As my post from earlier in the week pointed out, when you decide you want to disobey the police, you can bank on them using the tools they have to help you see things their way. when a cop tells you to do something, regardless of whether you think you are innocent, DO WHAT HE SAYS. You've got to be a moron to do/think otherwise. Some morons never learn...
Jim W | Homepage | 09.02.07 - 12:57 pm | #

You know, the one thing that bugged me about this article were the remarks of the Police spokeswoman, who is admittedly new at her job since they promoted Amelia Huffman to homicide.

She went out of her way to make it seem as if the group was totally reasonable and that there were "infiltrators" who caused all the problems. Maybe they have evidence of this? I doubt it. They are just trying to make nice with "the community." I hope that strategy works out for them when the hard core anarchists arrive for the RNC. She even said that the MPD agrees with their cause of getting people less transit dependent. What the hell? Why does the MPD have a position on this at all? It doesn't matter whether they are sypathetic to the causes of the protesters. Their job is to enforce the law.
Margaret | Homepage | 09.02.07 - 2:18 pm | #

It sounds like more PCBS from the City of Lakes officials.
It would appear the front line cops did a pretty good job of dealing with the situation though.
maxxdog | 09.02.07 - 2:59 pm | #

An alternative view...source:

http://capthek.livejournal.com/8...com/ 817537.html


According to witnesses, an unmarked maroon police car sped ahead of the others and smashed purposefully into a cyclist, spilling him onto the road who, in turn, took down another cyclist.

"After that, the other police cars swarmed around the sides and ordered everyone to get off their bikes or they'd be maced," said Glenda Sheppard, who lives directly adjacent to the scene on the corner of LaSalle and Grand. "Then they attacked the bikers."

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," said cyclist Saba Nere, her eyes still red from the tear gas. "They threw people to the ground. A girl next to me was being tasered. One guy was being beaten. There was blood running down his face."
Harold | 09.02.07 - 3:26 pm | #

The evil jackbooted thugs!
Hope they didn't scratch up any of the squads.
maxxdog | 09.02.07 - 4:01 pm | #

Supposedly the MPD has gotten lots of training in non-lethal force. A basic premise is that you aren't supposed to be macing people and tasering people who are already restrained. Injuries and fatalities happen that way. If 50 cops showed up for the riot, melee, whatever, it would be interesting to know if they all had the same level of training in crowd control techniques. Generally though, only idiots or professional protestors looking for a fight would surround a cop and try to prevent him or her from effecting an arrest. If your bud is getting arrested, the best thing to do in the situation is to call a lawyer for them and head downtown to the Hennepin Co. Jail. Anything else is bound to make the situation worse.
Margaret | Homepage | 09.02.07 - 4:14 pm | #

One of those arrested was an intern for city councilman Cam Gordon, posted at FreedomDogs.

The anarkids are holding a press conference Monday the 3rd at 11:30 am on the steps of the State Capitol. That should be interesting.
Lassie | Homepage | 09.02.07 - 8:44 pm | #

A press conference at the Capitol? Sounds like the perfect time for more training!
AC | 09.02.07 - 10:49 pm | #

I saw these idiots running around Harriet Island during the 4th. Same kind of actions, running through lights, flipping off people in cars etc etc.

Not exactly the group or individuals that I would want representing my side of an argument/debate.
Casual Reader | Homepage | 09.02.07 - 11:36 pm | #

Tracy's funny.

He knows the Star Tribune lies. He regularly lambasts the MSM for misreporting the news.

But if the MSM says Officer Friendly did nothing wrong - Tracy knows the MSM would never lie then.

You see, the MSM only tells the truth when telling Tracy about the Police.

Absolutely fucking hilarious.
whoever | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 9:34 am | #

I think Tracy saw these bozos flagrantly violating the law with his own eyes. And he sheds no tears for their distress when arrested. He's cutting the officers slack (assuming they did anything wrong), not the MSM.
Margaret | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 9:53 am | #

You know, I think the police would have better things to do then to turn out in force (complete with a helicopter that trailed the ride) in order to enforce traffic laws.

