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There have been several Free Tibet protests happening around town this month; one of them even featured city council member Tony Avella. While Tibetan protesters are routinely beaten, imprisoned and even killed by police in China, police brutality is something you might be surprised to see in New York City, unless of course you've attended demonstrations over the years and experienced it first hand. During a Free Tibet protest near the UN on March 14th, some NYPD officers were documented threatening, arresting and clubbing activists seemingly without provocation. In the below video it appears the protesters do nothing more than carry flags, walk on the sidewalk and chant. Yet officers identified as Leroy, Delgado and Serano, and others are depicted clubbing them even when they're down.
The cameraman stridently narrates while filming, saying, "Look at these cops, clubbing people in front of the UN, unbelievable, protesting to free Tibet, cops clubbing people in their legs on the sidewalk, in front of the UN in America, unbelievable, this is not China." He also notes that Officer Serano had threatened to kill two protesters, something the officer later admits to on tape. Don't cops learn about YouTube at the Police Academy these days?
When we contacted the NYPD, asking if they had a statement about the beatings caught on tape that day, we were told that they "wouldn't call what happened a beating." We're currently waiting for an emailed statement which we'll update this post with when received.
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Not all strict Buddhist Monks are peace loving. Some can get very confrontational. The NYPD doesnt take shit from nobody, especially rabid peacenik Buddhist Monks.
While the police where wrong, I kind of want to club the idiot doing the voice over.
I support both freedom for Tibet and incarceration for the narrator of the video.
to serve and protect...
democracy in the U.S.
you want somma this?
What do you expect? The average IQ of cops nationwide is 104. If you score too high on the written test, some departments won't even interview you for admission. See the story last month of a man with a 95th percentile IQ whom the New London PD rejected. He sued and the courts sided with the PD, saying it's not discrimination because they reject everybody with test scores that are too high. They want dumb people who won't get bored with the job and quit after going through the full training regimen in the academy, which costs quite a bit. They also don't want intelligent people who can think for themselves and question useless or illegal orders (although in this case, it seems they can't think, period).
yeah, the nypd "wouldn't call what happened a beating." you don't want to know what they call a beating
Great job as usual NYPD. Especially the officer that ran across the sidewalk to some dude waving a flag to beat him senseless while fellow officers near said dude didn't seem to mind what he was doing.
every day my respect for the nypd erodes.
i really wish we could get better officers than the illiterate goons running the streets at the present.
I think the post should be retitled "Caught on Tape: So-called 'Buddhists' Begging for a Beat Down." Despite all the clever camera work, grainy footage, etc., it seems pretty obvious these folks were being a bunch of pricks and had coming what little they got. Oh, and Gothamist, please avoid publishing press releases from obnoxious, nut-case cameramen. Thanks.
Maybe the NYPD needs to introduce its ranks to some kind of stress-release program.
disgusting.
I guess droves of white college kids will go to free Tibet for the next few summers.
hey look, solidago is a pig posting on blogs! he thinks people with differing opinions should be beaten. they were beggin' for it. oh, does the nypd think you are a prick? that's a beatin'
Okay there solidago, "begging for a beat down" is downright laughable. Were they threatening officers with violence? Were they wielding weapons? Did they physically harm or try to harm anybody? Nope. They were merely walking down the street and shouting like in any protest march. Whether one agrees with their views is secondary in this matter. Physical violence against a small group of non-violent protesters is obviously a Dumb Idea.
The moron PO that let "I'll kill you" come out of his mouth should be kicked out of the force. How dumb do you have to be? I don't want idiots like that handling a firearm, much less try to protect me.
Sad part is, nothing will change and the city will sweep this under the rug just like what happened during the 2004 RNC.
keep it up NYPD. you're doing a crack up job.
who needs good publicity, right?
Doesn't excuse the death threats, but don't protests of this magnitude require permits?
Hope the police officers are reprimanded over threatening to kill these people.
Indeed, the voice over guy needs a working over....perhaps he should stop talking and help the buddhists
i love how some of you can say the protesters were doing nothing. it's pretty clear from the video that when given the chance they were happy to talk shit and get up close with the officers. play with fire and you'll get burned. maybe the officers should be fired or whatever, i don't know or care. but don't play the violin for these people. if you talk shit to an officer, be prepared to face the consequences, that's all
From the article: police brutality is something you might be surprised to see in New York City...
