City under siege
08/31/04
As you can imagine, my arrest didn't exactly endear the NYPD to me. And over 1000 more arrests today, including 200 in a peaceful march that the NYPD said it would allow? Felix Salmon points out that the NYPD is out of control.
More cops @ Unrelated News and Rion.
11:46 PM | Comments (39) | TrackBack (5)
Comments
I am SO glad I'm not in NY right now.
Posted by: petrol at September 1, 2004 01:02 AM
so YOU were one of the people on the roof? if you looked by the cops protecting the motorcycles who were surrounding the bikers sitting on the ground, you would have seen me, joe, and some other people you may know. e-mail me, i have a picture i took of the people on the roof.
Posted by: Clayton at September 1, 2004 01:34 AM
Yeah... I was with Clayton and the rest of 'em folks down on the street. Probably got a picture of you up on the roof as my chum pointed to you guys up there and claimed you were police snipers.
Anyway, 900 people arrested now- according to mainstream media.
Can't wait 'till Thursday's protests.
Posted by: Netherworld at September 1, 2004 03:30 AM
seriously though, i am completely grateful and thankful for the NYPD's excellent coverage of nyc.
mike, i know what happened to you and i'm TRULY sorry. i mean it. i am impassioned by the trial you had to go thru.
but at the same time, walking in my hood and seeing throngs of "professional" protesters camping out at the stuyvesant church on 2nd ave and 10th street makes me glad these spoiled, white privileged little pricks are seeing more of central booking than of manhattan's landscape.
nyc does not welcome you protesters. please pack up and go home now!!!!
Posted by: jeff elam at September 1, 2004 08:58 AM
"white privileged little pricks are seeing more of central booking than of manhattan's landscape"
Shame the white privileged big pricks (Republicans) are taking over your town too though.
Posted by: dR at September 1, 2004 09:55 AM
Wow, I see the truth hurts. FREE SPEECH!!! but only when you agree with it I guess.
By deleting my previous post, you prove my point.
Ta-ta dirtbags.
Posted by: Native New Yorker at September 1, 2004 10:27 AM
"NNY," your comments were deleted for having a fake name and email address (and for coming in massive quantities), not because of what you said.
Comments that respectfully address the issues, are signed, and don't come in bulk, stay up.
Posted by: Mike at September 1, 2004 10:31 AM
I love the picture of the cops getting donuts. It's good to see overtime pay going to good use.
Maybe Krispy Kreme should sponsor a protest. Then, the protestors can get away from the cops by strategically placing donuts...
Posted by: Andy at September 1, 2004 11:44 AM
hhhm yeah, the so-called "white privileged little prick" protesters are the ones to blame. ooh we're playing right into their hands!
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at September 1, 2004 12:06 PM
Mike, I was shocked to see your info about your arrest. Hope you end up with a ton of cash to show for it. Have those bastards given you your bike back yet?
And hey, who can blame them ... Dunkin' Donuts has great coffee! I laughed so hard when I saw the picture. How absolutely perfect!
Posted by: Michael at September 1, 2004 12:55 PM
Mike, I am sorry you and other were arrested in the Critical Mass ride. But you know what? All things considered, NOTHING happened to you and others. You engaged in conscious civil disobedience in a time when the NYPD said clearly "We will be arresting people..." and you're shocked.
All things considered Mike, while I think it's stupid you were arrested initially I think at this point you and the other Critical Mass riders who are STILL complaining are simply a bunch of whining babies. Heck, United for Peace and Justice is now referring to the holding area you stayed in for little more than a day as "Guantanamo on the Hudson". Give us all a break! That is hyperbolic bullshit and you know it.
I have symathies for the protestors cause, but I really have no admiration for the methods and whining you're now engaging in. If you engage in civil disobedience, expect to get arrested. And to be held for little more than a day is a laughable joke.
NYPD is out of control? The NYPD is doing their job. Not EVERY protestor and every protest is being broken up and you know it. It's more like the privledged white trust fund babies who can take days off in the middle of the week are whining like babies.
Heck, what do you do for a living Mike that allows you to take so much time off from the middle of the day and the middle of the week to "protest"? Many of us have this thing called "a job" and I don't know about you, but as much as I hate Bush privledged white trust fund brats like you do not represent me by a long shot.
Cry us all a river.
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 01:10 PM
I liked the donut photo, too. Very funny.
What are those white things the cops are carrying. Low-cost handcuffs? Cute.
I'm glad I don't have to be in NYC for the rest of the week. It feels good.
Posted by: Caren at September 1, 2004 01:25 PM
Hey Dazzle, nice assumption you have going there. But the top two were taken from my office, and the rest are from after I got out of work at around 7 p.m. Feel free to apologize any time.
