July 2, 2007
Video of the Day: Reverend Billy Gets Arrested
Saturday we posted about Reverend Billy getting arrested during Friday night's Critical Mass as he recited the First Amendment. The above is a video of how it went down. Each police officer involved is identified by the cameraman, and at the end you'll see Lt Daniel Albano, "one of the main architects of the recent NYPD crackdown on civil rights." That night Reverend Billy was in jail for 20 hours, and charged with harassment of a public official.
This afternoon, back in Union Square, Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir, Bill Dipaolo of Time's Up! and Norman Siegel (civil rights attorney) showed the video and made a public announcement requesting that the charges be dropped, while also discussing the ongoing harassment of cyclists and their supporters. Reverend Billy and his choir then sang the First Amendment in the very place where he was arrested.
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For every action, there is reaction, no not humanity
but karma.
Why did you think that off duty cop died yesterday?
Karma is a powerful force, much more than the NYPD.
seriously, What the hell is wrong with the NYPD. They not only sour-facedly ensure that our civil liberties are reduced to that of your average military-state citizen, but they do it with the least sensitivity to their own public appearance. That video shows a wall of bellies rarely seen outside of a zoo.
There's nothing in the constitution about belting our rights out of a megaphone egging on the police. I'd say this is childish, plus with the new noise laws, he had it coming.
Amazing, what would the founding fathers think of this, especially this week.
I think the founding fathers used a bell to gather the people, Rev billy used a simple megaphone, not even a powered one.
billy is one of the greats in this city. a gentle soul who pours his heart into his beliefs. we're lucky for him and his megaphone.
i recommend his book: "what should i do if reverend billy's in my store?" i didn't have high hopes for it when it came out--i figured it would be activist rantings. but it's beautiful, well-written tales of a true New Yorker and a true American. god bless that crazy man.
I'm sorry, "noise laws?" are you joking? He was using an old-fashioned megaphone, like cheerleaders might use on a football field. It was not amplified sound. Cars honking all day are a far worse nuisance. The din from all the people waiting to buy iphones across the street (who were NOT asked to disperse by the way, even though they outnumbered the cyclists being harassed) But you know what, Roger, maybe you're right. Maybe he DID have it coming! Who the hell does he think he is reciting the First Amendment??? When a cop asks you to stop talking about the Constitution, then, by golly, you should do it. Remember, this is America.
Yaaaaaaaaawn.
Unbelievable. The cops should be giving Critical Mass a police escort and treating them as heroes. Hang in there, Reverend Billy!!
I'm another commenter who is on the side of Rev Billy and the constitution and who think the behaviour of these police officers is a disgrace.
I'm pretty sure if anyone in line for the iphone busted out a megaphone and started lampooning cops at high decipals, they would have been placed just as nicely in the back of the police van. If some dude was belting out of a megaphone while you were eating your crunchy granola with soy milk, you might consider it harassing as well.
Retail stores all over Manhattan continually blast music that can be heard far beyond their doors. The subway station directly below where Rev. Billy was arrested is one of the loudest in the entire system with the sounds of the trains reaching ear damaging decibels. This is clearly a case of selective enforcement. The NYPD have been singling out the Manhattan Critical Mass for far too long, and it just isn't right. Whenever someone points out that the NYPD are overstepping there bounds, that person seems to get arrested on some petty charges to shut them up. I'm not much of an activist, but I've been riding in CM since the beginning, and this harassment is getting really tired. Rev. Billy is an amazing guy who manages to make his points in a good natured and entertaining way, and he certainly does not deserve a trip to Central Booking for doing so. Shame on you NYPD!
I have disdain for many so-called activists. Often they are living comfortably undet their parents care and have the time to champion causes and hang around to protest.
But there are still some who are the real deal. Rev Billy appears to me to be sincere. His tactics are not inflammatory. He is persistent but not rude.
Reading the first ammendment over an unpowered megaphone in a public park during daytime hours is in no way lampooning cops. Give it a break with that bullshit.
Anyone who supports the government in their quest to squash human liberties will pay the price. Dearly.
Perhaps you're right, Roger. Perhaps a loud, lampooning iphone buyer would have also been hauled off to jail. But for what, exactly? How loud can you get with the kind of megaphone that Rev. Billy was using? Louder than, say, a car blaring music? Or a horn? Or traffic? or any of the thousands of other noises in and around Union Square? Think about it. How could Rev Billy's voice possibly be louder than all that? The truth is in the video. There is no denying it. And by the way, what are "decipals?" Is that something new they are teaching you at the Academy of Keep Your Head in the Sand?
Roger, Don't you think it was ironic that he was reciting the 1st Amendment in a public place?
Union Square isn't a Library and from that video, he seemed no louder than people selling things...
The First Amendment. What a great text! It should be installed on that building at Union Square (given its history) which now has that dumb artwork and that useless clock display.
Look at those fat stupid cops. My lord, what a bunch of losers. No wonder they are so mad, they are losers and they have fat ugly stupid wives. When your brain is the size of a pea, you shoud not be put in a position of power. I bet they haven't read a book EVER!
Furthermore, look at all NYC's tax dollars being well spent. Thank you, Kelly, you jerkoff. Don't the police have better things to do, like eat donuts, ignore parking laws, etc.?
NYPD considers being reminded of its constitutional limits to be harassment. Doesn't get any clearer than that.
Does anyone know where FatMan Albano lives? I need to relieve myself.