G4S Wackenhut blocking media and protesters in AL

What the hell is going on out there and why are there more cops and security than people cleaning up the beach?

We have been looking for Oil on the beach and private security blocking access here in MS. So far we haven't had any liquid oil on the beach yet.

I ride the beach every morning now and we are just finding tarballs here in Hancock county.

The MS Militia stands ready to escort the media both mainstream and alternative past the armed security. Local Law Enforcement has been made aware that we will not tolerate private security forces closing public property and preventing public access. The County EOC will decide if and when the beaches are to be closed and national guard will be providing security. They have been instructed to allow all media in to film and ask questions providing they have a taken a basic 4 hour Hazmat safety class or be escorted by someone who does.



Edit: I did not shoot this video. I will shoot some here in MS when conditions warrant.

[edit on 17-6-2010 by SWCCFAN]

well hats off to the MS MILITIA!!!!!

you guys are my new heros.

The MS Militia stands ready to escort the media both mainstream and alternative past the armed security. Local Law Enforcement has been made aware that we will not tolerate private security forces closing public property and preventing public access.

Normally I'm very critical about citizen militias -- to myself. I understand the role they've played historically, and how it's vital that a free country should be able to have a citizen militia. But I'm usually depressed by how narrowly 'gung-ho' they are, and can somewhat understand those who see them as dangerous.

But not this time! Hooray to the MS Militia for the principle of that statement. They're right -- private corporate security should never be able to unilaterally block access to public property. The local law enforcement seems to be following the 'path of least resistance', and going along with it for whatever pragmatic disaster-mitigation purposes they can justify to themselves. But, in doing so they're leaving unguarded a fundamental public right. And this militia is stepping up to protect it.

Good for them. I hope they're level-headed enough to do it safely.

Absolutely excellent posting!

Please, keep this type of thing up. It's our only way to get any real information on who is present, and what exactly they are doing, cleanup or otherwise.

Nice job on the close up of the uniform, as well.


Great work, great video. We await more like it.


This also provides footage that may be relevant down the road, for legal purposes, and may be some of the very few that ever get produced and released.

Extremely important, especially the guard's weird behavior at the end. It all seemed normal up to that point, imo.

"You don't know who you work for?" "No ma'am."


uhhhh??? I understand that the big head honchos of all these companies are being secretive, but it has gotten down to the actual individuals doing the work?

"Your shirt says Wachenhut. You dont know who you work for?"

"No ma'am."

Talk about programmed denial. They wont even say the name of the company that they work for even while wearing a badge and uniform of the company they are working for.

Notice how the security guard kept his badge and logo blocked from camera the first time around.

People would be a lot more forgiving of this disaster if they werent putting up such a steel curtain around the information.

This is pathetic.

Answer me this...How come this isnt a big deal? All these videos ive seen people are being kept away from the beach all over the coast...even people that want to help...i would think that would be a huge news story...why is private security keeping people off of beaches?

Why is it a big deal? I've said it on another thread with this exact topic and I'll say it again...

Here on ATS there are countless threads about the ELE that is the Gulf crisis, from forced evacuations to a virtual "nuclear winter" situation in the Gulf due to chemicals, gases, and other affects of the oil. Its bad, its scary, even thinking about these chemicals are likely to give you a brain tumor, and when it rains on our crops we will all be doomed.

But

HEY...lets all go down to the beach and breath in the poisonous fumes and play around the toxic oil...

What do you mean the beach is CLOSED? What do you mean this is an UNSAFE area?

CONSPIRACY!!!!!! THEY'RE HIDING SOMETHING!!!!!!!

Do you do this same routine when burger king doesn't allow you into the kitchen? Are they hiding the dogs and ferrets that your whooper is secretly made out of?

I don't understand what makes people, A. think they have any right to be on the beach that has been closed for WHATEVER REASON B. want to go and take pictures and harass the people that are there, doing whatever the # it is they are doing. Not one person here on ATS wants ANYONE shoving a camera in there face, making all sorts of wild accusations, and if you were to be put in the situation some of these people are you would most likely react the same way.

And just to mention, these "BP security thugs" aren't ex cia mercenary navy seal green beret's. They are locally hired people, there have been news articles and posts here that show that.

Like I said before, I don't understand the line of thought that makes you say the oil is so dangerous that all of the Gulf, land and water, will be contaminated and all things that go near it will die, but then you can't go near it and its a conspiracy.

Maybe they don't need looky loos clogging up the beach, falling face first into a puddle of oil, then wanting to sue.

Maybe I'm just thinking rationally.

Yay! Will Smith is there! It's all going to be okay now.

Seriously, though...great video...seems to be a lot of activity at that particular spot. I guess it makes sense they don't want anyone hurt but um they invented this thing called the telephoto lens?

Why hasn't the military just taken the whole thing over?

I would actually feel better seeing the sites guarded by US Troops, identifying themselves as so...

reply to post by Signals


I can't follow that reasoning. It'd be ok if you knew who wasn't allowing you access to the beach? Since its some unnamed CIVILIAN you are somehow scared or less sure of the situation?

I don't identify myself to police when they demand it without cause, I'd be damned if I bent over to some punk with a camera hurling insults in my face DEMANDING to know this or that.

I don't see why people are freaking out because BP has "control" of the situation. I'd all but guarantee you people have no idea of procedure or how things like this play out. In my city, probably 20 years ago now there was a rock slide that buried cars and such under the rocks. Did the US government come in and take control of the situation? Nope. The company that caused the "disaster" was given control of the situation. The surrounding area was shut down by POLICE and control of that area given to the company responsible for the cleanup. Even though it was a "public" area, it was deemed off limits and anyone caught trespassing were arrested by this company's guards and turned over to the police.

