles of beaches and why would you want to bother the seals. Every single city has a santuary and San Diego does NOT. Why..because of Sea World. If you dive, the purpose is to look at the mammals and fish. Yet you are against them? I don't understand your HATE.

[diane189444]

I am so glad they made it ... this shows you how kind animals are and how aggressive humans are. Shame ...we don't respect our animals. Great video. thank you

[downdiver2]

You are scaring the seals more than the people on the beach. How do you know its animal cruelty?? Because the seals are coming in and out of the water? They do that normally, duh! They live in the ocen.

You should be arrested for disturbing the peace.

Get a job that would actually help animals.

[jcjksurf]

i live close to this beach, and have my whole life. this childrens pool was made for children....NOT SEALS. NOBODY HAS EVER HARMED the seals. The seals are not wanted(excep for the f-ing tree huggers). seals can live almost anywhere, and they dont have to live on a perfectly nice beach. They polute the water tremendously.

For the lady. you do not respect our laws and lifeguards. Please leave our small and beautiful town and take your tree hugging concern for the UNHARMED(IN ANY WAY) SEALS

[italndiva]

They are children of the sea. Maybe YOU don't want them there. Why do the seals bother you? What is in your background that a seals bother you? Talk to me.

[4EuroDressageimports]

doesn't your bullhorn scare the seals?

[italndiva]

Rizzo tough cop not doing his job. He won't ever ask people to stop the animal cruelty yet he will *use any force neccessary* to remove a woman from public property. There are real crimes in San Diego county yet big bad man wants to arrest someone for no reason!

[WildlifeDen]

Pssh...not surprising. Fascists pieces of trash. sure ignore the wildlife situation and go after the people trying to do good.

and basically it's why am i under arrest?" " because i said so." America is dead...and the human race is all but doomed

and then when one of their precious little brats get bit, they'll scream and cry to have the whole seal colony killed

[DianeDi]

Wow, that is unbelieveable. I can see that you have every right to by where you were. Great job on protecting the seals.... hope things change for them soon.

[cvfa]

I dispair at the human race - at the best of times - please everyone write and complain about this abuse of these precious animals ! They so do not deserve any of this - these idiots need to move on and leave the seals alone !

What kind of idiots are these police !!!! They need to be out there protecting the animals from the PUBLIC - do their job !

[italndiva]

Everyone who is upset about this disturbance..harrassment of the seals and mammals please contact the San Diego Mayor. The police are always siding with the people who harrass the seals which the sign the city put up put in little lettering that it is a Federal offense to harrass the seals. There is no signs not to block the gate. None. There are no santuaries for the seal mammals in San Diego only Sea World. Which we all know is for pure profit!

[mes1219]

Another thing ScubaMike44, if heeding to a corrupt "police officers" request is more important than my constitutional rights then I'm living in the wrong country.

[mes1219]

Okay first of all kayrolajolla, the lifeguards have told volunteers to move the table to that area before. Now when there are people down there breaking a federal law their excuse is that they were more focused on trying to keep the area clear? HAHAH I SMELL BULLSHIT. If they wanted to "keep the area clear" they shouldnt have told the volunteers to move it there in the first place. And what the bullhorn is set at, its hardly loud enough for someone standing right next to it to hear!

[italndiva]

Thank you for the great bulletin plus know it is NOT against the law to use a bullhorn. They just want to harrass the animal activist and forget about the seals!

[veganstanger]

that fat nasty cop makes me sick. What a dumb asshole. Serve and protect the wealthy and the elite and those in power.

[vRaZ1el]

If I were you, Instead of using a bullhorn. I would have started a petition to block that beach off from public access and presented it to the governor so he could actually do something about it.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

We have a petition to sign at our table and hope to have the seals protected there in the future. This is a long term campaign though and the bullhorn is used for information purposes under present circumstances when public access is still allowed.

[vRaZ1el]

Well, I hope that petition goes through. Its horrible that animals have to suffer for mans ignorance.

I also admire you for what you do, it takes serious guts to present your beliefs in the public when the majority are against you.

[sdbcrn]

Ok k. There 2 sides to the confrontation but what do you say about the harassment of the seals. What should have been done in that situation? Do you think that it is safe or ok to abuse wild animals??

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

I do not use my bullhorn continuously; I make very short announcements in the emergency situations. I did not move the table to provoke, it's a public space. I do not block access to the beach. Accusation that my bullhorn interferes with the lifeguards is ridiculous: street noise, music from the cars, children crying and planes flying over are very often much louder than my bullhorn.

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

I have the right to be on public property: making me leave is unlawful and unreasonable. Lifeguards don't own public land and cannot stop individuals from standing on public land and speaking, by doing so they violated my constitutional rights to freedom of speech. Police officer did not give me a warning nor time to respond (that would be reasonable), but cited me despite the fact that I moved my table.

[mes1219]

Oh yeah and scubamike, maybe if you had ongoing confrontations with both the lifeguards and the sdpd you might respond the same way. Think about it.

[mes1219]

Hey I'm a big tough police man so I'm going to give you a ticket for "blocking a walkway" but I'm going to let those dumb fucks go down there and pet the seals..federal law, what FEDERAL law?

[ManiacOfTheWeek]

Why did I have to move my table? What gives policemen right to push people around on public property?

[cerf4di]

It would appear that the police were interested in hampering your right to free speech and assembly. I thought you did a good job (as the video demonstrates) at pointing out that you were not blocking the gate, or right of access. Three people looking at your literature is not a safety issue. I am an attorney...this looks like a good case that will bring attention to the issue.

[sdbcrn]

This video does not show the police to be honest and real, infact,it just gave one big black eye!!! It also shows that you approve of people harassment of the seals scubaMike. It just shows how cruel man can be.

[sdbcrn]

Hey D. Good job with the video. I;m sending this to as many people I know including the news media from other places. Please let everyone know and send it out to as many people as possible. Thanks for your hard work.

This should give the SD police and the City government a black eye. Maybe they will do something about it instead hiding their heads in the sand.

[t00l00]

i can't believe things got so bad so quick. other than one flushing by david johnson in the morning, it was ok until 2. that sergeant was totally nonsensical! you got completely taken advantage of. im sorry you had to go through that. let me know if you need me to testify!

-shaun

[sladuke902]

This is the worse travesty I have ever seen! How can people be so cruel to wildlife? How can the SD police they get away with threatening citizens with jail and handcuffs without any basis? Don't the police have anything better to do with our taxpayer money? And the lifeguards do nothing to protect the seals from the cruelty exhibited. Why doesn't the press take a position insead of being intimidated by the animal cruelty specialists in LaJolla? Money talks and always will. How sad.

[Prochoiceavenger]

Call the San Diego Legal Aid Society to get a lawyer to represent you if you are haled into court. You may also just want to know what your options are and a confirmation that you were acting within your rights but that the seal-harassers and the police officers were not.

[Prochoiceavenger]

Someone needs to inform the San Diego Police of the laws. Get people who saw the police threatening the volunteer, not performing their duty to enforce the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and the city ordinance to protect wildlife, and stealing the bullhorn. Get people to make a statement at a hearing if need-be since the cops might lie about what happened. It's great that you have this videotape to show a judge. File a writ of replevin to get your property back.

[coolfire2]

ah really take you to jail.. Go ahead stupid police man.. Guys this is not fair why there is no justice anymore I mean real one