264 arrests at Critical Mass bike protest in NYC.

[Renew Deal]

This is unbelievable. I think they're gonna just try to throw all of us in jail. There are lots of pictures and video on this site.
__________________________________________________________________

The first wave of posts on tonight's Critical Mass have come in. The ride was New York's largest critical mass, with well over 5,000 bikes.
Gathering at Union Square in the middle of Manhattan at 7 p.m. and departing at 7:30, oil-free transportation stretched across all horizons around Union Square. First pedaling south down Broadway and then rerouting north on Madison and Sixth avenues, Critical Mass consisted of a 45 block long brigade of cyclists, skaters and pedestrians. The ride lasted about 2 hours, performed its traditional occupation of Times Square and rode past Madison Square Garden (MSG), site of the RNC.

Approximately 800 Critical Massers ended up at St. Mark's church in lower Manhattan, sanctuary for the protest and home to much of the organizing for the counter RNC mobilizing. Upon arriving at the church, the Critical Mass riders hoisted their bikes into the air, waving them overhead as they unleashed a long unified victory cry.

The celebratory mood at St. Mark's lasted only fifteen minutes though before police moved and began arresting participants. Critical Mass riders elsewhere were caught and arrested by New York City Police along the way. Several riders were taken down after passing MSG, dozens more were arrested at the Lincoln Tunnel.
<snip>

http://nyc.indymedia.org/

[ikojo]

1. 264 out of 4,500 bike riders...hardly a blip

Doesn't even come up to ten percent. I wonder how many were arrested at previous NYC Critical Mass rides. In cities like NYC and San Francisco, it is not unusual for there to be arrests during Critical Mass because some people become overly zelous in their bike advocacy and challenge the carbound among us.