Is there any real criminal activity in Minneapolis?
whoever | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 10:06 am | #

Maragaret is correct, but you also missed the part where I saw them violate the law with my own eyes. Liberalism has reached a new low when you expect people to ignore what they see.

You may have missed it but we have a bridge out so, 300 morons blocking traffic and running lights is a serious issue. If the cops hadn't busted this group when they did, who knows what they would have done next to get attention.

Also, they were swerving into the incoming lane of traffic. If a car had hit one of them, everyone would have screamed "Where were the cops?" By arresting them, the cops may have prevented a much greater tragedy.
Tracy | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 10:48 am | #

"A much greater tragedy" Must. Resist. Impulse....
Kermit | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 11:09 am | #

You're right. Cops gotta defend us from those vicious bicylists who are BREAKING THE LAW.

There's a BRIDGE OUT. Mr. SUV driver might be TEN MINUTES LATE if he has to wait for Critical Mass instead of the usual FIVE!

Next week I hope the cops start macing those ever dangerous jaywalkers!

Why, when I go to work I see people CROSSING AGAINST A RED LIGHT!!

That's AGAINST THE LAW!
whatever | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 11:10 am | #

Liberals seem to love passing new laws like smoking bans, so why whine when they are enforced?

You know that if one of those bikers had been hit by a car, you'd be screaming for the driver to be prosecuted. The Police often have to protect morons from their own actions. Isn't that how you justified the smoking ban?

Preaching that we should only selectively apply the law is a very slippery slope. You might want to rethink that in cases like North Minneapolis.
Tracy | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 11:27 am | #

I'm not a liberal.

I didn't support the smoking ban.

Got any other meaningless theories?
whoever | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 11:37 am | #

let me break it down for our new lib. If the police tell you to do something, and you don't do it, you're gonna taken aside and they'll explain to you WHAT needs to be done in the future. When your "bud" jumps in and attacks a cop, then all bets are off. Assaulting a police officer is against the law. Just because you libs come from such low moral character that breaking the law is only a conservative offense, doesn't mean a damn thing. Assault a cop, get busted. Simple as that.
Jim W | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 11:39 am | #

I guess whatever/whoever doesn't think some holier-than-thou cyclists are much of an issue. But what Tracy has witnessed, what I have witnessed, and I dare say a number of people who visit this blog have witnessed, is a exercise in fanaticism: These people think they are better than everybody else and thus not subject to the same rules as everybody else. They show a selective regard for traffic laws: If a car approaches a stoplight or stop sign, it must stop, but the cyclist can breeze through! A double-standard is in play: They demand to "share" the roads with cars, but refuse to be subject to the same laws.

Would whoever feel better if it was a bunch of gang thugs shuffling in their baggy pants and snarling traffic? To me, there really isn't a difference. It's about intimidation and about flaunting the law.
Ian | 09.03.07 - 12:10 pm | #

Kermit
Don't hold it in! You'll pucker your bunhole and be in deepshit! Let it out and feel the freedom!
Dogg | 09.03.07 - 12:49 pm | #

Of course. I understand.

The meany cyclists are holding self-important Tracy up for all of five minutes. He might be late getting home - maybe even missing five minutes of "Are you Smarter then a Fifth Grader?"

Seriously, though.

Do you all really think the most important thing to have a police helicopter do on a Friday evening was trail a group of non-violent bicyclists because they make someone in an SUV a few minutes late?

You all complain about the government wasting money. THAT is wasting money. Putting 20 people in jail is wasting money. Prosecuting them is a waste of money.

Lighten up. Wave at the cyclists (like all the sane people do). You'll get home a few minutes later.
whoever | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 12:50 pm | #

I'll wave my middle finger at them while the cross on the red.

As long as we're being selective about which laws to enforce, I say we ignore the smoking ban, stop enforcing the insane .08 DWI laws and quit enforcing speed limits.