Are you kidding? The NYPD has the largest concentration of bullies you'll find anywhere in the five boros. I've seen police officers harass people on the street with absolutely no provocation whatsoever. I don't think I'll ever forget the day I was trying to cross the street during a parade. The cop working the corner decided he didn't like one of the men trying to cross and shoved him backwards. He stumbled right into the rest of the crowd, which could have hurt him and other innocent people. The guy hadn't done a thing, mind you, he was just trying to cross the street.
i can't believe their families let those protesters go to the u.n. alone. they were obviously distraught - it's all their fault
stuffwhitepeoplelike. both sides.
but mainly one side. or as rocknrope might say,
poor people hate the cops, rich people love cops.
fishfryin: who says that there should be consequences for "talking shit" to a police officer in the first place? the cops are public servants, and even if the protesters were being flip with the officers, it's the officers' job to stand by and take it, so long as they weren't being threatened.
I can think of very little (if anything) that excuses the behavior of the officers in this video.
Roe, did you even bother reading the rest of the sentence you're criticizing? "...police brutality is something you might be surprised to see in New York City, unless of course you've attended demonstrations over the years and experienced it first hand."
Well, if you've lived in NYC for any length of time you do know that the NYPD wants to shut down any public protest that does not have a permit. Think about Critical Mass or the demos during the GOP convention or Reverend Billy getting arrested for reciting the first amendment.
That policy pretty much explains what you see on the video. It doesn't matter what the people actually said or did, or whether they are Buddhists. (That's probably the most annoying detail of the cameraman's narration - repeatedly mentioning that these are Buddhists, as though it's any more outrageous than the treatment of more whitebread protesters in NYC. And I personally don't think a cop saying "I'll kill you!" is particularly worrisome, either, aside from being idiotic.)
Ideally, this would be a good occasion for Kelly and Bloomberg to discuss the continuing clampdown on public protest. A good counterstrategy would be to round up some prominent talking heads who will say "This isn't the kind of city we want."
This is a little ridiculous. As many of you may not like to hear, when the police tells you to not block a sidewalk or not walk away you are suppose to actually listen to them. Its for public safety and they are the police. There are cases of police brutality and this isn't one of them, the people getting arrested were getting out of hand. The protest still happened and the annoying angst teen with a camera kept filming. I don't think people realize what it is like to be oppressed. I've seen police beat up people on the streets in other countries and its not pretty. I give the police a lot more credit, they will also run into burning skyscrapers to pull people out, its not an easy job.
JohnDelSignore, yes, I did bother reading the rest of the article, and I stand by what I said. The article makes it sound as though the NYPD are benevolent and kind when they aren't managing protests, or that brutality outside of that situation is rare.
And yet, in every instance I've personally witnessed the NYPD harassing and bullying people, there hasn't been a protest or demonstration anywhere in sight. And to the best of my knowledge, none of the people who have been recklessly shot by the NYPD over the years were holding protest signs, either.
Right on, JDS! I was thinking the same thing when I read the idiots comment. Read something completely before you go into attack mode. Lest you look like a jackass!
Protests should be allowed to cause a little disruption. blocking the sidewalk is a public safety issue. please. I hate getting stuck behind a garbage truck, bikes on sidewalks, all those freebee newspaper bins. But I love that we live in a place were people who want to, who care about something can be heard even if they cause a little trouble, and in this case very little.
Just because a cop tells you to do it doesn't make it right. And the lack of profesionallism, IE threats of violence in retaliation for protesting or breaking the law. Nuts.
Kudos to the cameraman for managing his situation well.
RE: llama's comment.
Wow, someone has anger management issues if they're calling complete strangers idiots and attacking before reading the rest of their remarks. Shouldn't you be back on the beat, Officer?
listen to flava flav, kids: fuck the police.
it's completely unnecessary and reprehensible for them to act this way. unfortunately, it's also completely expected that they will act this way.
it's nothing new, and who the hell is doing *anything* to change it?
oh, and the "blocking the sidewalk" b.s.--i guess a few people walking are "blocking the sidewalk" while cop cars and vans parked across the sidewalk allow full access and totally enhance "public safety." but again, what would anyone expect...
@mconnors
Burning buildings? You're talking about burining buildings and the police that run into them, making them unquestionable heroes?
OH MY GOD!!! GIULIANI MADE IT TO THE PARTY!!
mconnors & fishfryin: just because we live in fear of the nypd does not make it right. don't justify or excuse their behavior. it's wrong & you know it.
flava flav said "fuck the nypost" & "911 is a joke." it was nwa who said "fuck tha police."
roe, u got pwned by jds.
The reputation of the NYPD is in need of some major repairs - if that's at all possible.
Ask yourself: do you feel safer when there’s a police officer nearby? Or do you feel a sense of foreboding, oppression and resentment?
Cops are cops. We are not looking at the deep end of the intellectual gene pool here. Why are they constantly not where you need them? They will say we are understaffed. Meaning they want more overtime. I have ongoing debates with the few NYPD members I know versus FDNY and the cops think the FD gets off light. Bullshit, the PD basically shows up hours after the fact, if at all. Can you imagine if the FDNY did the same?