Posted by: Mike at September 1, 2004 01:41 PM
Mike, your office is on the roof of a building? What are you? Spider-Man?
Seriously, you know it and I know it but to be an active part of all that's going on you need to have time and privledge to blow off the workday. And all things considered, you must have it quite easy where you work to do and post the things you're posting.
It's as simple as that. Privledged people do make up the majority of protestors out there and you know it. Not all of us graduated from Harvard and landed in a cushy job that allows us freedoms that most "real" jobs don't provide.
Please continue to nail yourself on a cross. I really was sympathetic to the Critical Mass riders and read about the inicident here first. But listening to you and other babies whine incesantly is quite enough. You went from being noble to being a baby in a few days.
"Guantanamo by the Hudson"
You people are hillarious! And whether you know it or not your constant bellyaching about what happens during a protest and your SHOCK that Police would stop you is simply proving what most of us knows.
You need to be privledged in some degree to be an activist. Not necessarilly "white" in skin tone, but at least have resources that most of us don't have.
Apologies? Nope. How about you apologize for whining like a baby and degrading the concept of protest to the level of "They made me cry!"
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 01:55 PM
oh dazzle, you are a good little toady. I am sure it pleases you to see the police put the cuffs on extra tight, or arrest all the little pukes just for being pukes. Whether they are actually criminals can be sorted out hours, days, weeks, and months later. That the sacred laws of our land might be broken in zealous enforcement wouldn't bother you one iota. Such a hypocrite. When the lawsuit bill comes due, it is sad it can't just come out of the mind-blowing earnings you must get at your *real* job.
I suspect that potty training must have been hell for you law & order types. It is as if you are still waiting for an authority figure to finally give you their approval now that you (presumably) can use the big boy potty all by yourself. Sick.
Posted by: el rudayday at September 1, 2004 02:51 PM
Heck, what do you do for a living Mike that allows you to take so much time off from the middle of the day and the middle of the week to "protest"? Many of us have this thing called "a job"
I myself haven't gone to any protests... but, Dazzle, many of us have this thing called "vacation time."
Also, lots of people have jobs at times other than the usual 9-to-5. And they're usually not the "privileged white-collar types."
the privledged white trust fund babies who can take days off in the middle of the week
See above.
to be an active part of all that's going on you need to have time and privledge to blow off the workday.
See above again.
You need to be privledged in some degree to be an activist.
Even if, by some stretch of the imagination, this were true, it doesn't make the protesters' claims any less valid.
Dazzle, your claims are baseless, but your ranting is entertaining.
Posted by: Tin Man at September 1, 2004 03:14 PM
Dazzle, do you ever consume anything other than corporate news? It is a know fact that 99% of the people who have been arrested thus far were either doing nothing illegal ( like riding a bike, crossing a street, or talking on a cell phone), or following police orders (to stay on a sidewalk, only to be wrapped up in an orange net seconds later - without any warning that they were going to be arrested). I've seen people simply trying to go home from work get caught in the chaos and sent to the pier. Many of these people were not even protesters. they were on the wrong street at the wrong time. It could happen to anyone right now, even you.
The taxpayers are going to be paying for all the lawsuits from this for a long time to come. Thank you, RNC.
I don't know of any privledged people protesting. I see a lot of privledged people getting free tickets to broadway shows thanks to corporate donors though, walking around times square in their fancy shoes and jewels. They are all RNC attendees, in case you haven't figured it out yet.
Crying a river? How about we replace that river with the blood of people like you? Oh, I suppose that would make us all savages then wouldn't it... kinda like cops beating and arresting innocent people, right?
More photos of arrests yearsterday here:
http://www.mtude.com/gallery/RNC-A31
Photos don't lie.
Posted by: The Joe at September 1, 2004 03:24 PM
The funny thing is about the poeple lashing out against my post is that there is the assumption that I am defending Republicans. What are you, nuts? Do you think the only way to voice opposition is to cry like babies, beat up cops and set floats on fire?
I want George W. Bush out of office. I agree that having the RNC here is a bit off. But I do not agree with the tactics of tons of the protestors out there.
And I do not agree with the constant, bitching, moaning and bellyaching some people are making of this whole event. If you think you're going to a protest where you are consciously provoking the cops and not get arrested, you're loony AND you have a privledged mentality.
So a few yuppies got plastic handcuffs on them and had to spend a day away from their TiVO, blogs and iPods. Whop-dee-do.