Oh and for the record, even the bikers admit that some in their group were not non-violent. The anarchists were riding with them and looking for a fight.

I am to assume that Whoever is OK with the police selectively enforcing laws based on race too? I mean if we're going to pick and choose who has to obey the laws, why should whites and blacks be treated the same? Blacks commit more crime so we should be stricter with them, right? It just means innocent black men get home a bit later from being pulled over all the time. How could care about an extra 15 minutes with the cops here and there?
Tracy | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 1:16 pm | #

Whoever

In case you haven't noticed yet, some of the primary posters here are probably angry, frustrated old white men, who live in the suburbs, own lots of guns, think the cities should be abandoned and if you aint white and chistian, you should be.

And they haven't yet heard the train thats going to flatten their narrow minded asses next election.
Happily Left Leaning | 09.03.07 - 3:18 pm | #

Did you get your bicycle back yet, HLL?
Kermit | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 3:33 pm | #

HLL,

I live in Minneapolis you dolt and I'm part Jew on Sundays.

I'm also pretty damned happy. You can ask the attendees of the Mansion Parties about that.

The most narrow minded people I have ever met are liberals. They can't stand dissenting opinions.

But hey, thanks for adding nothing to the discussion. You are what I have come to expect from many on the left.
Tracy | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 3:34 pm | #

Oh and please let me know what other laws we can selectively enforce. I suggested a few.
Tracy | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 3:35 pm | #

Holy shit! The loons are coming out of the woodwork. Someones been using the Raid again, huh?
BTW, what would be considered "lots of guns"? Just wondering.
maxxdog | 09.03.07 - 3:52 pm | #

If he/she/it weren't a drive-by troll I'd make a point out of never having owned anything more than a Daisy BB gun, but it's really not worth it.
Kermit | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 4:26 pm | #

Kermit -- you are the poster child for the group I described. And you should be publicly flogged with a bicycle pump and made to ride LRT for besmirching the name of the coolest frog to have ever lived.
Happily Left Leaning | 09.03.07 - 5:55 pm | #

So the MPD hasn't given your bike back. Bummer.
Kermit | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 6:11 pm | #

It's a ride by, not a drive by. And I have plenty.
Happily Left Leaning | 09.03.07 - 6:31 pm | #

All yellow and borrowed from St. Paul a few years back, no doubt.
Kermit | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 6:39 pm | #

And you should watch the videos here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g_PpgVUraQQ

I was not there but if you watch them carefully, you will not see any cyclists advancing on the cops. You will see the cops advancing on cyclists walking away spraying mace.

Certainly, cyclists broke traffic laws -- thats the point of Critical Mass. And they should have been issued citations. But when this is investigated, you will most likely find the cops overreacted.

They need to get additional training before the RNC next year if thats their reaction to a few cyclists.
Happily Left Leaning | 09.03.07 - 7:09 pm | #

Certainly, cyclists broke traffic laws -- thats the point of Critical Mass.

Let me get this straight, the whole reason for this organzation is to break laws and they are surprised that the police kicked their ass?

That is possibly the stupidest thing I have ever read! You're saying that the Mob should be surprised when the FBI arrests them?

Critical Mass sounds like a terrorist group to me.
Tracy | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 7:33 pm | #

HLL, you might have wanted to post this one instead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5...h? v=5nVMMeMq6xQ

I see 5 cops surrounded by a large crowd chanting.
Any sane, rational human would be concerned when faced with those odds. Using mace to disperse the crowd was the safe way of handling the situation.

But please, inform us of your extensive crowd and riot control training.
Casual Reader | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 7:38 pm | #

"Critical Mass sounds like a terrorist group to me". Hilarious -- you guys must all consult your Karl Rove decoder rings to come up with this shit.

