Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal sat on the front row of a
Republican Candidate meet and greet and watched as Dawson County Deputy Tony
Wooten removed video journalist Nydia Tisdale from Burt’s Pumpkin Farm.
Saturday afternoon Johnny and Kathy Burt, owners of Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in
Dawsonville, hosted a meet and greet for Governor Deal and Republican
candidates. In attendance were, Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens,
Republican candidate for State School Superintendent Richard Woods, Department
of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black,
Attorney General Sam Olens, 9th District U.S. Congressman Doug Collins,
Candidate for U.S. Senate David Perdue and Governor Nathan Deal.
Tisdale the owner of AboutForsyth.com has attended many of the candidate’s events. She videos them and uploads the videos to her website. Several of the candidates know her. She is a non-partisan video journalist.
Tisdale told FYN in an interview that upon arriving she introduced herself to Kathy Burt. She arrived early and sat on the front row with her video camera in plain view of everyone. No one approached her and no one asked what she was doing with a camera.
Clint Bearden stood in front of the crowd and said let’s get this kicked off as he introduced Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens. With Tisdale’s camera rolling Hudgens started making his campaign stump speech. When talking about Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate Michelle Nunn, referring to the Chamber of Commerce debate between Perdue and Nunn, Hudgens said listening to Nunn
Tisdale the owner of AboutForsyth.com has attended many of the candidate’s events. She videos them and uploads the videos to her website. Several of the candidates know her. She is a non-partisan video journalist.
Tisdale told FYN in an interview that upon arriving she introduced herself to Kathy Burt. She arrived early and sat on the front row with her video camera in plain view of everyone. No one approached her and no one asked what she was doing with a camera.
Clint Bearden stood in front of the crowd and said let’s get this kicked off as he introduced Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens. With Tisdale’s camera rolling Hudgens started making his campaign stump speech. When talking about Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate Michelle Nunn, referring to the Chamber of Commerce debate between Perdue and Nunn, Hudgens said listening to Nunn
“I thought I
was going to absolutely puke.”
Hudgens looked at Tisdale and said “I
don’t know why you’re video taping?” (Full audio recording of the meeting is
below.)
This comment from Hudgens noticeably changed the mood in the room about Tisdale recording the event, especially for Bearden. Hudgens introduced Richard Woods. While Woods was speaking Bearden went and sat next to Tisdale, and according to Tisdale he asked her to stop videoing or she would have to leave. Tisdale told him that she was invited and would not stop. When we asked Bearden for a comment he referred us to the authorities that arrested Tisdale for a comment.
As Woods continued to speak Bearden went to Deputy Wooten for assistance. I then watched Bearden go and speak to the property owners Johnny and Kathy Burt. By this time Labor Commissioner Mark Butler had started speaking. Bearden returned and said something to Wooten. At this time both Bearden and Wooten approached Tisdale. Wooten told her she had to turn the camera off. Tisdale refused and continued to video. Wooten started to try to remove the camera from Tisdale’s hands. When she refused and struggled to keep the camera running, Wooten started physically removing her from the event. Tisdale physically resisted being removed turning the camera on Wooten screaming, “identify yourself, who are you?”
This comment from Hudgens noticeably changed the mood in the room about Tisdale recording the event, especially for Bearden. Hudgens introduced Richard Woods. While Woods was speaking Bearden went and sat next to Tisdale, and according to Tisdale he asked her to stop videoing or she would have to leave. Tisdale told him that she was invited and would not stop. When we asked Bearden for a comment he referred us to the authorities that arrested Tisdale for a comment.
As Woods continued to speak Bearden went to Deputy Wooten for assistance. I then watched Bearden go and speak to the property owners Johnny and Kathy Burt. By this time Labor Commissioner Mark Butler had started speaking. Bearden returned and said something to Wooten. At this time both Bearden and Wooten approached Tisdale. Wooten told her she had to turn the camera off. Tisdale refused and continued to video. Wooten started to try to remove the camera from Tisdale’s hands. When she refused and struggled to keep the camera running, Wooten started physically removing her from the event. Tisdale physically resisted being removed turning the camera on Wooten screaming, “identify yourself, who are you?”
