I was frightened watching this video, and not by the cops.
I don't think the cops need to use mace, I don't think they need to harass Critical Mass. That one cop looked like he was looking for a fight, the mace brandisher.
But the rest looked tense and frightened, and I'd be willing to bet he was too. I'd say it would be frightening to be surrounded by a crowd of booing people. These cops were given orders, to arrest people breaking the law. I'm not arguing whether that's a good or safe idea, just, that was their orders. They had to go into this knowing it would be a tense situation. I'm sure they were ordered to make a certain number of arrests.
I don't see what else they could have done, but group around each other as they arrested one person at a time. If you were a peaceful crowd, how would they know that? You were all clanging your bike bells and yelling boo. You were screaming at them as they attempted to carry out their duty without protective gear.
Cops are not pigs, they are people. Not always the best people for the job, and not always given the most humane orders, but they are not the root of the problem. Why direct so much animosity toward them?
Thank you for posting this video. As a person who has not attended critical mass and has been very interested in the claims of police brutality I now have the conclusive evidence I have been searching for. Those who were being "dealt with" by the police certainly DESERVED the reaction they got from the police. If all the riders behaved in a respectable manner such as those riders that were able to accomplish the ride without incident, you would not have a need for the police to even be there. You are childish martyrs who make false claims of brutality. You provoke, then cry about the consequences. Grow up.
If the cops were not hitting people, throwing them to the ground, pepper spraying them, tazering them, and targeting them, the group of bicyclists would not be chanting things like "Let Them Go" and "We're non-violent, How bout you?"
I did hear "let them go" but not "we're nonviolent". Mostly I heard menacing booing on this video, and individuals screaming at the cops.
If demonstrators want to be seen as anything other than adults still working out their authority complexes from adolescence, the menacing chanting has to go away.
Again, I don't agree with the way protesters were treated, but we all gotta own our own shit, not just the cops.
Another observation that needs to be mentioned; I notice we are presented with footage "in progress". In other words, we NEVER see what these people did prior to being arrested by the police. Why dont you be honest with yourselves and post ALL of the footage onto Indy Media? If you claim that the Police are mistreating you then bring a FAIR representation of the ENTIRE incident. Lets see some video from the beginning instead of only when the police are required to intervene. Got any? Prove it.
jack, why don't you attend the ride yourself to find out? these people document police brutality and can't simply have their cameras running constantly, especially while riding bikes!
yes, the police are people but they are giving unreasonable "orders" they arrest people for no reason, they intimidate, they are violent to show who's in power. they are taking part of a corrupt system.
if you want to see what's going on, get off your ass and join the ride and see it for yourself. then maybe you would be screaming at them too. it's saddening to have a peaceful demonstration be hampered by police for no reason.
hey jack, at least two of the people arrested that were shown being arrested were arrested for running red lights, along with 100's of other people running red lights. how do i know that? because i was there. one other person was arrested for knocking over a motorcycle.
Incase you dont use RealPlayer (or dont have it) this video has been reposted on You Tube so it can be streamed without RealNetworks bogging down your computer... the addy is : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POXNUqllvyE#GU5U2spHI_4
See you all there today