Well it sux seeing "cops" (or did the narrator say "pigs"?) going into this crazy violent rage.
The narrator did a good job getting ther names. Hope the cops will be discharged and sent to mental institution for a thorough eval, and those confrmed to be normal should serve a few months in prison.
Another thought, did anyone notice the high percentage of overweight cops? Should not they be athletic and sporty to be able to chase real criminals? Is that donuts or steroids that make them this big/fat and raged?
Why is it either "kill the pigs" or "damn troublemakers deserved the beatdown?"
I think it's obvious from the video that the cops were overreacting and being bullies.
That said, there is a reason for assembly permits and a requirement for orderly protests in NYC. This is a crowded town. Just a little bit of a disruption can completely foul things up -- witness traffic snarls whenever only a block or two of a street are shut down. And with the constant crowds and the edge that comes with them, a little bit of disorder can escalate into a problem very quickly.
Basically, both sides suck here.
One day people will realize something very simple, the police are authority, if the tell you to do something you do it, and if you dont, you have committed a crime..its called 'resisting arrest'. Its not like a regular person on the street, they have the authority here, not you. I know you all want to be little children and whine about the big bad policeman...oh..Im so scared of them. Here is another newsflash, YOU dont get to decide what is 'right' or 'wrong' regarding police commands. They do. We have given them that authority as part of their job. And you know what happens why you dont do as you are told? This.
Its ok to admit people have authority over you. Really, it is. You dont have to be a 10 year old forever.
Snort, so if the police tell you to strip naked so they can stick a broken broomstick up your ass you'd do it?
I bet you frequent bondage dungeons and let leather clad ladies whip you late into the night. You kinky bastard you.
So it's not cool to pull out your wallet when you're trying to get in your apartment, Rolltide? Apparently one can be shot a few dozen times for such an infraction.
Don't be so glib. There are great cops out there, and there are machismo-driven mongoloids in uniform. I'm sure you spot the difference like we all do.
Your argument would thus defend the officers shooting water cannons at civil rights activists in the 60s, no? They were "breaking the rules," albeit unjust rules, but they have no levity or right to be disobedient during a protest?
If you're a cop, all the better. I hope you just think about it for a second: it's one thing to break the law and have the hammer come down on you, its another to exercise a right given to all men and women, and have a pig-headed cop on a power-trip beat you senseless--or worse yet, sodomize you with a plunger if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.
They also don't want intelligent people who can think for themselves and question useless or illegal orders (although in this case, it seems they can't think, period) realize it's easier to get a concealed gun permit by becoming a cop than legally obtaining one as a citizen.
Fixed!
Awe boo Gothamist for stripping the strike tag.
"Here is another newsflash, YOU dont get to decide what is 'right' or 'wrong' regarding police commands. They do."
Well, collectively, we citizens of NY employ the police. They should do their jobs according to the interests of the community. I think most NYkers would look at the video (with rerecorded commentary that is not so strident and hysterical) and decide that this was unreasonable.
you don't have to do anything a policeman tells you, get a grip
i'm no big supporter of police and their tactics but that said the protesters were getting somewhat out of control and antagonizing cops by yelling out their names and such isn't exactly going to calm things. i think the protest got a little off track, it wasn't about freedoms here in the US as i understand it. also the entrance to the UN is a bit of a touchy security spot. and by the way, the fact that you could keep filming and still have teeth tells you it's america and not china.
fuck da po-po!
i guess this is a good example of why people hate cops, but as noted in the comments here someone somewhere will still try to defend them and lay blame on the protesters...
theres a good reason why in alot of these videos police will contiually scream 'stop resisting, stop resisting' while bashing you with a nightstick
(remember those 2 famous youtube taser vids? the dont taze me dude & the show me your library card are examples)
not everyone can recall the events and facts as happened, some people will form their own opinions based on their own brainwashing, these videos make it clear what really happened.
Welcome to the People's Republic of New York.
Don't let them fool you. Tibet is not free, it's just some publicity stunt to get people to go there. It costs a fortune!
And who wins everytime? The police. Remember the RNC? Who won? The police. The upcoming DNC and RNC..you know who will win? The police. You know what this video is? Its a demonstration of what happends when you dont listen to the police.
And unfortunately, I will school you to the law, which is on the side of the police.
§ 35.27 Justification; use of physical force in resisting arrest prohibited.
A person may not use physical force to resist an arrest, whether AUTHORIZED or UNATHORIZED, which is being effected or attempted by a police officer or peace officer when it would reasonably appear that the latter is a police officer or peace officer.
