NYC, August 29 2004
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- 80 Responses
- twooh0
BTW, sweet photos man. I wish I still had lived in WillyB.
- monstress0
Thanks, and rock the power, however gently you choose.
- CyBrainX0
I love Critical Mass but I wish they didn't block traffic and blow the traffic lights.
However, it has been very hard, to an undemocratic degree to get a protest permit this month.
I also think the 2-abreast restriction from the police was just an excuse to: as Chief Wiggum would say - "kick some hippy ass".
- ctrlRmB0
Seriously... I agree with CyBrain. Traffic is a pain in the ass... but some things are more important than getting to the mall.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/da…
A minor inconvenience... A friend of mine was participating in the Critical Mass bike rally. He's a peaceful, law abiding citizen. Like so many others, he was coralled by the police and scooped up for detention. He was put in a holding cell for 24 hours.
When all was said and done, the arrests probably caused more traffic congestion than they solved.
- lowimpakt0
if they were purposfully blocking emergency vehicles such as ambulances as twooh said I wouldn't stand for that. No cm i have ever been on has slowed down emergency vehicles, buses etc.
Id say this level of arresting had little to do with traffic concerns, more to do with an exertion of control and 'security' pre-convention.
- DutchBoy0
this was just some of the action...
robotron3k
(aug 29 04, 06:16)
---jesus h. christ!! that video is awesome! what happens is sad, but it makes me feel good to see this crowd being so fanatic in showing their feelings and solidarity. this jsut confirms it is your govt. that makes the US look bad, not the people!
thx for sharing, robotron!
- lowimpakt0
aghhh jeez 49 megs. I wanna see.
- DutchBoy0
permit, permit, permit..blahblahblah..
a good protest (imo) is organized by one side: the protesters. they should do it well and let the participants know not to cause harm or danger, and let rescue vehicles pass.. if that is all in order they can call the authorities and warn them.. NOT asking for a permit first. geezz.. that's just undermining the whole idea of a mass protest.
if the cause is great, and in this case it damn well is, then it may certainly be disruptive to a certain degree..
and for that moment i have not much sympathy for whining consumerwhores complaining about a silly traffic jam. geeeeezzzz..
- unfittoprint0
c'mon people... some backbone, it's a protest goddamnit. not a PC pretty-please-cherry-on-top-i-wa... -2-love-us crap.
Get with the program: some ol'europe agit prop, civil desobedience, targeted invasion/disruptances. be heard. more than them..
it's bigger than your 9-5 schedule.
friendly tip: french unions [june/july 2004 protest]
- dessalles0
I'm a huge fan of critical mass.
It may sound disruptive, but it's as much a part of NYC as anything else. Critical Mass has been taking place for such a long time (eight years), and if you feel any apprehension towards bicyclists riding through the streets once a month you're either new to the city or you've got a stick up your ass - either way you better get used too it.
The last ride was the largest ever, and was slightly more aggressive due to the RNC. To my knowledge there has never been an arrest before. So don't get the wrong impression - it's always very peaceful and enjoyable
I encourage everyone to participate. You won't regret it.
- dessalles0
As for the arrests.
A close friend of mine, among many others, was (peacefully) arrested last night for absolutely no reason. He did not attempt to block traffic, run red lights or take up anything else of a disruptive nature. He was taken to the retention facility on the west side.
The first thing that he said to me once he was released was that he felt like he was in a concentration camp. And he quickly likened it to Guantanamo Bay. He was held there for 14 hours before his rights were read to him or he was made aware of what he was arrested for. He never had access to any legal council until 20 hours later at his arraignment. At which point we were informed that most likely the charges would be dropped.
It was all for nothing.
A gross violation of civil rights is taking place.
Be aware.
- DutchBoy0
ace!
weird sight tho, in the heart of Manhattan..
anyway_
would love to see less cars and more bicycles in cities!
- unfittoprint0
tar + feathers
- twooh0
Dutchboy,
grow up will ya? i bet you would've supported the protest on the Great Lawn in Central Park, when in the long term, it would've ruined the property. Can you imagine thousands of people on one area of the park and how much of a nuisance that will be?you say permits are absurd. i say you're absurd for thinking everyone should abide by YOUR terms.
i have my terms to. does that exclude me from the definition of 'everyone'?
- twooh0
this is why i'm annoyed at the RNC for being here. not because of the convention, but because you're going to have nosy protestors that now make me more upset at THEIR cause, rather than supporting them.
most of these protestors are probably from outside the city as well, oblivious to the annoyances and disturbances they're causing peaceful such as myself here.
are some of the arrests absurd? of course, but how many times in your life have you been arrested for not a good reason?
*raises hand*
and how many of you actually complaining live in NYC and are directly affected by this?
*looks for hands. none raise*.
point made.
- kezza_20
The right to protest is part of the very reason Bush is throwing his weight around the world...namely democracy.
can't have it both ways, you have to allow freedom of speech in your own country before you start telling others what to do.
At the end of the day the top news story on every paper is the protests not what that idiot is saying, and that can only be good.
- tara|gee0
today wasnt too bad - but i am def scared of what's to come...
- twooh0
quite honestly, i'm not suprised that the Republicans aren't trying to stop the protests because it infuriates me to know that its ruining my daily routine this week.
Nixon campaign anyone?
everyone seems to think the courts are against freedom of speech by denying a few protests, but then again, how many groups have permits this week? heh.
- jevad0
i'm sure you feel as inconvienienced as the general Iraqi population do right now twooh...boo hoo