Comments on: Flyer Arrested After Declining to Show ID

By: Netin

Netin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:52:25 +0000

I find it facinating that people allow for their servants to dictate proof of existence for one to travel. What proofs? Picture ID. Anyone can manufacture picture ID. The photo is nothing in the scheme of things. Same for the signature. I went to germany with my US Government Picture ID and was denied the ability to cash a travelers check because I did not look like the person in the picture and my signature was not the same as on the ID. Does that mean that I can only look like the picture to “prove myself,” and that I must signe in the same fashion every time I apply my signature? I have neuropathies that affect my ability to sign. My hair color naturally changes… and does this mean I must always shave in the same manner?

Unless I am issued an ID free of charge, I am not going to purchase one to prove who I am. And if American Officials are hurt by the idea… then they have to prove to me who I am NOT!

My Fingerprints are in a national database as I once served America. That is my ID. If stopped to Prove myself, I will give them the finger, which IS the proof of who I am!

I have found that in America you have to LIE, commit perjury to get an ID. I reside nowhere as I reside everywhere, ensuring that I am not in any one state or address longer than any other, thereby I am a resident of no state by my choice. Therefore to get a NEW PHOTO ID, I have to LIE… I won’t so I have none save my Finger to which I will gladly show to any government official.

Finally, If I tell an officer my name, it [is] my name and therefore no concealing of identity occurs… as my FINGER is the only true validation of who I am. I also sign nothing, I cannot be compelled to sign anything, and even the US Supreme Court cannot order my signature to any document as to do so would invalidate the document as it would be under duress.

By: Phil Mocek

Phil Mocek — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:33:39 +0000

For updates, see the Identity Project's State of New Mexico v. Phillip Mocek FAQ

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:59:04 +0000

I have to say Phil got what he deserved. thank you and have a nice day!

By: uk visa

uk visa — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:29:41 +0000

Hi Sherri
Is there an update on this?
I travelled to the US a few years ago and found the whole mentality of airport security very frightening; they were treating every traveller as the enemy. When asked how I was finding America I tended to answer with ‘very much as I’d expect Germany to be in 1939′.
America is so much better than this; the lack of training, a lack of IQ and the wrong attitude of the TSA is damaging America.

By: pete

pete — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:33:06 +0000

As someone who was also getting their ID and boarding pass checked, I’m a bit confused by a number of things claimed in this article. Commenting on the end statement alone, this gentleman was offered the same opportunity as someone who “screwed up” and forgot their ID but he also refused to answer identifying questions. From what I saw and heard, he got the exact reaction he wanted so he could embellish the truth and rile us all up (myself included if I hadn’t actually seen it.)

By: Alyson

Alyson — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:08:45 +0000

I don’t understand why it’s really an issue if it were planned. There’s no way that refusing to show ID happens accidentally so whether or not he planned it ahead of time is pretty much irrelevant.

I’m not really understanding the obsessing over inconvieniencing the people behind him in line, either. First of all, it’s really unlikely that anyone missed a flight because of this, everyone knows that getting through security takes forever and if it weren’t him refusing to show ID it’d be a random bag search or something else. Secondly, who cares? People inconvience me all the time for much less important things than taking a stand about a civil rights violation very few people seem to take seriously. Henry, you seem to be really blowing out of proportion how serious it is to mildly inconvience some strangers.

Lastly, Rosa Parks arrest for refusing to move to the back of the bus was meticulously planned in advance by the NAACP, and that’s still remembered as a defining moment in the civil rights movement.

By: sherri

sherri — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:44:53 +0000

@Alan (25): I see your point. However, I have to wonder why on earth filming at any transportation check point could possibly be grounds for prosecution. First, it is very easy for anybody to film surreptitiously. A ban against filming could not be fairly enforced. Hidden cameras these days are *tiny,* and everybody has cell phones with cameras and such. The only people who would be arrested for filming would be those who are doing it obviously– NOT people who would actually be trying to take advantage of security weaknesses.

Second, an airport is an area where everyone is constantly made aware that we’re under surveillance already. Many of us have serious concerns about the imbalance of power and the growing “police state” at airports. It’s very important for individuals to have the right to record and distribute the things that happen to us, especially in places where law enforcement is monitoring us already. Information is power.

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:40:44 +0000

This is a total load of crap. i was in the airport at the check point when this was going on. they tried to atleast get his real name but he refused to give it up. and then he started recording which is not against airport policy but is against the department of homeland security’s checkpoint policies because if you record or take pictures of a federeal check point it could be used for illegal activity. And when he was asked to stop and the federal check point policy was explained to him he still refused to turn off the camera. at which time the law enforcement officers were brought in which by the way there was only 4 officers. and the second guy they arrested also refused to cooperate with A.P.D. so he was also arrested.

By: sherri

sherri — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:45:08 +0000

@23: Yes, Phil was in Albuquerque working at the 2009 International Drug Policy Reform Conference. Looks like the Cannabis Defense Coalition has set up a legal defense fund for him. This is great! More info here:

http://cdc.coop/tsa_arrest

By: YousiCurity

YousiCurity — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:24:15 +0000

At #20…… is this legit?

