A JOURNALIST FROM CBC " AS IT HAPPENS " GIVES HER VIEWS ON MY ARREST!!!

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It was one hell of a media scrum. But it wasn't journalists shoving each other. In fact, there was only one individual who could be considered press -- although, not by everyone. The rest were police officers.

Charles Leblanc of Fredericton is a blogger. He runs a website devoted to New Brunswick politics. And he's been fighting for the right to become a member of the press gallery at the New Brunswick legislature. Earlier this fall, Mr. Leblanc was in Saint John covering a rowdy protest at the "Atlantica" business conference -- a meeting dedicated to improving trade between Atlantic Canada and the Northeastern United States. At first, things were going well for Mr. Leblanc: he was snapping photos with his digital camera, documenting the event, much like his mainstream media colleagues. But a few seconds later, he was face-down on the floor with a policewoman's knee on his neck, getting cuffed by two other officers -- much like a protester.

On that day in September, Charles Leblanc was arrested, his camera confiscated, his pictures deleted. He was charged, and put on trial for obstruction of justice.

Well, today was a day of vindication for Charles Leblanc. He was acquitted of the obstruction charge, and the judge sent of message of support to bloggers everywhere.

Judge William McCarroll ruled that Charles was "plying his trade," and criticized the police for arresting him. The arresting officer had testified LeBlanc's scruffy appearance and unprofessional-looking equipment led to his arrest. But McCarroll argued that the seizure of LeBlanc's camera was unwarranted, and the police had no right to delete his photos. It was all music to a blogger's ears: a far cry from his sound manhandling by police, which, for the record, sounded like this:

DALET: FTR - BLOGGER