It shows how desperate you guys really are when a bunch of cyclists scare the crap out of you. Better get the guns loaded and the bunkers built before the RNC next year.
Happily Left Leaning | 09.03.07 - 8:07 pm | #

I am seriously interested in what other laws we can violate when we feel like it. Please, will our new liberal friends tell us? I mean, if we feel laws are only made for others to follow, but not us, then I want to know. I'm sick of following the rules. I wanna be a rebel!
Jim W | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 8:08 pm | #

These people think they are better than everybody else and thus not subject to the same rules as everybody else. They show a selective regard for traffic laws: If a car approaches a stoplight or stop sign, it must stop, but the cyclist can breeze through! A double-standard is in play: They demand to "share" the roads with cars, but refuse to be subject to the same laws.

Listen...I'm conservative AND I ride a bike as much as I can...and if I don't see a car at a stop sign, I don't stop. I'm sorry, but it just messes up my Chi.

Now, if I'm riding and there are cars around, then I obey the rules of the road...so if I have a red light, stop sign, whatever, I obey. It's that simple...and I know PLENTY of other riders (political position unknown) who do the same.

For these clowns to blow through red lights, while in down town with cars waiting, is a few bad apples spoiling it for the whole bunch.

Had I been there, I would have used my bumper...after all, that's what it's for!!!
SB | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 8:19 pm | #

"I don't see a car at a stop sign, I don't stop."

Scofflaw.
Kermit | Homepage | 09.03.07 - 8:39 pm | #

"I am seriously interested in what other laws we can violate when we feel like it." Well, the 4th amendment with warrentless searches for starts. the right to habeus corpus ala Guantanamo. Enough?
Happily Left Leaning | 09.03.07 - 8:47 pm | #

Warrantless searches?
Gitmo?
Try again dood!

Constitution doesn't apply to Gitmo prisoners. Geneva conventions do and they say we can kill the mofos caught on the battlefield but W doesn't have the nuts.
maxxdog | 09.03.07 - 9:58 pm | #

"Constitution doesn't apply to Gitmo prisoners. Geneva conventions do and they say we can kill the mofos caught on the battlefield but W doesn't have the nuts."

Lets wait and see what the Supreme Court says in the latest appeals. You may be unpleasantly surprised.
Happily Left Leaning | 09.03.07 - 10:28 pm | #

You may be unpleasantly surprised.

You might be as well...
SB | Homepage | 09.04.07 - 7:11 am | #

It should be noted that these guys do have fellow-actors in San Francisco who do happen to be known for certain acts of violence. It's not just obstructing traffic, and I don't believe that this fact is lost on the police here.

Plus, even if it was just ignoring traffic laws, they should be arrested. Those traffic laws are one of the major things that stand between us and carnage on the roads.

But please, don't run 'em over. If nothing else persuades you, broken bike frames can wreak havoc on the undercarriage of your car, and the smell of hippie on your grille takes forever to get out.

(no, I don't know this from experience)

And what Smithers and other bicyclists note; thanks, jerks, for reinforcing the notion that bicyclists don't give a rip about traffic laws.
Bike Bubba | Homepage | 09.04.07 - 3:32 pm | #

"Critical Mass in San Francisco is known for acts of violence"

ROFLMAO!

Are you here ever week?

Then again, you're not as funny as Tracy. He's got this routi ne down. Near as I can tell from his perspective - If someone jaywalks intentionally they're a terrorist. Presumbably, that means that jaywalkers should put in Guantanamo without any chance for release.

The funny thing is he writes posts here and expects people to take him seriously.
Seamus | Homepage | 09.04.07 - 7:02 pm | #

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/ articl...AGF7P12RN23.DTL

Sorry, but it's the truth. Critical Mass IS involved with a little bit more than just traffic violations.

Never mind that if the law were not enforced and the natural course happened--accidents leading to injuries and/or death--all Hell would be raised. Like in this article:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...0/ BAT1RRNEA.DTL

Minneapolis' finest did themselves proud here.
Bike Bubba | Homepage | 09.05.07 - 10:51 am | #