• Police Arrest/"Assaults" Busker For Playing Music In Subway, Despite Breaking Any Laws
    28 replies, posted
[quote="Huffington Post] The New York City transit authority has a rule that expressly allows people to play music beneath the streets. So why did a cop arrest a busker over the weekend after he refused to stop singing and playing his acoustic guitar on a subway platform? At the busker’s urging, the officer first read out loud the relevant section of the MTA rulebook, noting that “artistic performances, including the acceptance of donations,” are permitted. Then he arrested the singer, slamming his guitar into the wall. In a video of the incident captured by a bystander, the musician sings Neil Young’s anti-authoritarian anthem “Ohio” as the officer and several backups handcuff him and drag him away. The crowd on the platform erupts into a chant of “Fuck the police.” [/quote] [video=youtube;PEBZReXChoA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEBZReXChoA[/video] [quote] [b] Except as expressly permitted in this subdivision, no person shall engage in any nontransit uses upon any facility or conveyance. Nontransit uses are noncommercial activities that are not directly related to the use of a facility or conveyance for transportation. The following nontransit uses are permitted by the Authority, provided they do not impede transit activities and they are conducted in accordance with these rules: public speaking; campaigning; leafletting or distribution of written noncommercial materials; activities intended to encourage and facilitate voter registration; artistic performances, including the acceptance of donations. [/b] [/quote] Why are we even focused on a guy playing music in a subway (which isn't illegal) when there are plenty of real crimes happening?
I tip my fedora in shame towards the NYPD. A man's choice of hat is no reason for discrimination. For too long have my fedorable brethren been ridiculed and discriminated against, I say it's time we rise up and fight these powers that keep us and our superior intellect and head fashion sense down! [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Dumb nonsense post" - AshMan55))[/highlight]
another criminal behind bars amen
i'm actually glad that in this day and age we have the ability to record the bad shit that happens like this just so people know about it
[QUOTE=Hamsteronfire;46312887]i'm actually glad that in this day and age we have the ability to record the bad shit that happens like this just so people know about it[/QUOTE] that way people can see it and do nothing about it, instead of not seeing it and doing nothing about it
Classic New York. The crime rate is so low that they have nothing more to worry about than street musicians. Oh wait...
[QUOTE=draugur;46313002]Classic New York. The crime rate is so low that they have nothing more to worry about than street musicians. Oh wait...[/QUOTE] This is the first time I've ever heard of this happening. Street musicians are extremely common, and often not harassed like this, especially by officers. I'd even argue that they're a part of NYC culture.
[QUOTE=LegndNikko;46313112]This is the first time I've ever heard of this happening. Street musicians are extremely common, and often not harassed like this, especially by officers. I'd even argue that they're a part of NYC culture.[/QUOTE] This guy has obviously been harrassed a lot before (I even think he said he has been at one point) because he had the law memorized.
Wow I'm sure glad Judge Dredd was on the case.
anyone have the link to the source, OP doesnt have it
Neil Young's Ohio was quite appropriate... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdVMGKOFIwY[/media] I spent the afternoon watching a friend of mine busking. Shit like this makes me sad. Hopes justice can be brought upon this police officer. (Yeah right, like that's ever going to happen)
[QUOTE=LegndNikko;46313112]This is the first time I've ever heard of this happening. Street musicians are extremely common, and often not harassed like this, especially by officers. I'd even argue that they're a part of NYC culture.[/QUOTE] Not really NYC culture, just part of city culture.
if he can get his hands on this video (email it, as heard in the vid), this is a clear-cut lawsuit for assault and wrongful arrest (despite him being a bit antagonistic) also just to cut down the law statement into the bites of necessary info: [quote]The following nontransit uses [B][U]are[/U] permitted[/B] by the Authority, provided they do not impede transit activities and they are conducted in accordance with these rules: public speaking; campaigning; leafletting or distribution of written noncommercial materials; activities intended to encourage and facilitate voter registration;[B] artistic performances, including the acceptance of donations.[/B][/quote] seems a lot of people in the youtube commends took the cop's reiteration at face value and still assumed this implied you needed a permit. "As expressly permitted" implies that if it isn't in the above list, it's a no-go
[QUOTE=Code3Response;46313451]anyone have the link to the source, OP doesnt have it[/QUOTE] Sorry about that, tried to edit the OP after I posted it but it was glitching out. [url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/subway-musician-arrest-_n_6017854.html[/url] There you go. (Completely off topic, but does anyone know why when I click edit on the OP, all the boxes are blank, like making a new post?)
Some things the OP didn't have in it; After being arrested the performer told him a story about his childhood; when a robber broke into his house with a shotgun his father wrestled with the burglar until police showed up and saved their lives. Then the performer thanked the officers for protecting the citizens of New York. At that point the officers warmed up to the performer and told him he was arrested because their superiors told them they had to meet quotas, even agreeing with him that the system was broken and needed to be fixed.
