NYPD (illegally) pwns Critical Mass rider
by graeme
I’m not quite sure what possessed this police officer to take out this hapless protester, but you’ve got to admire his form and/or gross violation of civil rights:
Shocking. This savage hipcheck took place at a Critical Mass protest in Time Square. Now, CM riders can be annoying. I’m all for cycling advocacy, but inconveniencing the people you’re trying to convince is never a good strategy. But still. Nobody deserves that kind of assault. I hope that jackass gets fired or suspended or kicked by every cyclist that passes him for the rest of his life..
OK, before everyone gets all huffy and defensive, I’m not saying the cop used an appropriate amount of force.
But.
From where I’m sitting, that guy made little attempt to get out of the cop’s way. Rather than swerve behind the cop, against the way he was walking, and avoid any kind of confrontation, the guy tried to sneak in between the cop and the sidewalk.
Again, not saying the cop should have totally leveled him, but when you’re in an already volatile situation and you see someone bearing down on you, you react.
Clearly the cop should be disciplined and taught some anger management, but I don’t think the cyclist should get a free pass.
[...] The jerk cop who assaulted a cyclist in NYC was indicted yesterday. [...]