Michigan born student Mariam Jukaku studies communications and photography at SU with the aspiration of becoming a journalist. She's also studied Media Law and thought she was well within her rights as she stood on the public sidewalk in front of the V.A. hospital, snapping photos of the American flag.

Until a V.A. Security officer approached her.

"When I was turning to leave, a security guard, I guess they're V.A. police officers, kind of ran up to me and said, 'You can't take pictures here.� And I couldn't even respond when she demanded that I hand over my camera," Jukaku said.

One security officer turned into two. Jukaku says they deleted her pictures, asked for photo I.D. and led her inside the building. When the stunned student asked what she did wrong, she says they told her she couldn't take pictures of a federal building, even if she's standing on public property. And what's more, she felt she was being harassed.

"I don't think, I still don't see that as a reason to take a student�s pictures and take their camera and kind of intimidate them," said Jukaku....

"I don't know if they were profiling me or if it was discrimination. I hope it wasn't," Jukaku said.

The V.A. Hospital did not directly address alleged discrimination in its statement to us, but they say they followed the rules, based on accepted federal practices. [Link]