Thursday, August 30, 2007

In Day of Mass Arrests, Divergent Versions of Events

A man at the New York Public Library was among the
roughly 1,100 people arrested on Aug. 31, 2004.
--Photo by Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

Published: August 29, 2007


Along the terrace of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, two teenage girls played guitar and sang. A yoga teacher hunted for a friend from New Orleans. A young woman who had spent the summer traveling around the country struck up a conversation with two men from Quebec. Hundreds of others sat or stood on the steps, holding flags and signs.


That peaceful moment, a few minutes before 6 on the afternoon of Aug. 31, 2004, would not last. It was the second day of the Republican National Convention in New York, and a date set for multiple demonstrations, some of which had unconcealed agendas of civil disobedience. For months, undercover police officers had been collecting information on groups planning protests. The library had been listed on Internet sites as a gathering spot for people interested in civil disobedience.


That day, in the space of about four hours starting about 4 p.m., some 1,100 people were arrested around the city, and many were held for 30 or more hours. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has said the police stopped many dangerous troublemakers from creating havoc. Now, though, the city faces 605 federal lawsuits; it has already paid $694,000 to settle 35 such cases, according to the city comptroller.


If the absence of widespread violence during the convention reflects successful police work, as the mayor has maintained, the narratives slowly emerging from the lawsuits are revealing the hazards of mass arrests made that day.

***

At the library, that included scores of people who, it appears, were not doing what they were charged with, according to testimony and video from the lawsuits, as well as video recordings collected by I-Witness Video, an organization that documents public demonstrations.


“I met up with these two men from Montreal, and they said, ‘Would you like to help us hang a banner?’ ” recalled Amber Tejada, now 27, who had timed a cross-country trip so that she could join protests.


The three had just stretched the banner along the base of one of the library’s famous lions when Capt. Ronald Mercandetti approached. A videographer recorded the moment.


“Excuse me,” Captain Mercandetti said. “You can’t hang signs on Parks Department property.”


They immediately took down the banner.


“You can hold it, but you can’t hang it,” Captain Mercandetti said.


Two seconds later, as the men stood on the steps, holding ends of the banner, other officers moved in and arrested them.


As their wrists were bound, people on the stairs shouted that the officers should let them go.


“What did they do?” hollered one.


The answer, given in the police criminal complaints, is strikingly different from what videotape showed.


Although Ms. Tejada had been well up the stairs of the library, she and the two men were accused of “obstructing the entire intersection” of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue “so that no cars or pedestrians could pass through.” The complaint also said police officers had ordered her “to leave the area on numerous occasions and the defendant refused.” And, the arresting officer said, she had paraded through the intersection with at least 50 other people but did not have a permit.


“I’m totally willing to be held responsible for any violation of the law, but this was ridiculous,” Ms. Tejada, who lives in Oregon, said in an interview last year.


The only part of the complaint that resembled the situation on the steps accused her of hanging a banner on Parks Department property without permission.


After the uproar over the banner arrests had quieted, two girls then in high school, Gwynn Galitzer, who was 16, and Grace Kalambay, 17, sang and played guitar at a cafe table, the music drifting across the terrace.


Then the police searched the backpacks of at least three people on the steps. Although none of them were arrested, a fresh outcry rose from the crowd, and more police officers moved to clear the crowd.


“I had made the determination that it was no longer safe in the mezzanine area,” Chief James P. O’Neill, a police commander at the library, testified in a deposition. “There were a tremendous amount of people. It was loud, there were chairs, there were tables that can be used as weapons.”


The fracas swept up the two guitar-playing girls. Once again, the criminal complaint placed the action elsewhere: Both girls were accused of holding a banner and blocking the intersection of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue and of parading without a permit.


With the library steps cleared, the crowds streamed away. Among them was Ben Kappel, pulling his luggage on wheels; he had arrived on the airport bus after flying in from New Orleans, and met a friend, Wendy Tremayne, on the library steps. They were heading for the subway, Mr. Kappel said.


“We’re about to cross 42nd and Sixth, police said, ‘You can’t cross here,’ and turned us around,” Mr. Kappel said. Blocked from going west, they found that they also could not go east, south or north. “They countered us with those orange nets,” Mr. Kappel said.