[QUOTE=BrownTown;46312407]I tip my fedora in shame towards the NYPD. A man's choice of hat is no reason for discrimination. For too long have my fedorable brethren been ridiculed and discriminated against, I say it's time we rise up and fight these powers that keep us and our superior intellect and head fashion sense down![/QUOTE] "Oh wait, you're serious, let me laugh even harder. "
[QUOTE=Comrade_Eko;46315062]Some things the OP didn't have in it; After being arrested the performer told him a story about his childhood; when a robber broke into his house with a shotgun his father wrestled with the burglar until police showed up and saved their lives. Then the performer thanked the officers for protecting the citizens of New York. At that point the officers warmed up to the performer and told him he was arrested because their superiors told them they had to meet quotas, even agreeing with him that the system was broken and needed to be fixed.[/QUOTE] Officers still have arrest quotas in New York City? But the officer didn't even want to arrest him at first, just eject him so that doesn't really make sense.
[QUOTE=MadPro119;46315306]Officers still have arrest quotas in New York City? But the officer didn't even want to arrest him at first, just eject him so that doesn't really make sense.[/QUOTE] Even if it is true I don't think, "My commander told me to do it so I'm innocent of all wrongdoings" applies in modern times.
[QUOTE=Comrade_Eko;46315334]Even if it is true I don't think, "My commander told me to do it so I'm innocent of all wrongdoings" applies in modern times.[/QUOTE] The cop is still a fool for sure.
[QUOTE=Comrade_Eko;46315062]Some things the OP didn't have in it; After being arrested the performer told him a story about his childhood; when a robber broke into his house with a shotgun his father wrestled with the burglar until police showed up and saved their lives. Then the performer thanked the officers for protecting the citizens of New York. At that point the officers warmed up to the performer and told him he was arrested because their superiors told them they had to meet quotas, even agreeing with him that the system was broken and needed to be fixed.[/QUOTE] [quote]He spent Friday night in a police holding cell, but he doesn’t sound bitter about it. At the precinct, he said, he thanked his arresting officer and another cop for risking their lives to protect people, and told them about something that happened to his family a decade ago in Northern California: A masked intruder entered their home with a shotgun and struggled with his father before the police arrived and took the man away. After he shared that story, he said, the cops warmed up to him. “From that point on, we were able to have a real conversation. Both cops agreed that the system is very broken. Their bosses tell them it’s their job to go out and write tickets. It’s a revenue system. We all agreed that we want it to change, but they’re doing what they’re told.” Kalleen said he later asked his arresting officer if he liked music. “It turns out that he plays guitar too, or he used to. We talked about music that we like, and there were some bands that crossed over: Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin. He’d recently gone to see Robert Plant." The officer did not tell Kalleen whether he likes Neil Young.[/quote]
It'd be one thing if it was just a cop-- but the entire shabang? Really? How many nutheads can you accept into a police force?
[QUOTE=MadPro119;46315306]Officers still have arrest quotas in New York City? But the officer didn't even want to arrest him at first, just eject him so that doesn't really make sense.[/QUOTE] He threatened to arrest him at the beginning, but denied it when the people started calling him out. It's kind of hard to hear at first. I still think the singer had amazing character for not getting angry/violent and forgiving the cop when it was all said and done. EDIT: Video at the time where he threatens to arrest: [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEBZReXChoA#t=40[/url]
[QUOTE=Scot;46312624]another criminal behind bars amen[/QUOTE] and neil young will remember, a law man don't need him around anyhow
I'm fairly certain the cop arrested the guy for not complying with his order to vacate. Which was bullshit to begin with, since the guy read the damn law which the performer was not in violation of. People with shit egos are already terrible people to deal with, and then give them any sort of power and God forbid you cross their path and cough in the wrong direction.
Is it dumb of me to think that the cop was only being somewhat nice to the guy after the fact because he wanted to avoid a lawsuit?
hahaha, that "FUCK THA POLICE" at the end of the video.
[QUOTE=Th3applek1d;46314158]Sorry about that, tried to edit the OP after I posted it but it was glitching out. [url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/subway-musician-arrest-_n_6017854.html[/url] There you go. (Completely off topic, but does anyone know why when I click edit on the OP, all the boxes are blank, like making a new post?)[/QUOTE] Its a glitch with FP. Its because theres an italicized quotation mark somewhere in it.
so the police are (mostly) being forced into this behaviour by their superiors (or to face losing their jobs?. Where is the justice here? It's absolutely disgusting that police are being made to wrongfully and unlawfully arrest the very people they're supposed to be protecting just to meet a quota.
Arrest quotas are fucking disgusting.
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