Butler paused
as everyone watched Tisdale struggling with Wooten. Deputy Wooten then
physically removed Tisdale as she continued to scream and video him.
Butler tried to continue speaking but was interrupted by loud screams coming from Tisdale in the barn (screams can be heard in the audio below). Tisdale told FYN in an exclusive interview (posted below) that she screamed because Deputy Wooten had her arm twisted up her back and she was in pain. The Burts went into the barn where Tisdale was being held. Tisdale told FYN that Johnny Burt told Wooten to let her go and let her leave. Deputy Wooten said it had gone too far for that and she is going to jail. Sources tell FYN that Tisdale allegedly hit Deputy Wooten. Sources also tell FYN that the Burts asked to have her stop videoing or leave. Tisdale was on private property but Burt’s Pumpkin Farm provided their venue for a public event.
Tisdale was taken to jail in Dawson County and charged with felony obstruction of an officer and criminal trespass. Tisdale bonded out at 12:40 Sunday morning. Dawson County took Tisdale’s video camera as evidence. The camera has the full incident recorded on it. FYN spoke to Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle Saturday night. Carlisle refused to comment and referred us to his public information officer on Monday.
After the shock of Tisdale’s removal, Butler made light of it and continued with his comments. Butler then introduced Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. I was sitting there wondering if Black would comment on what just took place. This was a very disturbing scene that had just taken place. Surely Black would make a comment. No, Black gave his seven minute stump speech like nothing happened. Black then introduced Attorney General Sam Olens.
Olens tooked the microphone and looked around the crowd like did anyone else see what I just saw? Respecting the Burt’s private property rights he made the following statement.
Butler tried to continue speaking but was interrupted by loud screams coming from Tisdale in the barn (screams can be heard in the audio below). Tisdale told FYN in an exclusive interview (posted below) that she screamed because Deputy Wooten had her arm twisted up her back and she was in pain. The Burts went into the barn where Tisdale was being held. Tisdale told FYN that Johnny Burt told Wooten to let her go and let her leave. Deputy Wooten said it had gone too far for that and she is going to jail. Sources tell FYN that Tisdale allegedly hit Deputy Wooten. Sources also tell FYN that the Burts asked to have her stop videoing or leave. Tisdale was on private property but Burt’s Pumpkin Farm provided their venue for a public event.
Tisdale was taken to jail in Dawson County and charged with felony obstruction of an officer and criminal trespass. Tisdale bonded out at 12:40 Sunday morning. Dawson County took Tisdale’s video camera as evidence. The camera has the full incident recorded on it. FYN spoke to Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle Saturday night. Carlisle refused to comment and referred us to his public information officer on Monday.
After the shock of Tisdale’s removal, Butler made light of it and continued with his comments. Butler then introduced Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. I was sitting there wondering if Black would comment on what just took place. This was a very disturbing scene that had just taken place. Surely Black would make a comment. No, Black gave his seven minute stump speech like nothing happened. Black then introduced Attorney General Sam Olens.
Olens tooked the microphone and looked around the crowd like did anyone else see what I just saw? Respecting the Burt’s private property rights he made the following statement.
“Let me be
possibly politically incorrect here for a second. If we stand for anything as a
party what are we afraid of with the lady having a camera filming us? What are
we saying here that shouldn't be on film? What message are we sending? Cause it’s private property they shouldn't be
filming? What is the harm? The harm that this poses is far greater than her
filming us. What are we hiding? If we are telling you why we are running and
what we stand for, what are we hiding?” Pointing
in the direction from where Tisdale was drug away, “there is no reason for
that, that is not right”.
Olens continued,“ It is private property. The private property owner has
the right to not have the person there. Who is the winner in the long run? Not
a good move.” (Listen to Olens’ comment
below in audio file.)