The nets had followed the crowd from the library down 42nd Street. A police commander, holding his own video camera, gestured to the people trapped in the pen. “Sit down,” he ordered. The crowd — shoulder to shoulder, backpack to bandanna — sank awkwardly to the sidewalk.


Among them were Ms. Tremayne and Mr. Kappel. When they saw their arrest documents, many hours later, they discovered that they had been accused of disorderly conduct: for sitting on 42nd Street and blocking traffic.


E-mail: dwyer@nytimes.com


35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Acer Laptop Batteries
Apple Laptop Batteries
Compaq Laptop Batteries
Dell Laptop Batteries
HP Laptop Batteries
IBM Laptop Batteries
Lenovo Laptop Batteries
Samsung Laptop Batteries
Sony Laptop Batteries
Toshiba Laptop Batteries
ASUS Laptop Batteries
Gateway Laptop Batteries
LG Laptop Batteries
NEC Laptop Batteries
HITACHI Laptop Batteries
Panasonic Laptop Batteries
BenQ Laptop Batteries
Fujitsu Laptop Batteries

Anonymous said...

puma mens shoes
nike air max ltd
NIKE air shoes
nike max ltd
cheap nike shoes
cheap puma shoes
nike shoes
puma shoes
Nike Air Max
Nike Air Rift
cheap nike shoes
cheap puma shoes
Nike Shox Torch
Puma Womens Shoes
Puma Mens Shoes
enjoy shipping

Anonymous said...

This article is very good,I like it !

ferrari shoes
puma ferrari shoes
cheap puma shoes
puma future cat
puma drift cat
puma drift cat shoes


nike max shoes
cheap nike shoes
cheap nike shox
nike shox shoes
nike air max 360
nike shox nz
nike 360 air max
nike air max

nike shox shoes
Ugg Boots

Anonymous said...

cosplay costumes are in hot sales. These wholesale costume can be bought in our cosplay online store. Wholesale anime cosplay costumesand naruto cosplay costumes at discount price. I love everything and I was wondering how I could make a Japanese School Uniform. You'll need cloth of course probably navy or white for the majority. Costume of Final Fantasy Cosplay, Bleach Cosplay and Kingdom Hearts Cosplay has a feature article on the Japanese School Uniform fashion.

tennis rackets wilson said...

Thank you so much! I really love your blog, the articles are wonderful!
what do you think about polo shirt? Are you a fashion chaser? In our store online you can buy the most fashionable polo shirts. it can help you increase your attraction.
My friends and I want to buy excellent tennis rackets, and I know there is a perfect store, which sells perfect tennis racket.In order to play the game and search the place where can buy the
racquets, we find many places, and finally, we find tennis store.
would you want to be more attractive? If your answer is "Yes", you can wear ralph lauren polo shirts, you really need a pair of long sleeve polo shirts. They can make you become the focus.
women's polo shirts
men's polo shirts
long sleeve polo shirt
polo t shirt
custom shirts
black polo
tennis accessories
discount tennis
wilson tennis racquet
babolat racquet
wilson racquets
head racquet

tennis raquets said...

Your blog is very good, I like it very much
spyder jackets for cheap
womens spyder jackets
spyder ski jacket
north face jackets
Abercrombie Fitch polo shirt
Abercrombie Fitch clothing
Columbia Jacket
wholesale polo shirts
Abercrombie Fitch hoodiles
head tennis rackets
babolat racquet
wilson tennis racket
wilson tennis racquets
babolat tennis racket
classic wilson tennis racquets
prince tennis racket
prince tennis racquets
cheap head tennis racquet
superior wilson tennis racquets
babolat tennis racket
head tennis rackets
babolat racquet
wilson tennis racquets
polo womans shirt
lauren polo pants
burberry polo shirt
columbia jacket mens
lauren polo long sleeves shirt
classic spyder jacket
red ralph lauren vest
polo mens jacket
yellow polo women's jackets
striped polo shirts
ralph lauren polo shirt
polo shirt red
ralph lauren womens shirt
Ralph Lauren mens hoodies
charming north face jacket

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, I haven't ever read so wonderfull blog, your bolg is so good, I like it very much. I also want you to go to my web, and so that we can discuss something.
By the way, do you like polo shirts, which are very chic, especially the polo t shirts, I love them very much. I also like playing tennis rackets, it can keep healthy, what do you like to do?
polo t shirts women
polo t shirts on sale
polo t shirts for women
polo shirts on sale
polo shirts men
men's polo shirt
men polo shirt
mens polo shirts
mens polo shirt
cheap polo shirts
discount polo shirts
men's polo shirts
women's polo shirts
cheap tennis racket
discount tennis racket
prince tennis racquet
head tennis rackets
wilson tennis racket
babolat tennis racquet

kitty said...

