Guardian Angels Back Proposed Ban On Posting Fight Videos Online
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The leader of the Guardian Angels has applauded an effort in Springfield to make it a crime to film violent incidents and post the video online.
Miguel Fuentes, national director of the Guardian Angels, said he tried four years ago to get lawmakers behind his push for such a law.
He said the genesis of his effort was "the unfortunate beating, robbery, and murder of Delfino Mora, an individual who was collecting cans, because he had lost his job, and three young teens decided they want to film a knockout."
Prosecutors have said Nicholas Ayala, Anthony Malcolm, and Malik Jones were playing a game called "Pick 'em out and knock 'em out," in which they someone picks out a random person and sucker punches him. Mora, 62, died after Jones allegedly punched him once, and Mora fell hard, hitting his head on the concrete. Jones then allegedly stole cash from Mora's wallet.
Jones is awaiting trial for murder and robbery. Ayala pleaded guilty to murder and robbery two years ago. Malcolm was convicted of murder and robbery in 2013, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors said Malcolm and Jones recorded the attack after Jones handed him his phone and said he was going to punch Mora. The video was later posted on Facebook.
The American Civil Liberties Union noted there are free speech issues in enacting a ban on posting such videos online, but Fuentes said if a fight is staged, a crime already has been committed.
"There's where you draw the line. Is it free speech, or are you committing a crime?" he said.
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Fuentes also said it's sad bystanders often would rather get good video than try to help a victim of a crime.
"You see people constantly just pulling out their cell phones, and instead of calling 911, they're videotaping the incident," he said.
State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), who is sponsoring the proposed ban, said staging fights or being a willing bystander are both unacceptable. Bryant introduced the measure in Springfield after seeing video of two middle school students fighting in an alley while several classmates watch and record the fight on their phones. In the video, a 13-year-old boy is seen trying to stomp a 12-year-old lying on the ground.
Bryant's proposal would make it a misdemeanor to post fight videos online "with the intent to promote or condone that activity," or if the person who posted it refuses to provide the video to police upon request.
Fuentes said Bryant's proposal comes four years too late for Mora, "but hopefully more lawmakers will get on board to pass something to do something, because as we're seeing it as an epidemic not only here in Chicago, but throughout the United States."
