Islander Arrested in New York for Bicycling on Earth Day

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 00:01:36 -0700
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
From: Aaron Koleszar <aaronk@isn.net>
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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/



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