Hello, wonderful blog!thank you. By the way,here we offer a lot of good nike shoes,you can come to have a look.
nike tn
nike shoes
nike chaussures
nike shox
nike shox
nike tn
tn chaussures
nike air max
nike femme chaussres
shox oz
cheap ugg
nike air rift
nike shox monster
discount nike air rift
nike air

rift

nike shox rival
men's nike shoes
nike shox monster
nike store
cheap ugg
puma
puma chaussures
nike shox r4
nike air max
achat nike shox
cheap nike shoes
cheap uggs
nike shoes
discount

nike shoes

enfant chaussures
tn requin
nike tn
achat nike shox
chaussures nike shox
nike air max tn
chaussures tn
nike shox r4
nike air max
chaussures homme

Unknown said...

Guccio Gucci,son of an Italian trader founded the House of Gucci gucci boots outlet in Florence in 1906. Guccio, authentic gucci bags an extraordinary craftsman, started selling luxury goods in the 1920s. cheap gucci shoes In 1938, Gucci opened a boutique in Rome discount Gucci bags.Aldo expanded the company by opening more stores. newest gucci handbags In 1953, New York got its first Gucci store gucci handbags 2010 and by the late '60s, more such stores were launched in London, Paris and Tokyo. Being a proud owner of a watch Armani watches outlet is a wondrous thing that many take for granted. watch wholesale No one remembers back when things were simple and discount DG watches they had to call "time and temperature" to get an accurate time cheap Chanel watches. Now certain devices run on their own newest GUCCI watches with no batteries.
Juicy couture handbags are among the brands Juicy couture which have gained a great repute over a longer period of time. The quality authentic Juicy bags and material used for their manufacturing is up to the mark Juicy handbags outlet and has no match.
Thus with the holiday shopping season approaching rapidly tiffany 2010, as an investor, the best gift you may give yourself this year is not a ring from tiffany, but shares from Tiffany. With a fairly good fundamentals, tiffany outlet a strong presence over its competitors, discount tiffany charms and a favorable economic situation to feed upon, I would not be hesitant to take a short term risk cheap tiffany Bangles in locating some luck with.
stylers are often available with free gifts, discount ghds or other incentives, which can sometimes on offer ghd outlet seems too good to be true, ghd then it probably is. There are many imitation cheap ghd flooding the market , so you need to keep ghd straighteners your withs about you. wholesale edhardy t shirt Whether you like the colour or want to do your bit for charity, Moncler T-shirtsvery popular when they are available. jumpman 23

ai said...

polo boots
It's all about fierce glamour with high octane gloss and lashings of sparkle as fabrics go metallic with shimmering luxe finishes. Forpolo shoes
, gloriously excessive embellishment is absolutely key, championed at cheap herve leger outlet
and Elie Saab.

Unknown said...

Nike has won great honor nick shoxfor producing and providing verynick shox shoes comfortable shoes to consumers all over the world.shox shoes Nike shoes were produced initially air jordanfor the basketball players only in 1985.nike shoes With the passage of time these nike trainersDunks shoes became very popular Air jordan 1among public and new styles Air jordan 2were introduced. They are popular Air jordan 3among public for their durability Air jordan 4and comfort. These basketball shoes Air jordan 5have transformed into a fashionAir jordan 6 icon suitable for all category Air jordan 7people.

combattery84 said...

