Two false arrests at Atlanta Critical Mass

Date of Incident: July 27, 2001
Received: August 1, 2001 Friday, August 24, 2001

 
 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 21:04:43 -0400
Reply-To: sf-critical-mass-AT-topica.com
To: sf-critical-mass-AT-topica.com, bostoncriticalmass-AT-topica.com,
[Note: email addresses of individuals removed as anti-spam measure]
Subject: 2 CM riders arrested in Alanta (felony charges)
 
Atlanta CM is also begining to have problems with cops.  At the last ride, 2
were arrested
and one charged with  felony ("improper handling of a bicycle", obstruction of
justice and
impeding the flow of traffic) and the other with misdemeanor.  It might be nice
to compare
notes on what has and has not worked to make things better.
 
Atlanta CM has not had problems with cops before this, although occassionally
an officer in a
car will yell at us through the loudspeaker to no effect.  Never really seemed
like a big
deal.  Then July 27 happened.  I was not there (regretably) so I pasted below
an email
describing the event from someone who was.
 
>>The ride started in downtown rode through Centennial Park to cheers
> > and a great reception by pedestrians downtown and patrons of Concerts
> > on the Bricks. The ride proceeded back through downtown and to Ponce
> > de Leon heading East. After passing Boulevard and Monroe the entire
> > Eastbound Lanes were taken up by more than 40 bicyclists. There were
> > many cars behind us- many car drivers turned left or right and others
> > illegally went into oncoming traffic to pass, but not before swerving
> > into cyclists. When we passed City Hall East and got to the light at
> > Kroger a police officer (medium build, glasses, dark hair, police
> > uniform 6'0 tall - standard officer) instructed us to get off of the
> > street and told us we did not belong there. We said we were allowed to
> > ride on the street the light turned green and we proceeded to ride. At
> > Highland Avenue a motorcycle officer instructed us to disperse. We had
> > already begun to disband, but this increased the speed of breaking up
> > the group. By the time we reached Moreland there were 10-15 riders and
> > we headed towards Little 5 points. We turned the corner to find 10-15
> > police cars- 5 motorcycle police and 2 paddie wagons. Officers were
> > giving conflicting orders- some were saying stop don't move and others
> > were saying go home and disperse. I ( caucasian female no piercings,
> > no tattoos) and another woman (like myself) were riding two abraest in
> > the right lane directly in front of 4 male cyclists (with many
> > piercinngs and tattoos). The police did not stop the female riders and
> > detained the four males, two were let go. The other two were at first
> > detained because one did not stop when told to stop and the other
> > stopped when he was told to go home. They were arrested on felony
> > charges of improper bicycling, obstruction of justice (not stopping
> > and not going), and impeding the flow of traffic (by code onlny motor
> > vehicles can impede the flow of traffic). One person charges have been
> > dropped to misdemeanor. The 18 year old GSU student with no previous
> > arres! ts is still being charged with a felony.
> > An attorney, familiar with all bicycling laws has agreed to meet with
> > them and their trial is set for August 17th. They were released on
> > bond Saturday night at 6 pm. All of their batteries disappeared in the
> > property room (pagers, phones, radios, etc were returned minus
> > batteries - just a random fact).
> > Please be aware that this is how some bicyclists in Atlanta are being
> > treated by at least 20 City of Atlanta Police officers.
 
Jeff

 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 14:53:46 -0700 (PDT)
To: sf-critical-mass-AT-topica.com
Subject: Happy to spark some conversation
 
 
It has been nice to hear from so many of you and to settle the debate I joined
your list before posting my first message
I am so excited to visit your town and to ride with you and hopefully to feel
the vibe your CM's have. Whatever they may be. The whole point is for me to
experience something different right. A couple people have posted messages
about Atlanta's bikeability and speaking as a person never owning a car in this
state (because I thought I'd be able to take MARTA everywhere- ha now thats a
joke-) and having biked almost everywhere for 6 years I agree. A problem I
think we have is that despite a large number of bicyclists the group
(bicyclists in Georgia) is very fragmented. (That on top with the Culture of
the South - very traditional and conservative) One group just wants to ride,
another wants bike lanes, one group doesn't want bike lanes, and one group
wants a social change. Personally I would rather not be condemned to spend my
life in a bike lane and opt for a realization among these southern citizens
that I in fact belong on the road. I'd settle for some share the road signs and
for MARTA bus drivers that hit me to be charged or at least for it to be a
crime. Enough of that little diatribe though.
As for arrests our little 45 person mass just had two in our last ride, but
they brought enough police to arrest 200 of us. They were our first arrests and
really will set the tone for our rides in teh future and for the movement in
Atlanta. They were charged with felony obstruction. There were so many police
and some yelled stop and some yelled disperse and go home. So one guy was
charged with going when told to stop and the other with stopping when told to
go. Ridiculous. So bring it on Berkeley (and I hope SF mini-mass comes too -
please meet me at BART). I am ready for some more civil disobedience!
Ok so this isn't really a problem because I am sure in San Fran there is lots
of vegan food that I will happen upon, but I would like it very much if anybody
of vegan persuasion (not necessarily healthy food- just no animals) could
reccommend some restaurants- the tasty ones need only be mentioned.
See you soon!