A fictional piece based on real experiences and events in NYC, the video
conveys reactionary hostility toward bicycle riders, artists, poets,
tree-huggers, community gardeners, etc. - specifically in the downtown
community of activists who advocated bicycle power, peace, love, and all
that jazz during the 2004 Republican National Convention in Manhattan.
Video footage captures scooter cops following Critical Mass on Westside Greenway and confiscating cyclist’s video camera while documenting the NYPD issuing false tickets to other cyclists
The trial of the 5BBC lawsuit against the NYPD, which questions the constitutionality of policing tactics used against Critical Mass and other group rides, is over and the judge’s ruling is expected any day now.
Commissioner Raymond Kelly, NYPD spokesperson Paul Browne, and over 15 other NYPD officers were deposed on their roles and knowledge of the policing of the Critical Mass rides in preparation for this lawsuit.
These two edited videos from the most recent Critical Mass ride and excerpts from the depositions give a glimpse into the NYPD’s multi-million dollar campaign to follow, ticket, intimidate and harass Critical Mass bicycle riders.
Video from the 5/29 Critical Mass ride showing an NYPD officer ordering the scooter cops to follow groups of cyclists as they were leaving Union Square and then 4 scooter cops following the ride down the Westside Greenway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5IPR3h8iBg
Video from the 5/29 Critical Mass ride showing cyclists getting tickets for 4-12(p)(3) which has continually been given out over the years even though it is not a valid ticket and is regularly dismissed in court. Also includes footage of a videographer being harassed and his camera being taken away as he tries to document the scene, another long standing pattern on the Critical Mass rides:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAI9g8Nfpp0
Testimony from Officer Kenneth Wagner confirming the NYPD’s policy of following small groups of cyclist out of Union Square, sometimes as far as to the cyclist’s home and testimony showing Commissioner Raymond Kelly was apparently not aware of this and other questionable tactics of NYPD’s policing of Critical Mass.
The next NYC critical mass is this Friday 5/29 at 7pm starting at union square north. Come out and enjoy what is now becoming a much safer ride.
Critical Mass is a leaderless bike ride that takes place in 100s of cities worldwide on the last Friday of every month. The New York Police Department has had a very confrontational relationship with the NYC ride since 2004. From 2004 – 2007, hundreds of police officers were dispatched each month to stop the ride and arrest the participants, deploying helicopters, blimps and undercover officers with video cameras to monitor the ride and engage in the violent take down of the cyclists, initiating a civil rights battle. After much embarrassing media attention and several losses in court, the NYPD were forced to retreat from these tactics. The arrests have stopped, but the police continue to harass riders by giving out tickets to cyclists who do not have lights or bells on their bikes. Anyone receiving this ticket can get it annulled by presenting lights and/or bells and their ticket to a precinct the following day.
Hence - please come to the ride but make sure you have a bell and lights on the front and back of your bike - this will significantly reduce a chance that you will be harassed by the police.
This selective targeting is currently being challenged in federal court in the Five Borough Bike Club vs NYC . See http://5bbc.org/parade
Our friends from Uptown and Queens know the value to Right of Assembly... just ask Rosa Parks and her fire-hosed friends... cut to 2008, where Reverend Al Sharpton joins the heavily policed and harassed NEW YORK CITY CRITICAL MASS... A statement of Unity from diverse people who share a passion / recognize the necessity for the Right of Assembly!
Download Now ~ high res, full screen versions HERE ~ embedding options HERE
The NYPD now requires a permit for any public gathering, or 'parade', of 50 people or more. Section 1A of the city ruling defines a parade as "any march, motorcade, caravan, promenade, foot, or bicycle race, or similar event of any kind, procession or race which consists of a recognizable group of 50 or more pedestrians, vehicles, bicycles, or other devices move by human power, or ridden or herded animals proceeding together upon any public street or roadway."
This "redefinition" is Explicitly Prohibited in 1st Amendment.
"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble ..."
This video shows how they intend to regulate free assembly while physically infringing upon the free press by following a typical monthly bike ride through Manhattan. ~ Critical Mass 3-30-07
Come out today in solidarity with the Radical Homosexual Agenda to challenge this unconstitutional change in rules for public gatherings. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you're in NYC you can help challenge this "redefinition" TODAY PARADE WITHOUT A PERMIT! Thursday, April 19th, 4PM at City Hall ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Related Links ::: Times Up!, Critical Mass Tickets, Glass Bead Collective, Radical Homosexual Agenda