By: BK1

BK1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:39:11 +0000

You are all property of Corporate America. The constitution is null and void. You have no rights, only privilege. You own no property, but rent from the Corporate State as a user.

USCA Title 12, Section 95(b), Congressional Report 93-549, Senate Document #43, 1933, and Black’s Law Dictionary term: “Bank Holiday of March 6, 1933″.

“The ultimate ownership of all property is in the State. Individual “So-called” ownership is only by virtue of government i.e. law, amounting to a mere user and use must be in accordance with law and subordinate to the necessities of the State.”

By: Someone Else

Someone Else — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:17:19 +0000

Henry, you claim you’re all for change, all for firing the TSA and don’t like the rules yourself. Ooooooohhh.

Have you done ANYTHING about it? How’d that work out?
IF you took action (sounds like not) has it benefitted anyone? Changed anything? Phil’s might.

A. What is your problem with this event being “planned” (you probably meant “prepared for”)? You’d rather he was too lazy to do the proper research so loses the court case? How will that bring change, fire the TSA, or change the rules you hate?
B. Who was inconvenienced? Red herring.
C. You have it backwards. The event was significant enough to be posted on the blog.

Then, if you’re a TSA troll, it’s easy to understand why you might have a problem with this thing getting any publicity at all. Calling people names for using their rights will serve as a warning to others who presume the Constitution actually applies to them!

By: hyperlinker

hyperlinker — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:38:12 +0000

Phil's legal defense fund

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:16:25 +0000

@13, @16: Come to think of it, I’ll bet Rosa Parks made the entire bus run late. Was she being a dick too? Gandhi disrupted an entire nation’s economy, so clearly he was an asshole, yes?

Perhaps civil disobedience isn’t your cup of tea, Henry. As a minimal courtesy, you could at least stop being rude to the few conscientious actors willing to put themselves at risk of serious repercussions and retaliation by actually doing *something* as opposed to, well, nothing at all.

By: Bruce InCharlotte

Bruce InCharlotte — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:39:39 +0000

I’m with you, Phil. Keep standing up for our rights. If there’s a legal defense fund, let us know. I do hope the ACLU will help.

@13 – Henry, how many people were delayed for how long while Phil politely declined to show identification? They don’t have more than one way to get through security at a major airport like ABQ?

By: sherri

sherri — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:38:08 +0000

@16: Henry – I’m not quite sure I understand why you’re angry. Yes, I show my ID all the time in order to go about my life. I don’t believe it’s right, but most of the time I have to go about my business like a normal American citizen. That’s the way our world works right now.
I think it’s important to challenge rules that we think are broken, but that doesn’t mean we have to dedicate our entire lives to being rebels. I firmly believe that a few well-chosen, peaceful actions and clearly spoken (or written) words can make a difference.

By: Henry

Henry — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:06:37 +0000

@14 – Sherri: Right, you talk lots of talk but I seriously doubt you do anything about it like Phil did.l Seriously if you want to say “Perhaps the people to complain about are the ones making the ridiculous rules to begin with, rather than the people who refuse to submit quietly for the sake of convenience.” then I think you should put your money where your mouth is. 100$ says you willingly show your ID to get through security the next 10 times you fly. In fact I’ll bet $1000 that if you were perhaps like some of the folks who were held up by the stunt, if you were running a little late for your plane and you had to catch it for a business trip to make money and feed your family, I bet you will submit to their “ridiculous rules” without question to make your plane.

I’m all for change, I’m all for firing the TSA and I don’t like the rules myself. Your pretentious blog posting here may be well meaning but it falls flat when everyone realizes:

A. this was a planned event (clearly..)
B. No regard for the other people in line or at that airport for any delays that might have come about because of this stunt (just because you are self-rightous doesn’t mean everyone else wants to miss their flight).
C. You’re using this stunt to promote your blog (don’t lie).

You are such a freedom loving activist! Now hurry, don’t miss your corporate sponsored SANS class you teach!

By: patty king

patty king — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:08:50 +0000

I had no idea you could get on a plane if you forgot your ID. That is good news, but I have to agree the rules are ridiculous. I remember a time about 10 years ago when flying was fun and so easy. Will it ever be like that again? Well maybe if everyone stops following the rules like Phil did.

By: sherri

sherri — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:58:51 +0000

@13 – Henry: Perhaps the people to complain about are the ones making the ridiculous rules to begin with, rather than the people who refuse to submit quietly for the sake of convenience.

(Also, I didn’t leave my wallet at home. I left it in a FedEx envelope addressed to my destination hotel the day before traveling.)

By: Henry

Henry — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:13:21 +0000

Ewwww.. I see… (Stewie voice) a weed activist purposely gets arrested at an airport while his friend records everything and then his friend Sherri, all in an attempt to drum up attention and traffic to her blog starts blogging about it.

So it’s one thing when you forget your ID like Sherri did in her example (she left her wallet at home, she really had no ID on her) it’s another thing when you have it on you and you just want to be a dick.

You know what Phil.. to all the people you held up in line to be a hero, fuck you. I’m all for change, just do it when no one else is in line. Because of this ruckus I wonder how many people were held up in total.