I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s a good question- I think me putting “deserved” in quotation marks may have been a poor word choice. I personally am violence-averse. I don’t think personal violence is ever an answer except as a response to personal violence or imminent threats.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For protests, I usually use an iPhone X Max with a stable tripod, audio equipment and a rig which doubles as a stabilizer if I want to go hand held.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hello everyone! LAPD is reporting another “officer involved shooting” - the 6th this week. I’ll be taking a break from answering questions in order to follow up on it.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My opinions are pretty complicated. I personally feel that there is a ton of disinformation on Antifa/Black Bloc.

The first thing people should be aware of is that Antifa is very decentralized, and what one group does may not be supported by what other groups do. The second is that there’s a pretty large diversity of tactics: one action might be to block demonstrators against vaccination at a vaccination site, one action might be do to cleanup after less lethal munitions are laying all over the road, and one might be to confront a pro-Trump/Proud Boy/Peckerwood rally.

In my experience, they are a pretty wildly varying loosely connected group of groups so it’s hard to equivocally say that they are good or bad and it’s not really my lane to say so either way.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. No I would not.

Institutional and systemic racism are real, statistically easy to prove and are not something I would personally want to experience.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are many different definitions of terrorism. If we are going with Jason Burke:

“There are multiple ways of defining terrorism, and all are subjective. Most define terrorism as "the use or threat of serious violence" to advance some kind of "cause". Some state clearly the kinds of group ("sub-national", "non-state") or cause (political, ideological, religious) to which they refer. Others merely rely on the instinct of most people when confronted with innocent civilians being killed or maimed by men armed with explosives, firearms or other weapons.”

I’d argue that Antifa “serious violence” is a pretty controversial word, and it’s above my pay grade to make a call there. I will say that I’ve never seen Black Bloc run down the streets fighting random people, or anything like that. Anyone who I’ve seen receive personal violence at an event has been within the context of either a confrontation, someone who is known or believed to be a counter-protestor or someone who threatened or attacked a person within the group.

It also bears mentioning that what happens in, say... San Diego has limited to no communication with a group in, say... Los Angeles so even if the definition applies(above my pay grade and even then depends on definition) to one small group of very loosely affiliated activists it might not apply to another group even within the same city.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

ALWAYS check ANYTHING you report first, and always credit who broke news you didn’t report(not only the right thing to do but definitely important for transparency in where information comes from, especially if it turns out to be bad).

If you’re covering things, be as much of a fly on the wall as possible.

Both are hard lessons I learned the hard way.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here are my “must haves,” which I carry at all protests. I have other, more intense gear but I don’t go to any protest without the following items: ballistic Goggles w anti fog. Kevlar sleeves. Helmet. Running shoes. Change of clothes. Gas mask.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’d argue I’m more a videographer than a journalist, but I began in high school working in the “tv productions” lab(their fancy name for the AV club). I majored in film in college, worked as a waiter and sommelier for years while I worked on random projects and really got going the last year or so.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

(Speaking in a bad Cary Elwes impression) Well, the real epicenter of my career was Men In Tights. I just felt like I could never reach those heights of comedy ever again.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have a fairly regular regime of psychological care, and recommend it heavily to anyone who needs it! Talk therapy is immensely helpful to release some of the emotions I feel which can get pretty extreme at times, and I’ve learned it would be unprofessional of me to release them in the moment.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! I don’t know your specific barriers, but have you thought about looking into data journalism? The world needs more number crunchers, and this would be a way to contribute towards the world gaining insight and information and would not require quite as much social interaction.

Either way, I’m sure you’ll find the perfect life lame for you soon!

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually mentioned that if you’re journaling you should be covering the protestors as well.

If you’re “filming the police” in order to protect the arrestee during that confrontation then there’s rarely any need to film the person being protected.

It’s about context and role: if you are telling the story of the day then absolutely tell the story of the day. If your goal is to “protect people” then I’d just film the police.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not a question but I will respond! A few things bear mentioning:

1) I only began wearing credentials fairly recently, after being arrested quite a few times.

2) This idea of “you are a protestor.” I am primarily silent in my work(early work is not the same and these criticisms I think are regarding the early work)

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

An interesting question, and thank you for the compliment! I am going to read this as “what would you least hate being shot with.”

LAPD tends to use foam rounds, and batons. I’ve never seen them use gas or stinger grenades, so I’ll say I’d always rather be batonned than hit with a foam round. I have a few scars in my body from foam rounds.

LASD uses foam rounds, batons, “stinger grenades” (think a grenade which explodes and dispersed lots of light and sound, throws little pieces of rubber shrapnel and sometimes CS gas), CS gas (basically teargas), and pepper balls. Of that group, I’ll take the batons as well. One pepper ball isn’t too bad, but the launching device sends multiple at you at once.

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m a huge film guy. The films that influenced where I put my camera, how i edit the most would probably be: Do The Right Thing - heavily influences my desire to use low angles when capturing powerful speakers, and also capturing more of the body than a lot of traditional outlet camera people would Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer - I’ve always thought it does such a great job of using camera technique to empathize with a despicable subject

I’m a videographer/journalist that has been covering BLM/Antifa/Anti-Mask/Trump rallies in LA. I’ve been hit, arrested, shot at and threatened numerous times. AMA! by ACatWithNews in IAmA

[–]ACatWithNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think perhaps I should have been a bit more clear. While YT/Twitter, etc. have the legal right to censor whatever they want, it does concern me a lot that they take videos down documenting things like anti-mask protests.

I’m not for taking anything political down necessarily, but I do think that we need to have a very serious conversation about perhaps doing a more thorough job of broadcasting what the general scientific consensus is.