In a move designed specifically to stop Critical Mass bicycle rides in New York City, the New York Police Department has crafted new legislation defining a "parade or procession" as consisting of a group of pedestrians or devices "moved by human power," and that these groups must apply for a parade permit. As Streetsblog notes, "So, for the NYPD, thirty cars and trucks clogging up two city blocks is 'traffic.' Thirty bikes rolling freely down those same two city blocks is 'an illegal, un-permitted parade.'"
The public hearing on this new rule was yesterday. The NY Times reports on the rally held by cyclists in front of the Police Department, noting that City Council member Christine Quinn who most supports the new measures didn't bother to show up at the hearing. And the Village Voice asks the important question: Why are the police writing the rules they'll enforce?
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I've never been to a Critical Mass, although I've seen the short documentary that's floating about on YouTube/g-video. I'm not sure about the whole thing, I guess I'd need to experience it to decide. I reckon the city it's held in, the local administration and populace all make a huge difference to how it happens.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am sure of it's that the US is still sliding rapidly into a fascist state. Guys, arrest that slide, quickly!
Mr. Crazy, no need to CM to figure out what this is really all about. It's FASCISM, period.
ReplyDelete“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
Joseph Goebbels