Don’t trample rights of individuals

A week ago, as HPR was preparing to go to press, a firestorm was unfolding in our community. Long story short – as most of you know this well – a Fargo resident was targeted on social media and it was implied that he was inappropriately taking pictures of young children at the Island Park swimming pool.

The original Facebook post included pictures of 37-year-old Kirk Ludwig, as well as his car and license plate. That post went viral. It was like someone opened a flood gate. A tsunami followed.

A few hours later, Ludwig went to the police station to show them what was in his camera. Nothing lewd. Nothing illegal. They then walked a drug sniffing dog around his car and cited him for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Go figure.

The Park District joined the rush to judgment and banned Ludwig from Fargo parks. It’s our understanding they still stand behind this trespass order.

As the onslaught unfolded, a few chimed in that they also had supposedly seen this photographer taking pictures in public, and they also were creeped out. The inundation grew.

Some acknowledged we had heroes in our midst. Good-intentioned folks watching out for the public, especially the children.

Thousands joined the fray, the social media character assassination. People with seemingly good intentions not taking a moment to think about the unintended harmful consequences of their actions.

Eventually, some media began to report the other side of the story, Ludwig’s story. As it turns out, his world was turned upside down and he was frightened for his life. One police officer’s online post described Ludwig’s behavior as disorderly conduct. Another officer commented that somebody should stomp his guts out.

Countless posts by many good people of our community were vicious and steeped with self-righteous indignation. Vile, in fact.

One prevalent thread in the avalanche of online posts suggested that people who have kids have a different understanding of this, that they don’t want their children photographed or watched that way. As it turns out, Ludwig is a dad and has a family and kids. Further, he’s obviously someone’s child. Imagine how his family would feel when someone they know and love comes under such a vicious, out-of-the-park attack.

That said, hindsight is 20/20. Now what? Where do we go from here?

We have some practical advice for all of us. Especially as it relates to publishing malicious, unverified information about someone.

First and foremost, don’t go there, even if others do. What we say about others and how we say it says a lot about us. Just don’t do it. Count to 10. Then sleep on it. Think of the consequences of what’s unfolding. Put yourself in the shoes of the person under attack. Have a heart and don’t do damage in what you choose to do.

Second, remove your posts now. You know if you participated, if you crossed the line, if you contributed in any way in wronging Kirk Ludwig.

Third, demand that our parks department remove the trespass edict in place for 90 days. It’s wrong, plain and simple.

Fourth, remind yourself what it means to have individual rights in this America of ours. Everyone has inalienable rights. All have equal protection under the law. Don’t be part of behaviors that erode or abridge rights of people. Goodness knows we have too much of that already.

Lastly, if you believe you see crimes unfolding, call the cops and let them do their work. Don’t take it into your own hands. Don’t do harm. Don’t disparage, disrepute. Don’t assassinate another’s character. Don’t trample the rights of individuals. Just don’t do it. You are neither judge nor jury.

But for the grace of God, there go we. Just hope and pray you are never the object of such harsh, degrading, damaging vilification at the hands of others as this turned out to be.