ACER BTP-63D1 battery
ACER BTP-43D1 battery
Acer lc.btp05.001 battery
Acer aspire 3000 battery
Acer Travelmate 4000 battery
ACER aspire 5560 battery
ACER BATBL50L6 battery
ACER TravelMate 240 Battery
ACER BT.00803.004 Battery
ACER Travelmate 4002lmi battery
Acer travelmate 800 battery
Acer aspire 3613wlmi battery
Travelmate 2414wlmi battery
Acer batcl50l battery
Acer Travelmate 2300 battery
ACER aspire 3610 battery
ACER travelmate 4600 battery
Dell Latitude D800 battery
Dell Inspiron 600m battery
Dell Inspiron 8100 Battery
Dell Y9943 battery
Dell Inspiron 1521 battery
Dell Inspiron 510m battery
Dell Latitude D500 battery
Dell Latitude D520 battery
Dell GD761 battery
Dell NF343 battery
Dell D5318 battery
Dell G5260 battery
Dell Inspiron 9200 battery
Dell Latitude C500 battery

combattery84 said...

Dell HD438 Battery
Dell GK479 battery
Dell PC764 battery
Dell KD476 Battery
Dell Inspiron 1150 battery
Dell inspiron 8500 battery
Dell Inspiron 4100 battery
Dell Inspiron 4000 battery
Dell Inspiron 8200 battery
Dell FK890 battery
Dell Inspiron 1721 battery
Dell Inspiron 1300 Battery
Dell Inspiron 1520 Battery


Dell Latitude D600 Battery
Dell XPS M1330 battery
DELL XPS M1730 Battery
Dell Latitude D531N Battery
Dell INSPIRON 6000 battery
Dell INSPIRON 6400 Battery
Dell Inspiron 9300 battery
Dell INSPIRON 9400 Battery
Dell INSPIRON e1505 battery
Dell INSPIRON 2500 battery
Dell INSPIRON 630m battery
Dell Latitude D820 battery
Dell Latitude D610 Battery
Dell Latitude D620 battery
Dell Latitude D630 battery
Dell xps m1210 battery
Dell e1705 battery

combattery84 said...

Dell d830 battery
Dell inspiron 2200 battery
Dell inspiron 640m battery
Dell inspiron b120 battery
Dell xps m1210 battery
Dell inspiron xps m1710 battery
Dell inspiron 1100 battery
Dell 310-6321 battery
Dell 1691p battery
Dell Inspiron 500m battery
Dell 6Y270 battery
Dell inspiron 8600 battery
Latitude x300 series battery
Dell latitude cpi battery
Dell 1x793 battery
dell Inspiron 1501 battery
Dell 75UYF Battery
Dell Inspiron 1720 battery
dell Latitude C640 battery
Dell XPS M140 battery
Dell Inspiron E1405 battery
dell 700m battery
dell C1295 battery
Dell U4873 Battery
Dell inspiron 1525 battery

Anonymous said...

thanks for your sharing! great helpful!!!Thank you
Wedding Dresses Discount
cheap mobile phone

DynaJ said...

Another one of those events? Maybe they should just go on a Detox diet. Master cleanse would do you good.

clarebear said...

http://www.zacoo.com/
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-beads.html
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-beads/crystal-beads.html
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-supplies.html
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-beads/tibetan-style-beads.html
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-beads/acrylic-beads.html
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-supplies/jewelry-charms.html
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-beads/pandora-style-beads.html
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-beads/wood-nut-beads.html
http://www.zacoo.com/jewelry-beads/gemstone-beads.html

jelish said...

Christian Louboutin Sale Outlet footwear are regarded as considering what type of mark of alluring and trendy.Religious Louboutin names right after an very-known footwear artist who launched his selection of high-finish women's footwear. Now occur to Christian Louboutin Sale Outlet store! We'll alter you inside the gorgeous girl! the following provides Christian Louboutin Ankle Boots,Christian Louboutin High Heels,Christian Louboutin New Style and so forth.The special and well-Designed footwear preferred worldwide, signed when using the Louboutin red-colored soles inside the mark, delivering huge heels and covetable add-ons, method pumps and chic luxury Louboutin clutch has getting accessible nearly all style only. We now have provide Louboutin shoes with one hundred percent free moving and preserve 60% off! Stop putting things off!Christian Louboutin Outlet Onlinee store might be the initial choice!
http://www.christianlouboutinoutletonline.org

Ugg Classic Boots said...

uggs clearance
uggs clearance
uggs Ugg outlet store
Discount Uggs Boots
Ugg Classic Boots
ugg boots outlet
Ugg Boots Clearance
Ugg Online Store
博客:
UGG Outlet Store
Cheap Ugg UK
Uggs clearance sale
ugg australia uk
ugg boots clearance
ugg coupon

London Escort Agency said...