If you'r really into the fight for Bush getting out of office you should take the responsibility and be a bit proud that you got arrested for your cause. In the case of Mike, I felt bad for him and others when they first got arrested but after a few days of bitching and moaning and whining, who cares. It's enough already. You spent one fucking day in a bus depot and they fed you but the food was not on a baguette. Whop-dee-fucking do.
Get over yourself.
I didn't see the Freedom Riders bitch and moaning when rocks got thrown at them and guns fired at them. They stood their ground. Fought for what they believed in. And realized that in any battle, you're going to pay a price. But in the end it's worth it.
Reading bloggers like Mike cry like babies about their "imprisonment" is simply pathetic and worthless.
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 04:43 PM
Oh, and let me make it simpler to understand. Two of the biggest counter-cultural activists of the last century were Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. They were strong but not bullying thugs. They had a goal, kept their eye on it, and eventually THEY WON!
And if they faced hostility did they cry and moan like babies? NO!!!
Oh, and The Joe, about this:
"Crying a river? How about we replace that river with the blood of people like you?"
Hey idiot, I'm on the same side as you. I support your goals, but not your methods. What do you say to me--someone who will vote like you when election day comes--but that you want to insinuate that people like me should DIE!!!
Fuck you you fucking arrogant punk! Assholes like you and your stupid black and white view of the world is the reason Kerry might actually loose!
You're too extreme, unfocussed and you alienate people who actually support you.
Like I said, I support your cause but not your methods. But in all honesty it seems like extreme activists like you don't even care who is in office. You just like mixing things up.
Just a thug in ratty clothes.
Fuck you The Joe! I hope you get pummeled as bad as that cop who was sent to the hospital.
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 04:50 PM
Hey guys -- leave Dazzle alone. He's the same guy who's been attacking me and others in our comments under fake names for months, and he gets some sort of sick jollies out of it. His distinguishing characteristic is constantly attacking people who oppose him for spending lots of time at the computer and not either at work or outdoors, while simultaneously spending lots of time at the computer writing comments. It's hilarious.
Posted by: Mike at September 1, 2004 05:00 PM
My e-mail address is real. You have something to say, e-mail me and say it.
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 05:10 PM
Lies, lies, and lies, Mike. You're obviously a clone agent of the shadow government trying to spread disinformation. I know how you got into the RNC. You holographically projected yourself into it. Yes, WE KNOW ITS POSSIBLE.
Obviously you have no good retorts, so you're changing the subject.
Look, you know I'm right, and despite our differences we're all on the same side here. Bush must be kicked out of office- he IS the manchurian candidate. The bigger enemy here are the reptillians that control the Illumnati and the government. NO NEW WORLD ORDER!
WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR PLANET TO BE TAKEN OVER BY THEM!
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 05:41 PM
Dazzle ... Don't listen to these babies . Aaawww you got arrested ... Awww ..... what did you think was going to happen . I would have thrown you people in rikers for a week . And bashing the NYPD for doing their jobs ? I hope you need a cop in the near future , and they turn their backs on you . They are doing their jobs ! And their jobs would be alot easier if it wasn't for assholes like you . You don't like Bush ? Don't vote for him . Rally support for your candidate and beat Bush in november . Don't disrupt my city and bash my police department . Bunch of whining cry babies .
Posted by: jzak at September 1, 2004 06:57 PM
Babies babies babies ... !
I can't stop saying the "babies" !
Maybe I'm a pedophile . Aaawwwww .
Weewee !
Little do I realize voting doesn't work because of the electoral college ... and ignored minority votes ... and flawed voting machines !
FASCIST POWER !
Posted by: jzak at September 1, 2004 07:39 PM
Thankyou for the kind words Jzak. They will not be forgotten. When the final invasion occurs, you're more than welcome in my bunker.
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 07:42 PM
IMPOSTERS!
I did not say anything of that! You've run out of replies, eh? I should've known you were all that immature.
Jzak, screw these guys. Let's go back to bed.
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 07:45 PM
Yes honey ;-)
Posted by: jzak at September 1, 2004 07:47 PM
Just proves his point . Grow up photo-losers . You are the minority and nobody wants to hear anymore of your BS .
CRY ME A RIVER .
Posted by: PLAYSIL at September 1, 2004 07:58 PM
HAHAHA!
Dazzle, Grow up and stop posting under a dozen different names. Your weak attempts at insults aren't even worth a reply.
Posted by: The Joe at September 1, 2004 08:08 PM
I'll ejaculate a river in your eye. :-)
You're only fueling our entertainment by replying, Playsil/Dazzle. No one's even taking you seriously. You can say whatever you want after this, but I know you're irked, and I know that I'm just having a good time, enjoying myself. Keep humoring us, fool.