Beating Free Tibet protesters is very bad kharma. Baiting the NYPD is really bad instant kharma. We would appreciate it if all those involved got the f*ck out of our mandala.
The Thing is the police are the armed force to enforce governmental order, reguadless this is how is it, this brother just got it on Camera with that nagging voice over, he effectively did his job by showing how it really is just to have your voice heard in NYC..
What is most disturbing is that in the new age of instant proof of such policies supportted by the very government you think you elect, they disreguard the Camera.
For Native Americans, Afircan Americana, people are so willing ignore their plight because many dont belive what was done to them is current or applicable. Yet your continued taxes support the continued suppression of those very people. Guilty we all are for that as we are for New York City being the police state that it actually is....a 30,000 man/woman force is larger then many of the armies of Europe with more things you can get arressted for then most of the world, including blocking a sidewalk while walking.
We will be paying pay for this incident from baton to Settlement, it is just disturbing becuase your seeing it, unedited...and it is now happening to causes you may support & care about...your temporary attention as fleeting as it is...wont dont a god damn thing!
..Complaining really is for the weak..
So buy a handi-cam, do a little freelance, get press creds and get a lawyer, because you can be beaten by the police for looking at them in a threatening manner & arressted for disorderly which WILL be dismissed if you have a camera in hand....
So no matter the response or lack therein from NYC, go get a cell phone or 3 ccd digitals, because NY civil juries are known for some of the most civilian friendly awards when it comes to the NYPD, and this event WILL make some in that party a little wealther....
No matter the details of the arrest report, the video with the attention of a second year CUNY law grad will have the charges dismissed 160.50, cause if it went to trial, the liability of the City just grows and the DA knows that Manhattan Juries are full of people who have gone though exactly that & a change of Venue in a Civil trial happens as frequently as Hale-bopp.
A cost benefit review in the new age of the instant exposure of internet video will break this City finacially.....SO go out there ya'll & get PAID!
(Just remember not to get too badly messed up becuase a civil lawsuit is like a annuity that takes a few years to kick in. But it pays better if you go to trial but it takes longer. More then likely you could settle for about $25,000 per $200,000 in your 1st notice of claim against the city.)
REAL OLD RULES (act like ya know!)
BRING A CAMERA EVERY WHERE YOU GO!
IT SHOOTS BUT DOESN'T KILL! & COULD STOP A COP FROM SHOOTING YOU!
via
.........................Digital Warrior Media
@bxbrian @zodak
I don't live in fear of the NYPD ( I really question why you do) and I wasn't refering at all to 9/11 or guliani, My point is that many are making blanket accusations about NYPD and I believe the police deserve a little more respect then you are giving them. If you were in a ambulance and had to get to NYU that afternoon, I would be willing to bet you were happy the NYPD cleared second avenue. Or if they were expecting people blocking it they would have alternate routes open. Its easy to shout "us versus them", I prefer to use a little critical thinking.
Dear lord, there are so many things wrong with this video I barely know where to begin.
First, the cop didn't shove the man. A flat palm outstretched when an individual is approaching an officer is intended to prevent the individual from completely reaching the officer. Do I seriously need to explain why a cop would not want a person within grabbing or tackling reach of his body?
More glaringly, the method of using the club was correct in this case. Police are trained to use the club to strike the upper arm and upper leg - a correct strike causes a very brief interruption to nerve communication, causing the individual to either drop to the ground (leg strike) or drop an object held in the hand (arm strike).
The officer in the video did precisely this - one arm strike, one leg strike. The first caused the protester to drop the flag that they were holding, and which could theoretically be used as a weapon. The second caused the protester to fall to the ground where they could quickly be handcuffed. Each of these things, when done correctly, is done so as to prevent the protester from sustaining injury in an actual scuffle.
Now, I am not going to debate WHY the cops felt the need to arrest protesters if the protesters were, in fact, being peaceful. And I will certainly not condone an officer telling anyone that he would kill him. But as far as how they arrested these people when the decision was made to arrest them, the officers could not possibly have performed this maneuver more by the book than they did. Also, the post sound editing done to the video (overlapping and repeating sound clips) certainly takes away quite a bit of credibility from the person who made the video. It isn't showing the events "as they happened" - it is clearly heavily edited and therefore suspect as to its accuracy. A shame, really, because they might have actually been able to convince some level heads that the cops were out of line.
what a fucking beautiful video....CAN'T SEE SHIT !
Ahhh the irony of people protesting Chinese police beating down protestors in China getting beat down by the NYPD. Where are the Mao suits for the Gothamist posters praising the NYPD for putting the beat down on the protesters?
I guess no one got shot 41 times, so it could have been worse.
sandradayoconner aka emilydickinson?