The police have been going through this routine of attacking and arresting
critical mass riders for at least the past couple of years. I have personal
questions about what the riders politically accomplish by knowingly riding
into these futile confrontations, but that is really besides the point. The
importance is the police deliberately reppressing people's expression.
The question now is what are the new elected officials who got elected
on platforms that included addressing police abuse going to do about this?
The "accomplishments" of the new administration so far include eliminating
the Civilian Review Authority WITHOUT first setting up a replacement, so far
just talk about exploring the string of police shootings, continuing the
criminal prosecutions of the ISAG protesters arrested in July, 2000 because
831 paramilitary police wanted to justify their presence to combat 100-150
nonviolent protesters.
Jordan Kushner
Powderhorn
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cameron A. Gordon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Police Arrest Bike Riders
> I talked to two (of about 60) people today who were at the Critical Mass
bike
> ride Friday.
>
> It sounds like this was a carefully planned raid by the police. Several
police
> cars were waiting. Once the ride got under way, riders were ordered to
ride
> single file and then they were "pinched" off at the front.
>
> A flatbed truck was there and bikes were taken by the police and loaded
onto it.
> Some folks are very concerned because these are their only means of
transit and
> they use them to get to work, school etc. Apparently those bikes without
> licenses and registration will be kept....at least this is the impression
that
> the riders were left with. At least one bike with proper registration has
been
> returned.
>
> Does anyone else question if this is a useful or valuable use of our
police
> resources?
>
> It might be helpful if we could read what motivated this police action.
>
> If there were concerns about safety or violations of law there must have
been
> better, more productive and less costly alternatives to this approach.
>
>
> Cam Gordon
> Seward
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