Expert: Michael Troy - 10/4/2007

Question
On September 25, 2007, I attended a public debate at a county government facility between two candidates running for the state Senate in Virginia.  I asked publicly the event coordinator if I could videotape the debate for my wife and I was given the green light.  I stood in the back of the room and shot video with my handheld camcorder.  After the two candidates opening statements, the debate was put on hold as the moderator told me that I had to either be with the local press or stop videotaping.  A reporter for the local paper told him that I had a legal right to videotape the event as it was a public forum in a government facility.  Ultimately, I shut off the camera in order to not cancel the debate.  Were my First Amendment rights violated???

A copy of the video incident is on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEz4y-2ZtXg

Thank you --

Answer
Hi Kevin,

It is a complicated question.  Officials are permitted to restrict video taping of an event if their video taping would be disruptive or for certain other reasons.  However, it may not do so to suppress information.  

You might want to conisder contacting an attorney at the ACLU or some similar organization who can fully review the facts of the case and determine if you have a case.

I hope this helps!
- Mike