Thats pretty much the exact situation in the Gulf, albeit with higher consequences.

I guess everyone just looks at different things from different perspectives, and I'll try to leave it at that.

reply to post by ThaLoccster


It would be one thing if they were telling people why you cant go to the beach...but they are not...and ive seen videos from places where oil hasnt even hit yet and beaches are being guraded by private security...I just find it odd that private security is banning people from a public place...many public places

If its not safe to be there then the president and EMT teams should be saying that and then im sure people will not choose to go there...but instead you get some guy who just got hired with no info telling people to stay off the beach...ok...why? Provide the answer and no problems

Star and Flag!

Nice to see Militia doing something good for the local citizens!

Not nice to see that Whackyfutz are there, boo/hiss.

reply to post by BDIDDY425


In my opinion that right there is the problem.

What makes you think you have a right to know? I personally think we should be kept in the loop, and allowed to know whats going on. But in no way do I think we have the [insert deity here] given right to know what is going on.

Do you stop at car crashes and demand to know whats going on? Scream its your right to see the dead bodies and mangled vehicles? Probably not. Because its common sense that they don't need to explain to you why you can't stop and check out the scene, the same way it should be common sense why you can't stop and check out this scene.

But peoples minds have become so convoluted with "they did it on purpose" and entertaining any wild conspiracy theory because they are so distrusting of governments and corporations that it has clouded your judgement, and kept the rays of rational thought from shining through the darkness.

reply to post by LurkerMan


its time for all states to form militias next we are going to see black water patroling beaches maybe thats what it will take innocent citizens being shot then maybe we will see "were finally on our own" this countries government is failed and its citizens are lazy with the exceptions of a few brave counties theres 16,000,000 people in florida allone so go ahead keep waiting for the government to do something why would they fix something they caused this is for all you dumbass's that still think 9/11 was caused by muslim extremism your government did this all of this WAKE UP
2+2=5

Originally posted by ThaLoccster
But peoples minds have become so convoluted with "they did it on purpose" and entertaining any wild conspiracy theory because they are so distrusting of governments and corporations that it has clouded your judgement, and kept the rays of rational thought from shining through the darkness.

Okay, you got me curious.

Is a person crazy for not trusting government of corporations? Or is it the person that does trust them?

Maybe you're right, we should just listen to what they tell us and do what they say, then everything will be okay.

The real question is what are they trying to hide or protect? Dead sea life? Oil? Why so much security and police.

This does not make sence its a waste of resources and gives me reason to believe that BP is indeed hiding things.

I will do everything I can here in Mississippi to expose any attempt at a cover up.

I have access to the secure areas with my position with the local EMA. I am not activated in response to the spill. But the moment we get under a hurricane watch I am. So I will be somewhat restricted by EMA law what I can talk about once active. I am sure that other fine ATS members will step up to the plate.

reply to post by ThaLoccster


Honestly I could care less about a conspirarcy regarding this...doesnt even matter..what matters is its happened and how to react...its on the news 24 hours a day..."worse" enviromnental disaster...And if I lived there then yeah I have a right to know...even if I dont live there...also on the national news they are saying no access being blocked etc..

Your right about the not stopping at car wreck...but thats a daily experiece all over the world and we are used to seeing it...an oil spill of this magnitutde threating an entire populations way of life in the US...its not like this happens everyday...you dont see private securtiy guards telling not only regular people but media teams to go away...

If I lived in this area and cannot access the public beach that i grew up with my whole life...and now i may have to pick up and leave...Im going to have a problem with the conflicting info and having hired non government BP perssonal telling me to go away...These are peoples entire familys and livelyhoods at stake..I agree sometimes for national security the masses dont need to know some things...fine put goverment people/police down there to tell me that...make an official annoucment letting people know to stay away...not some BP security guard

Im not just referring to this video...Ive seen plenty on here from alabama mississippi, louisana with the same story

The people who hired the security have no rights/claims to the land they are assuming control over. Their authority is de facto - there is no legal basis on which they are operating.

Clear cut, can't get any more black and white than that.

State governors, grow a spine and kick BP out of your state. Follow by asking for federal assistance.

Pres. Obama, kick BP out of our waters, sign a blanket temporary reprieve to the Jones Act and let those that are willing to, come and help. Tell those who will come that whatever they can recover and reuse is theirs free of charge.

For BP to profit anymore from a disaster they made is horrendous. To have the very people who had their lives destroyed by these people left with no choice but to go to work for these people is APPALLING.

Take over the situation. It is the governments DUTY. Make BP pay YOU. YOU hire people to deal with this. THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE CREATED FOR. Not to force ideals.

Don't allow BP execs to start up these "security" companies and launder away all BP's money. A light has been turned on in the kitchen and the roaches are scattering.....

reply to post by BDIDDY425

Im not just referring to this video...Ive seen plenty on here from alabama mississippi, louisana with the same story

Can you please post the links to the Videos for MS that you have seen because the MS Militia has partols out all over the coast and we have found no one restricting access here in MS. So if they are we need to know so they can be delt with in a proper and legal way.

Only the State, local government, or local EOC can close the public beach.

Any private contractors found to be restricting Media access will be detained and held for local Law enforcement. They have no legal standing to close or deny access to a public beach.

I will ask again if anyone has evidence of this happening in MS pleas let me know either on here or U2U.

Thanks.