Your Escort Agency offers exclusive and most beautiful London escort girls of various nationalities.

London escorts said...

Bestescort4U agency provids best London escorts companionship in the UK.

Anonymous said...

Tremendous issues here. I'm very glad to look your article. Thank you a lot and I'm
having a look forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
My web blog ... onitsuka tiger mexico 66 vin

Anonymous said...

It's an awesome article for all the internet people; they will get advantage from it I am sure.

My homepage - Cheap Ray Bans

Anonymous said...

Good day! This post couldn't be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!

my homepage replica oakley sunglasses

Anonymous said...

Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements
would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know
where you got your theme. Thank you

My web-site: Ray Ban Wayfarer

Anonymous said...

Howdy! This post couldn't be written much better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I'll send this information to him.

Pretty sure he will have a good read. I appreciate
you for sharing!

Visit my weblog cheap nike air max 90

Anonymous said...

I don't drop many comments, however I browsed a few remarks here "In Day of Mass Arrests, Divergent Versions of Events". I actually do have a couple of questions for you if you do not mind. Could it be just me or does it seem like a few of the comments look as if they are written by brain dead folks? :-P And, if you are writing on additional online sites, I'd like to follow you.

Would you list of all of all your social pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed,
or linkedin profile?

Also visit my weblog :: Christian Louboutin Women Flats

Anonymous said...

Hello just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the
pictures aren't loading correctly. I'm not sure why but I think its
a linking issue. I've tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same results.

Also visit my web-site: nike air max 90

Anonymous said...

Woah! I'm really enjoying the template/theme of this blog. It's simple, yet
effective. A lot of times it's tough to get that "perfect balance" between usability and visual appeal. I must say that you've done a superb job with this.
Additionally, the blog loads super fast for me on Safari. Exceptional Blog!


My page nike free run 2 womens

Anonymous said...

Hi, I do think your web site might be having browser compatibility issues.
Whenever I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however when
opening in Internet Explorer, it's got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to give you a quick heads up! Aside from that, excellent site!

Review my page ... cheap ralph lauren

Anonymous said...

Amazing blog! Do you have any helpful hints for aspiring writers?
I'm planning to start my own site soon but I'm a little lost on
everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like Wordpress or go for a paid option?
There are so many options out there that I'm completely overwhelmed .. Any recommendations? Many thanks!

Take a look at my webpage ... christian louboutin sale

Anonymous said...

He preferred guitar's neck cloths that would be lightly starched and thoroughly folded. And ' excess gaping upon the
upper pectoral should be evident. Sleeve length easy, on the crease on
the inside of wrist. Express based services made the approach rrn the direction of customers easier as well as a scalable.
http://kombuchapilz.de/forum/user/27098-vernitavq/

My weblog jean paul gaultier

Anonymous said...

There are several English designer brandnames that are
particularly worth having a peek at. Every agency had a black colored dress in his/her collection.
Completely gone are the days, when hand possessions were used easily for
carrying financial or luggage. Designer fashion is
expensive, highly advanced and classy. http://www.
agryd.com/index.php?do=/blog/337994/a-quick-history-of-selection-designer-brands/

Anonymous said...

It may perhaps theoretically but you wish
to get accurate data, don't you? A person want to improve your service having said that don't know alternatives you
should along with? The main modes of distance learning are phone, email, fax, IMs.
balenciaga is the first designer to combine high-tech gadgets with exquisite clothes.
http://fmf.bigpi.biysk.ru/mediawiki/index.
php/%D0%A3%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA:Marcus735

Unknown said...

Really nice post, you got great blog and Thank you for sharing This excellently written content. Waiting for next one.

HP - ENVY 15.6" Laptop - 8GB Memory - 750GB Hard Drive - Natural Silver

HP - 14" EliteBook Notebook - 4 GB Memory and 180 GB Solid State Drive - Platinum