[Onthebarricades] US: Minneapolis Critical Mass under attack

[Andy]

> News & Views for Anarchists & Activists:
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> Freewheeling Critical Mass will take to the streets Friday -- quietly,
> many hope
> By Randy Furst
> Star Tribune
> Last update: September 27, 2007 – 10:00 PM
>
> John Nowicki, 46, is hoping for no confrontations today when he joins
> what could be hundreds of bicyclists in a freewheeling ride known as
> Critical Mass. "I'm hoping for more bicyclists and a happy ride," says
> the Minneapolis businessman, who took part in a Critical Mass ride last
> month.
>
> Some consider the monthly rush-hour ride a celebration; some consider it
> a protest. Last month, some considered it a riot when Minneapolis police
> used Tasers and chemical spray and arrested 19 people.
>
> Police were accused of overreacting. But others blamed the provocations
> of a few bandana-wearing bicyclists who may be connected to an anarchist
> group planning protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention in
> St. Paul.
>
> "We're going to be dealing with issues like this increasingly over the
> next year as we prepare for the convention," said Mayor R.T. Rybak last
> week. Local officials are aware that in 2004, three days before the
> Republican National Convention, New York police arrested 250 Critical
> Mass bicyclists.
>
> Rybak said he and Police Chief Tim Dolan will continue to review
> Critical Mass, "making sure that we protect public safety and don't
> overreact when we shouldn't, but also take stands when we need to
> protect people."
> [When should they overreact?--DC]
>
> The Minneapolis city attorney's office disclosed this week that no
> charges will be brought against at least 11 of those arrested Aug. 31.
> Four face gross misdemeanor charges, including interfering with arrests,
> and there is one case of fourth-degree assault of a police officer.
>
> At a meeting in City Hall last week organized by Council Member Cam
> Gordon, about 30 Critical Mass riders met with key police officials to
> prevent a recurrence of the August arrests. Gordon termed the meeting
> "extremely successful," with police receptive to bicyclists' ideas. And
> some riders expressed willingness to "self-police" the ride to prevent
> confrontations.
>
> What is Critical Mass?
>
> Getting concurrence from Critical Mass is a challenge.
>
> Critical Mass has no leaders, organization or membership. It includes
> students, workers, parents and children. When today's ride kicks off at
> 5:30 p.m. in Loring Park, there will be no predetermined route.
>
> "I look at it as a huge fun thing to do on Friday, not a protest," says
> Paul Kristapovich, 19, an intern in Cam Gordon's office who was arrested
> in August. To avoid a conflict of interest, his case has been referred
> to another city attorney's office.
>
> "Critical Mass is [as] many different things as there are people riding
> it," says Nowicki. "For me, it's one time a month to come together as a
> group of riders and say we are not blocking traffic, we are traffic. It
> is an empowerment thing for bicyclists. Some people see it as anti-car
> culture, some people see it as anti-capitalist culture, some people see
> it as pro-environment."
>
> But he also says there are a handful of "amped-up" youth who ride into
> oncoming traffic, force cars to slam on their brakes and provoke police.
>
> Under Critical Mass philosophy, the lead bicyclists are supposed to stop
> at a red light, but once it turns green, all riders continue through the
> intersection, even when the light changes. To prevent cars from entering
> the Mass, some riders engage in "corking" -- blocking cars at
> intersections until all bikers move through.
>
> Such behavior does not endear Critical Mass to some motorists -- or some
> bicyclists.
>
> "I believe in standing up for rights, but I don't believe in running red
> lights and running stop signs," says Mike Beadles, past president of the
> Twin Cities Bicycling Club.
>
> Critical Mass began in 1992 in San Francisco, and today the ride, on the
> last Friday of each month, is popular worldwide and in many U.S. cities.
>
> It surfaced in Minneapolis in 1995. "The first one involved 15 or 20
> people," says Gene Operpiller, 45. A partner in the One on One local
> bike store and cafe, he no longer joins the rides.
>
> The ride has gotten "really big" in the last three or four years, says
> Nowicki, who co-owns a background-check business in Minneapolis.
>
> As in other cities, Minneapolis police have sometimes arrested Critical
> Mass members. "I have seen all kinds of responses to Critical Mass,"
> said Robin Garwood, an aide to Gordon. Sometimes, a single squad car
> follows the ride. "I've been on rides where there's no police."
>
> What happened Aug. 31
>
> Trouble erupted on Aug. 31. An anarchist group, which is planning to
> protest at the Republican convention next year, urged members to
> participate in the ride. Meanwhile, police concerned about traffic
> disruption and damage to cars had a State Patrol helicopter fly overhead
> and assigned officers to film the ride.
>
> Chief Dolan said police "were overwhelmed" by the "intentional
> disruption" of traffic by some 300 cyclists. He said most officers'
> actions appeared justified, but some actions "give me some concern."
>
> After police tried to make one arrest and bicyclists encircled them
> chanting, "Let him go," police put out an "officer needs help call" that
> Dolan said was not "an ideal way" to deal with it. He wants more police
> coordination and vowed a full investigation. No helicopter will fly over
> the riders today.
>
> "It seems to have got way out of hand this time, and police
> overreacted," said Jeff Pemberton, 19, who was arrested.
>
> David Renz, 28, said he was a bystander shooting video with his $300
> camera when he was Maced and arrested. An officer broke his camera, he
> said, throwing it to the ground. "I was completely passive," he said.
>
> Neither Pemberton or Renz will face charges. The Hennepin County
> attorney's office has not decided whether to charge three juveniles.
>
> Former Minneapolis Police Chief Tony Bouza said failure to charge 11
> people suggests police overreacted. But former Minneapolis City Attorney
> Bob Alfton said it is no indication of improper arrests.
>
> Rybak cites city efforts on behalf of biking, and is open to doing more.
> "But when people disrupt other people's rights, we will of course,
> enforce the law," he said.
>
> To that, Jordan Kushner, an attorney for some of the arrested
> bicyclists, replies, "The ball is in the court of the Police Department
> if they want to restrain the police."
>
> Staff researcher Roberta Hovde contributed to this report. Randy Furst •
> 612-673-7382 Randy Furst • rfurst at startribune.com
>
> -- 
> Dan Clore
>
> My collected fiction: _The Unspeakable and Others_
> http://tinyurl.com/3akhhr
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