Olens said now that I have shocked everyone with my comments he went on to make some campaign comments and then introduced Congressman Doug Collins. Collins introduced Perdue, Perdue introduced Deal. Then the event was over. A little time for pictures and on to another event. Olens was the only candidate to comment on the situation. Everyone else acted as if it never happened. Sources at the event did tell FYN the candidates were not opposed to Tisdale videoing and several were used to her being at events. The only candidate who commented about her videoing was Hudgens.
At the end of the event Bearden apologized to the crowd for what happened. He said the property owners, the Burts, asked her to stop videoing or leave. FYN tried to contact the Burts for comment, they were not available for comment. I never saw the Burts speak to Tisdale and ask her to leave. I only saw Deputy Wooten and Bearden speak to Tisdale.
The event was advertised as a public event by Governor Deal’s campaign through social media. No restrictions where stated on the invitation. It did not prohibit journalists or have any conditions on the invitation. I accepted the invitation and the campaign knew I was attending three days before the event. Tisdale told FYN she accepted the same invitation and they also knew she was coming. Tisdale even promoted the event for a week on social media and Twitter. A source told FYN that the local paper in the Dawsonville area advertised the event as ‘open to the public’.
I had my camera in clear view. I took pictures. I had my digital audio recorder out in plain view. I always record these events so I can refer to the recording for accuracy of a candidate’s quotes.
The facts are, Tisdale was on private property, she is a video journalist and she went to jail, her video camera was confiscated.
I am not clear if someone from the campaign asked the Burts to stop her from videoing or if they made that decision on their own. No one will answer my question on how the events transpired. I just keep getting referred to the authorities for answers and they won’t comment.
Tisdale’s court date has not been set. FYN requested a comment from Governor Nathan Deal’s Campaign Communication Director, Jen Talaver. Talaver responded
Olens said now that I have shocked everyone with my comments he went on to make some campaign comments and then introduced Congressman Doug Collins. Collins introduced Perdue, Perdue introduced Deal. Then the event was over. A little time for pictures and on to another event. Olens was the only candidate to comment on the situation. Everyone else acted as if it never happened. Sources at the event did tell FYN the candidates were not opposed to Tisdale videoing and several were used to her being at events. The only candidate who commented about her videoing was Hudgens.
At the end of the event Bearden apologized to the crowd for what happened. He said the property owners, the Burts, asked her to stop videoing or leave. FYN tried to contact the Burts for comment, they were not available for comment. I never saw the Burts speak to Tisdale and ask her to leave. I only saw Deputy Wooten and Bearden speak to Tisdale.
The event was advertised as a public event by Governor Deal’s campaign through social media. No restrictions where stated on the invitation. It did not prohibit journalists or have any conditions on the invitation. I accepted the invitation and the campaign knew I was attending three days before the event. Tisdale told FYN she accepted the same invitation and they also knew she was coming. Tisdale even promoted the event for a week on social media and Twitter. A source told FYN that the local paper in the Dawsonville area advertised the event as ‘open to the public’.
I had my camera in clear view. I took pictures. I had my digital audio recorder out in plain view. I always record these events so I can refer to the recording for accuracy of a candidate’s quotes.
The facts are, Tisdale was on private property, she is a video journalist and she went to jail, her video camera was confiscated.
I am not clear if someone from the campaign asked the Burts to stop her from videoing or if they made that decision on their own. No one will answer my question on how the events transpired. I just keep getting referred to the authorities for answers and they won’t comment.
Tisdale’s court date has not been set. FYN requested a comment from Governor Nathan Deal’s Campaign Communication Director, Jen Talaver. Talaver responded
“as this
incident was in no way related to Deal for Governor I am referring you to the
owner of the private property at which the event took place.”
At 3:50 into the video you will hear Hudgens’ comments concerning Michelle Nunn and Tisdale was videoing. At 12:15 into the video you will hear Tisdale demanding Wooten to identify himself. At 14:12 into the video you will hear Tisdale’s loud screams where she said Wooten was hurting her. 24:10 you will hear Sam Olens’ comments.
http://www.fetchyournews.com/archives/19628-Video-Journalist-Forcefully-Removed-From-Republican-Meeting!.html
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