NYC Police Arrest 250 in Bicycle Protest (AP)

[Nambe]

Presidential Elections - AP

Nearly 250 bicyclists were arrested during a mass protest that passed Madison Square Garden Friday night, the first major police crackdown on demonstrators just days before a wave of activists were expected to descend for the Republican National Convention.

The cyclists had snaked through Manhattan for the monthly Critical Mass ride. But what was usually a crowd of hundreds swelled to thousands Friday, with organizers saying the excursion drew a horde of bikers who wanted to protest the convention.

Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said the cyclists had caused "massive disruptions" and endangered motorists trying to drive through the city. About 250 cyclists were arrested, including one for throwing a beer can at an officer, he said. The officer was uninjured.

"We gave them every opportunity to comply with the law," Browne said. "Those who didn't were arrested."

Police had passed out leaflets to the riders, who started their procession at Union Square, warning them not to ride more than two abreast, Browne said. Many of them ignored that warning, he said, causing massive traffic disruptions. ..

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[LauraK]

1. What about their bikes?

That would take some planning to store that many bikes without dammaging them.

[0rganism]

6. The cops don't even have to give the bikes back, let alone undamaged

It's easy enough to impound all the bicycles using civil forfeiture law, for resale at the next police auction.

[fearnobush]

2. 250!! I just heard on local NYC ABC that one a hundred were arrested.

They showed video clips. Nothing violent, just get off the street type of arrests. The group looked peaceful.

[Princess Turandot]

7. The NBC TV report I saw showed a female NYPD officer..

in the middle of the road and picked up her saying something like
'ride safe, and just don't crash into me'.

It seems like all of these stories are being super-hyped.
No one looked too bent out of shape by it, on either side.

[ryban]

3. Make Love, Not War Protest...

How about this for a protest: During Bush's speech on Thursday, turn off the television, find a partner and make love, not war. How about it? Spread the word!

[DenverDem]

4. Right after I yell "fugedaboutit" out the front door.

<http://www.thegreatamericanshoutout.org/modules/event/index.php>

[TahitiNut]

5. Gawd only knows what would happen if ...

... they all rammed the Empire State Building at the same time.

The horror! The horror! :eyes:

[ixion]

8. danger to motorists?

Yeah, it's so dangerous being wrapped in a steel cage when up against someone who's not. :eyes:

[Renew Deal]

9. 264. Here is a better resource

http://nyc.indymedia.org/

[dbt]

10. "A crowd of hundreds swelled to thousands." VERY telling!

In New York City, we will at last get to see just how many people there really are who are opposed to the murderous and corrupt bu$h regime.

I think there are simply too many television stations in NYC, too many citizens with camcorders and/or cell phones with cameras in them for the authorities to downplay the size of the protests.

ABCCBSNBCCNNFochsNoose have constantly downplayed the crowd size in EVERY protest that's been mounted against the Regime. You know the drill, "a few hundred protestors" when there have been a couple of thousand. "A few demonstrators" when the streets have been full, ad nauseum.

In New York City, I do believe there will simply be too many witnesses for the Media Borg to be able to cover up.

How FITTING that this should happen in New York City! This week, we are all New Yorkers!!

:loveya:
dbt

[wildflower]

11. Yes, I think the numbers question will be a VERY hard choice for the....

media. On the one hand, they've been trying to pump up the impact of the protestors to make them look scary; so frightening, in fact, that the poor delegates have been guaranteed therapy.*

On the other hand, they'll want to downplay the numbers for the viewing audience so that all continue nodding the mantra "Not that much support for Kerry...a tight race...repeat..."

I wonder which way they'll go?

-wildflower

*For anyone who missed it, see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x781738

ON EDIT: Just saw there's another thread on this (counseling) in LBN this morning