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Islander Arrested in New York for Bicycling on Earth Day On Earth Day, April 22, 1999, Aaron Koleszar and seven Americans were arrested while cycling in Central Park after joining approximately 200 cyclists for a peaceful Critical Mass bike ride in celebration of Earth Day. No crime was committed, and it appeared that the police just wanted to disturb the celebration. "Critical mass" is the name given to mass bike rides which celebrate the bicycle as an ecological form of travel, and promote awareness of cycling and cyclists' rights. Critical mass rides occur monthly in New York and many other cities around the world. Many participants wear costumes, signs, and blow noisemakers. The rides often end with a picnic and music. The police (NYPD) escorted the cyclists up 6th Avenue to Central Park, even stopping traffic so that cyclists could ride through red lights. The police used bicycles and motor scooters to confine the cyclists to the left half of the road. Once inside Central Park, the cyclists rounded the first bend in the road, into what appeared to be a trap. The road was lined with police, many wearing riot gear, and they began to move their police barricade fences to block the whole road except for the bicycle lane. This is when police really began to demonstrate confusion. Cyclists were told to progress through the bike lane two by two, but another officer ordered that the cyclists were to be arrested (though they had committed no crime). The cyclists who had followed the orders and began biking through the police zone were the first to be arrested. Next, Koleszar and the others nearest the front of the pack were suddenly grabbed. Koleszar and most or all of the others were arrested in the bike lane and had broken no laws. The 8 persons were arrested and kept in the back of paddy wagons for over an hour, then brought to the 28 precinct. Koleszar was charged with disorderly behavior, under the pretense that he was blocking traffic, when it was the police in fact, who had erected the barricade across the road to stop the traffic. Another American citizen was arrested, but released and apologized to after the police reviewed their videotape and discovered that they had acted improperly. Koleszar and the others were held for around 4 hours without a phone call, then released after being given summonses to appear in court on May 24. A number of those arrested plan to file formal complaints, in an attempt to make someone accountable for this injustice. Some of the cyclists suggested that the real threat they posed was endangering car culture threatening the automobile industry. Aaron Koleszar, PEI, Canada <aaronk@isn.net>, 902.659.2570 _________________________________________________________________ Earth Action Legal Defense Fund Earth Action has established a Legal Defense Fund to cover legal fees and cost of travel to New York for the trial. Any donations are welcome and can be sent to: Earth Action - 81 Prince St., Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 4R3 (902) 659-2570 or (902) 621-0719 <aaronk@isn.net> or <slabchuk@isn.net> ********************************************************** Aaron Koleszar <aaronk@isn.net> ___________________________________________________ "...and yes I recognize the irony - the system I oppose affords me the luxury of biting the hand that feeds. That's exactly why privileged fucks like me should feel obliged to whine and kick and scream till everyone has everything they need." -Propagandhi Prince Edward Island PROPAGANDA JOURNAL look at http://www3.pei.sympatico.ca/brad/ -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- You received this because you are subscribed to "sust-mar", the Sustainable Maritimes mailing list. To unsubscribe, send email to <majordomo@chebucto.ns.ca> with "unsubscribe sust-mar" (without quotes) as the body of your message. To post a message to sust-mar subscribers, send it to <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca> Posts that are off-topic or excessive length (10K) will be rejected. For help contact <sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
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