Comments on: At Critical Mass, Reverend Al Calls for NYPD Accountability http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Grady http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/comment-page-1/#comment-54310 John Grady Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:42:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/#comment-54310 After reading the article and watching the film I have one question. Where in the world does that cop think he is working, L.A.? Hopefully they turn that cop into a Meter Maid, maybe on a bicycle if it has a really strong frame. After reading the article and watching the film I have one question. Where in the world does that cop think he is working, L.A.?
Hopefully they turn that cop into a Meter Maid, maybe on a bicycle if it has a really strong frame.

]]> By: Dave http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/comment-page-1/#comment-51319 Dave Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:03:02 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/#comment-51319 Hmmm...is anyone else reading this and saying Al Sharpton..that CRIMINAL? Why is he getting coeerage of any type after his conviction in the Tawana Brawley scandal? The racist who has done more to hurt race relations than anyone else in the city? With questions about his misuse of charitable funds? The fearless self-promoter with no funds to pay his damages to Steven Pagones until friends raised the funds. That Al Sharpton...why oh why does the press still cover this reprehensible person at all? Hmmm…is anyone else reading this and saying Al Sharpton..that CRIMINAL? Why is he getting coeerage of any type after his conviction in the Tawana Brawley scandal?

The racist who has done more to hurt race relations than anyone else in the city? With questions about his misuse of charitable funds?

The fearless self-promoter with no funds to pay his damages to Steven Pagones until friends raised the funds.

That Al Sharpton…why oh why does the press still cover this reprehensible person at all?

]]> By: Benjamin Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/comment-page-1/#comment-51316 Benjamin Smith Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:24:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/#comment-51316 Is anyone else reading this and saying "really?" Al Sharpton? This just surprised me a little bit. I wouldn't have connected the Sean Bell case with bike advocacy. And I wouldn't really compare the police treatment of people engaged in civil disobedience with a team of undercover officers approaching someone they suspect (rightly or wrongly) of having a gun. "When you demand the right to ride, that is all Sean Bell was doing that night, is trying to ride. And we are going to work together to have a critical mass in this city, where we can ride in justice." huh? Is anyone else reading this and saying “really?” Al Sharpton? This just surprised me a little bit. I wouldn’t have connected the Sean Bell case with bike advocacy. And I wouldn’t really compare the police treatment of people engaged in civil disobedience with a team of undercover officers approaching someone they suspect (rightly or wrongly) of having a gun.

“When you demand the right to ride, that is all Sean Bell was doing that night, is trying to ride. And we are going to work together to have a critical mass in this city, where we can ride in justice.”

huh?

]]> By: dbs http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/comment-page-1/#comment-51251 dbs Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:02:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/#comment-51251 #4: Re, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, if more people know about it, it may gain some baby teeth. The more complaints bikers file, the less likely cops may become to unjustly hassle bikers. (So, aside from fighting bogus tickets, it should become standard practice for bikers to file complaints with CCRB for being ticketed in the first place.) Even if a complaint goes nowhere, it is not fun for cops to go through the process. Incidentally, this is the FIRST appearance of the CCRB on Streetsblog, ever! Nice work Rev and Ben. #4:
Re, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, if more people know about it, it may gain some baby teeth.

The more complaints bikers file, the less likely cops may become to unjustly hassle bikers. (So, aside from fighting bogus tickets, it should become standard practice for bikers to file complaints with CCRB for being ticketed in the first place.)

Even if a complaint goes nowhere, it is not fun for cops to go through the process.

Incidentally, this is the FIRST appearance of the CCRB on Streetsblog, ever! Nice work Rev and Ben.

]]> By: maxwell http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/comment-page-1/#comment-51246 maxwell Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:55:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/#comment-51246 i was wondering if having the Rev there might convince the cops to ease up a bit, but apparently not. and on the CCRB, i've found it totally toothless. i rode up on three cops swinging away at a man they already had on the ground last year on dean between carlton and vanderbilt. i let them know i was watching and their response was to tell me to "get the fuck outta here." my CCRB complaint went nowhere. the victim was too scared to carry the complaint forward himself and my separate complaint (about being swore at - i thought it was just standard procedure from the cops when you're on a bike - but turns out you can file a complaint for it) has been in limbo for at least 6 months. i was wondering if having the Rev there might convince the cops to ease up a bit, but apparently not.

and on the CCRB, i’ve found it totally toothless. i rode up on three cops swinging away at a man they already had on the ground last year on dean between carlton and vanderbilt. i let them know i was watching and their response was to tell me to “get the fuck outta here.” my CCRB complaint went nowhere. the victim was too scared to carry the complaint forward himself and my separate complaint (about being swore at – i thought it was just standard procedure from the cops when you’re on a bike – but turns out you can file a complaint for it) has been in limbo for at least 6 months.

]]> By: dbs http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/comment-page-1/#comment-51245 dbs Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:43:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/#comment-51245 Awesome coverage Ben. Agree with the Rev that Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) could use some more teeth. It would probably get at least some teeth if us civilians knew more about it. As I posted on the TA Bklyn listserv yesterday: The one time I ever felt really threatened by a cop stepping over the line of reasonable, i hinted that if he treated me wrongly, I'd file a complaint online with the CCRB www.nyc.gov/html/ccrb/ ) and he ran away quickly. Not foolproof, and perhaps could backfire...but I have spoken with other cool cops and people in general. the consensus is that cops do not look forward to being investigated by the CCRB... Awesome coverage Ben.

Agree with the Rev that Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) could use some more teeth.

It would probably get at least some teeth if us civilians knew more about it.

As I posted on the TA Bklyn listserv yesterday:

The one time I ever felt really threatened by a cop stepping over the line of reasonable, i hinted that if he treated me wrongly, I’d file a complaint online with the CCRB http://www.nyc.gov/html/ccrb/ ) and he ran away quickly.

Not foolproof, and perhaps could backfire…but I have spoken with other cool cops and people in general. the consensus is that cops do not look forward to being investigated by the CCRB…

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/comment-page-1/#comment-51217 Cap'n Transit Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:22:15 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/#comment-51217 <blockquote>an all-star cast of civil liberties advocates</blockquote> Hopefully those civil liberties advocates will continue to fight as hard for civil liberties for cyclists and transit users as <a href="http://www.nyclu.org/node/1700" rel="nofollow">they did for motorists</a>.

an all-star cast of civil liberties advocates

Hopefully those civil liberties advocates will continue to fight as hard for civil liberties for cyclists and transit users as they did for motorists.

]]> By: Urbanis http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/comment-page-1/#comment-51216 Urbanis Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:10:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/02/at-critical-mass-reverend-al-calls-for-nypd-accountability/#comment-51216 This was my first Critical Mass ride and I gained a rather sobering view of the NYPD from it. The selective harrassment and targeting of Critical Mass cyclists was blatant (for example, I witnessed tickets being issued to CM cyclists while several delivery guys rode by unmolested on their bikes going, of course, the wrong way up 7th Ave). I was struck by the irony of an administration promoting cycling at the same time the police force harrasses cyclists and refuses to ticket motor vehicles stopped in bike lanes. This was my first Critical Mass ride and I gained a rather sobering view of the NYPD from it. The selective harrassment and targeting of Critical Mass cyclists was blatant (for example, I witnessed tickets being issued to CM cyclists while several delivery guys rode by unmolested on their bikes going, of course, the wrong way up 7th Ave). I was struck by the irony of an administration promoting cycling at the same time the police force harrasses cyclists and refuses to ticket motor vehicles stopped in bike lanes.

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