Edhat Reader
A group of masked agitators were harassing people on State Street in Santa Barbara this past weekend.
A few friends reported they were seen outside Chase Restaurant in the 1000 block of State Street. One friend was eating at the time and reported these men were harassing employees and diners prompting them to engage and try to escalate the situation, apparently to be caught on video.
Police were called by several people, apparently they couldn’t do anything. Are these the same white supremeacist jerks with the banner over the freeway a few weeks back?
The internet says these ding dongs are trying to monetize their videos so if you play really loud copyrighted music at them, they can’t use any footage. Disney songs work best, according to the internet.
I agree, they like to call themselves First Amendment Auditors. Lompoc, Orcutt and Santa Maria had a lady and her crew going around doing this last year, even walking onto elementary school campuses. I read recently that they had returned and were filming again at Starbuck’s drive-thrus. I also heard that playing Disney songs is the best, way to try and make it so they can’t use the footage. The lady up north has a u-tube channel and posted her videos there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_audit#Legal_status_in_the_United_States
Thanks for the info & link.
Taylor Swift music works too.
But that would chase away the customers! 🙂
On another thread an employe of Chase said these guys confronted her and said some really horrible things and were filming children. She said the cops never arrived after calling.
Gravy Seals / Y’all Qaedas?
First Amendment protects offensive people from saying offensive things, but not if they’re filming children without permission or threatening harm, etc.
I wonder why they chose Chase, though?
Large outdoor “public” dining area I assume.
You can film anyone in public without their permission, adults and kids. It’s actually a pretty annoying law.
Kids too? Ugh, that is annoying! Not sure I’d be very forgiving if antagonizing masked losers were taking photos/video of my kids.
So if they were, please explain to us exactly what you would do?
Why? What purpose does my answer to a hypothetical serve you?
Honestly though, I’d get in their faces and hope they touched me. Does that make you happy now?
Yes! Very happy! I think that is an extremely sound action. I cannot believe it but I am agreeing with the SAC man. AND if I were there, I would back you to the hilt. 100%!!!
They were also bothering the folks at Chocolate Maya, so I think they were just going up and down State Street harassing everyone they could.
Yeah, bunch of losers. From what I’ve read elsewhere, they call themselves, “First Amendment Auditors,” so they’re almost worse than Gravy Seals, they uneducated “Patriots.”
There you go babbling without knowing the facts. Filming on public street is allowed in the USA
Hey JIMBO – so you’d be totally fine with some masked men taunting your kid while filming it? Hm, didn’t take you for a pushover.
You laugh in their face and walk away so they don’t get the reaction they are looking for.
You would probably scream at them that you don’t give consent to be filmed and then you would be an internet star instead of a keyboard superhero
Walking around calling people socialists with nothing better to do then antagonize and annoy people. Guess who they will be voting for in November?
Biden. This is a lefty lib move. Whatever they claim their “intent” is, this is the work of the looney left.
Absolutely delusional
Calling people socialist is 100% MAGA behavior
STEVE O – are you just making things up again or do you know what these people were actually saying?
We’re all waiting for you to enlighten us. Which is it? Man up and tell the truth or run away again?
Won’t happen. Typical rw troller. Throw an M-80 into the room and run like a cockroach
That’s what you cowardly fascists always say … like “J6 was antifa and FBI” …while at the same time saying they’re political prisoners.
Steve O lefty libs hanging at the reagan center eh? yeah seems like they are more of the right wing wacko type.
Free speech is fought for by both left and right, and obnoxious extremists can be found both places as well.
How did they find people on State St to harrass?
I keep reading that State St is dead because cars aren’t able to drive on it.
Good to hear that’s not the case.
Another photo: https://keyt.com/news/santa-barbara-s-county/2024/05/20/group-antagonizes-businesses-and-customers-in-downtown-santa-barbara/
I wonder what they were saying.
I recently spent some time in Del Mar, and it’s happening in San Diego county as well. Evidently these groups don’t have any political agenda. Their objective seems to be to harass and enrage the local citizens. Their favorite places to harass people are shopping centers and post offices. The theory that I hear is they want people to get so enraged that they push or shove them, in which case they can post it to social media and maybe create lawsuits. Everybody has cameras and are completely covered so you can’t recognize them at all. These people have way too much time in their hands.
Chicken S*it move to cover their faces…
Oh, they definitely have a political agenda.
Heard a few calls on the scanner about this. Callers described them as white males ranging from their 20s-40s, wearing masks, glasses, and beanies, faces mostly or fully covered. One call stated they were making lewd comments to her being a woman and also inappropriate comments to children. All of them had cameras/phones out filming at all times. Witnesses heard comments made about “free speech,” “socialism.” Also reports of these same men seen on Friday at the Reagan Center downtown.
Thanks for the info, BOBSCAN! Sounds like Steve-O was right, these are definitely “lefty libs” LOL!
The law is quite specific: If a person believes that the actions of another are a threat to them, the person who believes that they are threatened can defend themselves. If anyone gets in my face or space I consider it a threat. These masked people are cowards and bullies.
these guys have been in town before. There are videos on youtube. SB Library was visited by them and shortly after, my friends from SBPD came along and tackled them and arrested them. They tried to sue, and got nothing but embarrassment and admonishment. They do claim what they are doing is protected under their first amendment, which is only partially true.
Frankly, i’d pop them if they started filming my kids. I’m a bit surprised no one walked up and grabbed their phones and tossed them. I would have. Then again…i’m not much of an arm chair warrior….id rather deal with these tools myself than film them filming and post it online and cry about it. Get involved.
Too bad someone couldn’t have just gotten away with sending these fools packing with a straight knuckle sandwich.