When public spaces are treated like private playgrounds by corporations and security guards, it’s time to roll camera. That’s exactly what I did during my recent Mizner Park First Amendment audit in Boca Raton, Florida. My goal? To shed light on a troubling pattern of censorship and false privacy claims that previously led to the takedown of a popular video by Amagansett Press and Watching the Watchmen.

This audit wasn’t just about me—it was about defending the right of all citizen journalists to record in public spaces, especially when those spaces masquerade as “private property” despite being heavily subsidized and publicly accessible.

Why Mizner Park?

Mizner Park is a high-end outdoor shopping and dining district in the heart of Boca Raton. It’s also home to J. McLaughlin, the store that previously filed a false privacy complaint with YouTube, resulting in Amagansett Press’s viral audit being taken down.

That was a direct attack on the First Amendment, and I wasn’t going to let it slide. So I returned to the scene—not just to film, but to make a statement.

Confrontation Begins at J. McLaughlin

Almost immediately after I began filming outside the storefront, staff inside J. McLaughlin called Mizner Park security, who then escalated things further by contacting Boca Raton Police. This mirrored exactly what happened in the Amagansett Press video—only this time, I was ready.

I made it a point to speak with shoppers in front of the store, warning them about J. McLaughlin’s role in censoring content creators on YouTube. The reaction? Mixed—but that’s part of what makes these audits important. They start conversations.

A Familiar Face Returns

To my surprise, the same security guard from the Amagansett Press video showed up again. At first, he claimed I had to stay behind the pillars on the sidewalk, which he said was the only public area. Moments later, that changed. Once the police arrived, he claimed even that space was private.

That contradiction alone was worth documenting. It exposes the arbitrary enforcement of so-called “private property” rules in areas designed for public use.

Confronted by a Mystery Man

During my audit, an unidentified man—possibly affiliated with J. McLaughlin—stormed past me aggressively with a bag, nearly bumping into me. He then returned, pulled out his phone, and began filming me while hurling insults, calling me “goofy” and mocking the subscribers of Amagansett Press.

Ironically, he was doing exactly what he was accusing me of doing: filming in public. But that’s the hypocrisy we deal with all the time in this line of work.

Boca Raton Police Arrive

Officer Leinonen of the Boca Raton Police Department was the responding officer. She claimed that the storefronts and sidewalks in Mizner Park were private property, and that I would need to move to the central park area if I wanted to continue filming.

That claim is questionable, especially given that Mizner Park is considered a mixed-use development with public access funded in part by public bonds. The public has every right to access and record from these spaces, and law enforcement should be protecting that right—not facilitating its erosion.

I chose to de-escalate by asking Officer Leinonen if I was free to go. When she said yes, I walked away before a formal trespass could be issued. Make no mistake: I was not backing down—I was making sure this audit stayed in the public record and couldn’t be twisted into something it wasn’t.

The Bigger Issue: False Privacy Claims & YouTube Censorship

One of the main reasons I conducted this audit is because Amagansett Press and Watching the Watchmen had their Mizner Park video censored through a false privacy complaint filed by J. McLaughlin. That takedown is an abuse of YouTube’s privacy reporting tools and a direct attack on citizen journalism.

The irony is thick: public figures and businesses using “privacy” as a weapon against free speech—all while under surveillance themselves.

My return to Mizner Park wasn’t about confrontation. It was about accountability.

Let’s Talk About the Law

Under Florida Statute 810.09, trespassing only occurs after someone is warned to leave and refuses. I was not trespassed—I asked if I was free to go, and I went. Also, Florida has no expectation of privacy in public spaces, especially not in open-air shopping centers with no signage indicating restricted photography.

Furthermore, First Amendment protections are not suspended just because a business doesn’t like being filmed. That’s not how rights work.

Takeaways from This Audit

•J. McLaughlin has a pattern of escalating non-issues into censorship campaigns.

•The same security personnel continue to enforce vague or shifting rules.

•Police seem more willing to support businesses than protect free speech—though Officer Leinonen did at least confirm I was free to go.

Final Thoughts

This Mizner Park First Amendment audit wasn’t just about proving a point—it was about documenting truth in the face of organized suppression. When businesses like J. McLaughlin use false privacy claims to remove videos from the internet, it’s more than just a nuisance—it’s a threat to journalistic freedom.

And that’s why I showed up.

Watch the Full Audit Video

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Legal Disclaimer

All individuals filmed in this video were recorded in publicly accessible areas where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. All interactions depicted are protected First Amendment activity.