To whom it may concern,
I am from St. Paul. I am a 36 year old professional. I choose not to
own a car for health and environmental reasons and instead get around by
bicycle. I went to the Critical Mass ride this past Friday because of an
e-mail notice that Chris Carlsson, the founder of critical mass (in San
Francisco) would be in town, collecting material for a new book and
talking to people. I was at two other critical mass rides last fall
that were quite peacefull and a lot of fun (in August and October). They
featured perspective Green Party candidates, kids, older folks and had
beautiful weather. So I was looking forward to Friday.
Imagine my dismay, when huge quantites of police (5-10 squad cars)
were harassing people before we even started riding, checking for bike
licenses (which I have) and using their cars to block some of the exits
from Loring Park. Dismay turned to horror, when the police then
descended on us, on a downtown street, with no notice, and began beating
and macing people, arresting many and confiscating a least 50 bicycles
(many of which HAD licenses). They threw the bikes in a huge pile on a
flatbed truck that they had waiting (in the wings) and left, leaving a
handful of people walking around in total shock and disbelief. I am
still not clear what laws we violated. Certainly, NOTHING could justify
that kind of force! They maced a woman in the face and took her bike
(which I believe was licensed)! I am told someone had to be taken to the
hospital. It was a savage and disgusting violation of at least 50
people's civil and human rights. I have never seen anything like this in
any city and I have lived in many places in my life.
The whole action was obviously planned and well coordinated. For
this reason, it seems hard for me to believe that it wasn't ordered up
by the Minneapolis city council or the Mayor himself. The only way I
will be convinced otherwise is if the Mayor and city council forcefully
speak out against this, apologize to the people who were hurt by it and
take steps to prevent it from happening in the future. I am starting to
see a pattern of police brutality and savagery in Minneapolis that is
inexcusable ...particularly in this case, where no one was posing any
threat or harm to anyone. What a sick, messed up city you have.
Andrew Singer
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cc: to mayor's office and city council members
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