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Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by sapiens
72 hours does seem excessive with no charges filed. All they did was ride a bicycle on the shoulder?
I would ride a bike to work every day, but with the heat and no showers at work, it's not an option. That said, I ride home every day from work along a 4 lane highway with a small shoulder and a 65 mph speed limit. The noise is awful. (I'm dropped off with my bike every morning).
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no all they did was obstruct traffic in NYC. The people I know were participating in Critical Mass in NYC during the RNC2004, after they were denied permits to assemble as they would disrupt traffic. Once the ride started, the police arrested a number of people...
Quote:
View: 264 arrested in NYC bicycle protest
Source: CNN
posted with the TFP thread generator
264 arrested in NYC bicycle protest
264 arrested in NYC bicycle protest
From Jonathan Wald
NEW YORK (CNN) -- In the first major clampdown on protesters before the Republican National Convention, New York police arrested 264 people Friday night during a mass demonstration.
About 5,000 cyclists gathered in Union Square Park at 6 p.m. for "Critical Mass," a monthly bike ride around Manhattan, sponsored by environmental group "Times Up!"
Police started making arrests at around 8:30 p.m. in several locations along the bike route, including Madison Square Garden -- the venue for the Republican National Convention. (Special Report: America Votes 2004, the Republican convention)
The cyclists caused "massive disruptions including of people trying to get to the hospital and so we took appropriate action," said NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Public Information, Paul Browne.(Protesters use tech to help organize)
Cyclists said the bike ride was peaceful and the police acted unreasonably.
"It was a very peaceful, friendly occasion, like a parade," said one of the cyclists, Ellie Maxwell.
"Everyone was riding along when police suddenly penned us in and started picking people off," Maxwell said.
"The police actually caused more disruptions than the cyclists because they blocked off roads -- at one point for as long as an hour and a half -- whereas the cyclists were always moving."
Most of those arrested were taken for processing to Pier 57 and will be charged with disorderly conduct, an NYPD spokesman said.
The three-story, block-long pier has been converted to a holding pen especially for those protesting the convention so that city precincts will not be overrun by waves of arrests.
The pier can hold 1,000 people and will remain in operation until the end of the U.S. Tennis Open.
Police distributed flyers at the start of the ride in Union Square warning that anyone breaking traffic laws could be subject to arrest.
The monthly bike ride drew thousands more than usual due to the number of people who wanted to protest against the convention.
"Critical Mass" takes place on the last Friday of every month to promote the interests of bicyclists.
According to its Web site, "Critical Mass's aim is to make people take notice of cyclists as road users."
"Although some obstruction of 'normal' traffic occurs," says the Web site, "we are only seeking to raise the profile of cycling, and put cycling and transport issues on the agenda so that they will not be ignored."
An estimated 250,000 protesters are expected to march from Union Square on Sunday past Madison Square Garden.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ASU2003
If I were in LA or NYC, I would have joined them. Riding in gridlock traffic on a shoulder can't be that unsafe.
And I wish that Americans would realize that there should be more massive protests if the system isn't setup or working correctly. I'm not saying that bike riding should make 1 million people take to the streets, but they protest all the time in other countries and it can be effective.
And 72 hours is excessive for people that didn't have charges brought against them with evidence.
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maybe that's the case. You are allowed to try if you like, please don't whine or complain if you do get injured in some manner.
Heck, walking on the sidewalks in NYC is dangerous enough with taxi cabs having jumped curbs and decapitated pedestrians.
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Last edited by Cynthetiq; 05-15-2008 at 08:37 PM..
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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