Ever heard of something called free speech? Well, he can say whatever he wants. You're not changing anything by attacking him. If you don't like it, don't read it, dumbass. No one's making you.
You're fired!
Posted by: Playful Penis at September 1, 2004 08:15 PM
Excuse me sir, um... Mr. Dazzle, don't worry, I agree with you.
Those darn lizard people must be stopped before they enslave our people.
Posted by: Petros Katradis at September 1, 2004 08:18 PM
Bringing things back on topic -- I noticed today that a cop had his name written on each of the plastic cuffs hanging from his pants. I thought that was sort of interesting. I wonder if they keep track of who cuffed who. And as usual, great pics.
Posted by: Matt at September 1, 2004 09:35 PM
Mike, my apologies that your site is attracting assholes. You can check that I am the real deal by confirming my IP address. And the fact that when we e-mailed today you mentioned grandparents being arrrested and Dazzle2112 not being my real name.
But I have nothing to do with some of the recent comments above. My apologies for bringing the worms out of the woodwork, but when all is said and done when your an apologist for quetsionable tactics this is what you get. A bunch of extreme radical loons who think that because I oppose the extreme tactics that somehow I am a Republican.
I'm not a Republican. And am ideologically on the same side as you. But defending these bullshit tactics and to hear you and others whine incesantly about the stupid Critical Mass arrests? Who cares?
Want to make a difference, be sure to vote on election day. And harass and jostle as many people you know to vote, vote, vote instead of whine, whine, whine....
Posted by: Dazzle2112 at September 1, 2004 11:24 PM
My job has given me a very interesting perspective on the NYPD's behavior over these last few days. Don't want to say too much about what I do, but I will say that I wear regular old work clothes, dirty pants and an old t-shirt to work, and I did NOT like the way I was treated by NYPD despite having proper work issued ID and everything. I definitely had the feeling that they had me tagged as a potential protestor who had somehow winged her way in to wreak havoc. Just because I'm not wearing a suit, just because I'm young, just because I look like I'm not a republican. So whatever anyone says about wrongful arrest and mistreatment, you're right on. The NYPD was rarin' to arrest -- every cop on scene here had his or her own personal supply of pre-numbered ziptie handcuffs, very menacing. And of course, if you have ten sets of ziptie handcuffs hanging from your belt, you're going to want to use them!!!
But here is what I want to say most of all about my experience with them -- police are called pigs because they are a BUNCH of LITTERING JERKS!!! Cigarette butts, water, coffee, food -- they do not take responsibility for their trash. So no wonder this city is so littered and littering laws aren't enforced.
Sorry, this is just a thing with me...and NYPD sets a lousy example.
Posted by: Glorypea at September 2, 2004 01:40 PM
the rnc reallty f¨cked up traffiic for me as a truck driver
could not get in to my parking lot
the cops said that they wanted to prevent anything but their presence intstigated more of a confrontation than that of critical mass
Posted by: elperg at September 9, 2004 05:50 PM
I hear Dubya is up by 14% over Kerry. Thank you Michael Moore!!!
Posted by: Steve at September 19, 2004 07:13 PM
I am a republican. And regardless of what you're protesting the methods you used were very immature and childish. Laying in the street like that! What about people trying to get to work and visit ill family members or something. I am glad you got arrested and you can thank me and other republicans who take personal responsability for ourselves, and protect our country and the Constitution so you little NY liberals can lay down in the road and protest BLOOD FOR OIL or whatever other silly little lie Al Franken or Michael Moore told you. Wise up or soon we will all be taxed 65% our of income and forced into socialized healthcare and continuing the quagmire that is our current Social Security system. ie Hilary '08
Posted by: jmc__fla at June 4, 2005 02:55 PM
too bad healthcare in america is shit.
the U.S. ranks only 37th in the world in quality health care - yet nationally America spends 82% more per person on health care than others.
http://mwhodges.home.att.net/healthcare.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0125-01.htm
You "republicans" take no personal responsibility for yourselves, you just blindly follow like sheep. you don't protect the country, you just put us more at risk. you don't protect the constitution, if you protected the constitution, you would protect the peoples right to protest. I'm sure you mean well, but you don't have a clue. the real responsibility lies with the people who stand up - or lay down, as the case may be - for what they believe in. Get your facts straight, jmc.
"Dissent is
the highest form of patriotism." - Thomas Jefferson
satan's laundromat is one of my favorite sites. great photography.
Posted by: dada at June 6, 2005 04:49 PM
hey mike i like your site i guess you might know who i am as my mom is friends with yours. visit angry-dragon.com to see our gigs . poetry in motion see her gentle sway .. a way out on the ocean