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minnesota bicyclists arrested
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minnesota bicyclists arrested
wrote in message ... On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:06:34 -0600, wrote: http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1396202.html [Odd, the link requires a login and password, but somehow I got there without ever signing up--probably the referring site has some sneaky trick. Here's the article.] Police arrested 19 bicyclists, including three juveniles, after a protest ride took an ugly turn in downtown Minneapolis Friday night. About 200 bicyclists were riding on La Salle Avenue, with two officers monitoring the protest that called for reduced reliance on automobile transportation. The ride was also linked with weekend protests of next year's Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities. When officers tried to arrest a rider they felt had been trying to provoke them, a scuffle broke out, said Minneapolis Police Lt. Marie Przynski. "When the officer went to arrest him, his buddy came up, and they started to struggle with the officer," Przynski said. A group surrounded the officers, and begin to chant "Let them go!"Then several people tried to prevent the officers from arresting these individuals," she said, and a skirmish ensued. Soon, the two officers were surrounded by about 30 people, and they issued the call "officer needs help." That brought 48 officers from six different law enforcement agencies racing to the scene, where the situation escalated and the officers used chemical Mace in an attempt to control the crowd, Przynski said. Police then called in medics to examine people who were sprayed. Some officers had minor injuries, such as scrapes, but nobody was seriously injured, said Przynski, the night watch commander. It was unclear, Przynski said, if the first people arrested were affiliated with the convention protest group. The lieutenant also said that a State Patrol helicopter had videotaped part of the event, and that documentation would be included in what police are now reviewing. Police said they have had little trouble with recent rallies staged by Critical Mass, a loosely organized group that opposes society's heavy use of motor vehicles. "We've never had a problem with Critical Mass, the rally," she said. "We agree with them that we need to lessen our dependence on the automobile. Apparently, they had some infiltrators or outsiders who joined the rally tonight. And these outsiders were trying to provoke the officers." The adults were arrested on suspicion of rioting, a gross misdemeanor I got to the link w/o any problems |
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minnesota bicyclists arrested
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minnesota bicyclists arrested
In article ,
!Jones wrote: On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:06:34 -0600, in rec.bicycles.tech wrote: http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1396202.html A friend there said they were "Critical Mass"; I thought that bunch was defunct. Critical Mass rides happen monthly in dozens of cities. Far from defunct. Put 'em under the jail, I say! While I have doubts about the efficacy of Critical Mass rides in reducing the car culture, that seems a bit harsh to me. |
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minnesota bicyclists arrested
On Sep 1, 3:04 pm, Tim McNamara wrote:
In article , !Jones wrote: On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:06:34 -0600, in rec.bicycles.tech wrote: http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1396202.html A friend there said they were "Critical Mass"; I thought that bunch was defunct. Critical Mass rides happen monthly in dozens of cities. Far from defunct. Put 'em under the jail, I say! While I have doubts about the efficacy of Critical Mass rides in reducing the car culture, that seems a bit harsh to me. The two Critical Mass rides I tried up in Chicago were the nastiest cycling events I've ever experienced. If they behaved anything like those self righteous, and often violent trustafarians--I'm also for letting them cool their heels in jail. Some of these kids need a reality check. |
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minnesota bicyclists arrested
In article . com,
landotter wrote: On Sep 1, 3:04 pm, Tim McNamara wrote: In article , !Jones wrote: On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:06:34 -0600, in rec.bicycles.tech wrote: http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1396202.html A friend there said they were "Critical Mass"; I thought that bunch was defunct. Critical Mass rides happen monthly in dozens of cities. Far from defunct. Put 'em under the jail, I say! While I have doubts about the efficacy of Critical Mass rides in reducing the car culture, that seems a bit harsh to me. The two Critical Mass rides I tried up in Chicago were the nastiest cycling events I've ever experienced. If they behaved anything like those self righteous, and often violent trustafarians--I'm also for letting them cool their heels in jail. Some of these kids need a reality check. Being nasty is not a crime. Being self-righteous is not a crime. Being a "trustafarian" (which IME is not who is showing up at Critical Mass rides- they are usually the ones in the SUVs with a cell phone and a Red Bull and the subwoofer cranked up blasting out rap to show that they are down with the brothers, fuming while they have to wait for the procession of mere cyclists) is not a crime although it frequently leads to poor taste and self-indulgence. Violence is a crime. Attacking a police officer or interfering with an arrest is a crime. For that, an arrest and possible prosecution is appropriate. 48 officers were involved in the arrest of 19 individuals on "suspicion of rioting" charges, a gross misdemeanor: "Subdivision 1. Riot first degree. When three or more persons assembled disturb the public peace by an intentional act or threat of unlawful force or violence to person or property and a death results, and one of the persons is armed with a dangerous weapon, that person is guilty of riot first degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 20 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $35,000, or both. "Subd. 2. Riot second degree. When three or more persons assembled disturb the public peace by an intentional act or threat of unlawful force or violence to person or property, each participant who is armed with a dangerous weapon or knows that any other participant is armed with a dangerous weapon is guilty of riot second degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. "Subd. 3. Riot third degree. When three or more persons assembled disturb the public peace by an intentional act or threat of unlawful force or violence to person or property, each participant therein is guilty of riot third degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, or both." If convicted, it could be an expensive Friday evening bike ride. That might be something of a reality check for them. |
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minnesota bicyclists arrested
On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:04:19 -0500, in rec.bicycles.tech Tim McNamara
wrote: In article , !Jones wrote: On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:06:34 -0600, in rec.bicycles.tech wrote: http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1396202.html A friend there said they were "Critical Mass"; I thought that bunch was defunct. Critical Mass rides happen monthly in dozens of cities. Far from defunct. Put 'em under the jail, I say! While I have doubts about the efficacy of Critical Mass rides in reducing the car culture, that seems a bit harsh to me. Well, essentially Critical Mass (CM) is what's wrong with our social fabric. It's not about bicycles, it's about civil behavior... the fact that I believe myself to be a victim does not allow me to infringe the rights of others. When a CM rider runs a red light and causes a driver with a clear right of way to slam on his or her brakes, then the cyclist is wrong. How did Pogo put it back in '70? "We have met the enemy and he is us." It's an identical mentality... the only difference is the number of wheels your vehicle has on the ground, which, IMO, is irrelevant. Jones... who remains unconvinced but is still listening. |
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minnesota bicyclists arrested
On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:22:36 -0000, in rec.bicycles.tech landotter
wrote: The two Critical Mass rides I tried up in Chicago were the nastiest cycling events I've ever experienced. If they behaved anything like those self righteous, and often violent trustafarians--I'm also for letting them cool their heels in jail. Some of these kids need a reality check. My wife and I were riding in Austin, TX when a CM ride passed us. We dismounted our tandem and walked. And I *agree* with CM's position... but I will not be associated in any way with their behavior. Jones |
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minnesota bicyclists arrested
Quoting a police spokesperson: (clip) "We've never had a problem with Critical Mass, the rally," she said. "We agree with them that we need to lessen our dependence on the automobile. Apparently, they had some infiltrators or outsiders who joined the rally tonight. And these outsiders were trying to provoke the officers." (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ It is refreshing to see that the police have a reasonable approach to what happened, and do not treat Critical Mass as "the enemy," the way many of the responders to this thread seem do. I have very little use for Critical Mass, because their actions are calculated to create inconvenience, and this increases hostility among the non-riding public. It evidently creates hostility among riders, as well. This is no reason to throw them "under the jail." The adults were arrested on suspicion of rioting, a gross misdemeanor |
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