After trying to scare us with cologne bottles and broken down trucks, the NYPD decided to best way to rattle New Yorkers was to piss on the Constitution in front of God and everybody. At the ol' Critical Mass rally over the weekend, they arrested underground icon Reverend Billy for, wait for it, seriously wait for it, for reciting the First Amendment!
Seems you can't recite the First Amendment in New York City because that is considered a personal affront to Lieutenant Daniel Albano, head of the NYPD's Legal Division, who had Reverend Billy arrested for Harassment of a Public Official. Gee, reciting the social contract is now a jailable offense, what a wild and crazy way to get ready for Independence Day!
Let freedom and liberty ring across the land! As long as it's the police approved freedom and liberty that is...
From The Gothamist:
http://gothamist.com/...
Reverend Billy was arrested and detained last night while reciting the First Amendment in Union Square. The police claimed his preaching it at this month's Critical Mass constituted "Harassment of a Public Official". The NYPD has a history of some controversial arrests at the Critical Mass events, and at last night's the number of police practically outnumbered the riders. From the press release we received:
"...even unaffiliated riders were ticketed as they approached the park. Reverend Billy and his partner Savitri D were reciting the First Amendment to the United States Constitution to the gathered police force when Lieutenant Daniel Albano, head of the NYPD's Legal Division, ordered the Reverend's arrest and detention at the 13th Precinct station. It is believed Albano is the public official Reverend Billy has been charged with harassing."
This brings up ongoing concern over protecting civil liberties and rights to free assembly and political action. However, it also draws attention to selectively enforced Parade Laws, drafted by the police and passed into law by the City Council earlier this year. The law criminalizes gatherings of more than 50 people that do not have permits. Something the press release points out is that "while the NYPD surrounded and intimidated last night's Critical Mass cyclists, a line of several hundred shoppers formed just across the street to purchase the new iPhone, blocking pedestrian traffic and forcing people to walk in the street."
Since you are no longer allowed, under threat of jail, to exercise the freedom of speech part of the First Amendment, it's hard to get around to the part about freedom of peaceful assemble. That's right, Reverend Billy got more bang for his buck, his arrest violated 2 tenants of the Constitution. Good thing these cops haven't seen his act yet, or they might have gotten him for his style of freely exercising religion.
The wheels of personal freedom are quickly falling off the wagon in New York City, next thing you know the police will go beyond Constitutional limits of random searches and start looking in our personal effects on the street and subways. Oh wait...
Ah Alasmoses notes the NYTimes has even chimed in:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Mr. Talen was charged with two counts of second-degree harassment after continuing his sermon, after repeatedly being told to stop, police said. He was released without bail pending an August court date, the authorities said.
"We were full of the Holy Spirit of the First Amendment," said Mr. Talen, who is in his mid-50s and was dressed like a big-tent evangelist, with a white suit and a dyed-blond pompadour. He even has a mock church, called the Church of Stop Shopping, and sometimes spreads his message with the help of the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir.
"New York City won’t exist if we won’t let creativity happen in public space," he said.
Mr. Talen was at Union Square on Friday to spread the word to the bicycle riders of Critical Mass. Critical Mass events have been held for about the past 10 years around the country, as something between a circus, a pro-biking party and a political protest on wheels.
Man, I hope we can get Pat Robertson on a second-degree harassment charge after his next sermon, Lord knows he deserves it. This case is all about who owns the public space, the citizens or the oppressive authority.
If folk art in the form of creativity is killed in the town square, the heart of the city dies with it.
Here is Reverend Billy and the the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on Buy Nothing Day 2006: