About a year ago New York City’s Critical Mass, a group that supports riding bicycles as an alternate mode of transportation in our gas guzzling society and once a month gathers for group rides across the country, met up to ride not only in support of the environment but in protest of a New York City law that says more than 50 people cannot gather without a permit. I went with my camera and my pals went with their bicycles and what we experienced was awful and intense. Many people were arrested and given summons that they did not deserve.

The Glass Bead Collective has made a collection of videos from lot’s of folks footage (mine included!) about the event and about the police’s role in the situation:

Click To Play
They also have two longer versions with more footage from the actual evening :

http://glassbeadcollective.blip.tv/file/784711/
http://glassbeadcollective.blip.tv/file/203362/
I was there when the first photographer featured in the first video was arrested. Nothing was happening and most people had dispersed. He and I were actually talking when the cops pulled over the pedicabs. He stood at a distance and took pictures of it. The cops stormed him and shoved him down, he got up, asserted himself and they proceeded to arrest him for obstructing police proceedings.

The entire thing is still very disconcerting for me and I would imagine for those involved. It reminds of the days of Chicago 10 except that there was no large media presence there…

to learn more about Critical Mass and how bicycles are one step towards cleaner air and a better world.