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6 arrests at Bellingham Critical Mass!

author: flower power
Oct 29, 2004 18:54

The temperature was low, but the spirits were high as 100+ be-costumed revelers spontaneously coalesced at the end of Railroad Avenue for a jovial jaunt on bicycles of all varities this evening in Bellingham.

The temperature was low, given that it was your usual brisk and overcast fall evening in Bellingham, but the spirits were high as 100+ be-costumed revelers spontaneously coalesced at the end of Railroad Avenue tonight for a jovial jaunt on bicycles of all varities.

I spotted clowns, cheerleaders, witches, superheros, a tin man, a scarecrow, winged beings, monsters, ballerinas, and just about every imaginable combination of these things you could think of.

We took to the streets and rode for a good hour, to Fairhaven district and back, to the beats of drums provided by folks in bike trolleys. All passers-by and even all motor vehicles gave a hearty cheer at the sight of the large bike parade.

But the fun became less so as the Bellingham police department proceded to put the lie to their oft-expressed claim of too much crime and not enough officers to handle it. For a modest bike parade, the Ham po' managed to muster up a bike cop, a motorcycle cop, an SUV cop, and three-four-or-five-or-six car cops.

The cops gradually surfed in and out and around the crowd, and even found the time to ask the perennial question of authority, "Who's your leader?" (What leader??), until around 5:30 at the corner of East Holly and Cornwall, they grabbed a brother on a low-rider bike. The Mass came to an abrupt stop in response, and four other folks (to my knowledge) were nabbed. One woman stood in the crosswalk observing the scene, only to have a 'Ham officer grab her arm from behind and march her to his car.

In all, four men (ironically, one of whom was costumed as a prisoner!) and two women were arrested for doing nothing that 94+ other people weren't also doing: enjoying an evening bike ride and having a little fun.

I can only imagine the Bellingham Herald editorial tomorrow. "Lest we allow (The jail is overcrowded) fun to become an epidemic, it was (criminals want to kill you in your homes) appropriate and in the interests of all tax-paying (further development of Whatcom county is inevitable) citizens that the Bellingham Police Department took the step (insert Bill Elfo quote here) it did in nipping fun in the bud, before it had the chance to blossom into outright (shop downtown) gaity. "

After many minutes, the Mass, or what was left of it (15-30 people), slowly made its way to the jail, and then to the police station. After a firm lecture on the Law ("I understand what you guys are trying to do") from a female officer whose name eludes me, and after being told our comrades were being booked (! So much for "booking restrictions" in the overcrowded jail!) and wouldn't be back for another few hours, folks all dispersed to do whatever there is to do on a Friday night.

Alas, five comrades remain in coppers' clutches as of this writing. Please keep your eye open for coming defense funds and court dates (you know, the point at which repression gets bureaucratic) for chances to support the folks who were nabbed for no good reason at all.

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war on freedom
Posted by: nishiki at Oct 29, 2004 21:28

the simultaneous critical mass in vancouver bc, world shangri la, today went just fine; but i opted out eary due to the wet, cold rain and my long trek homeward to the rural burb and 2 acres (sigh) of greenspace. as usual no kops and just fun. some delayed motorists honked in approval, apparently and we returned with waves and smiles.

so where is Bellingham's indy website?
Posted by: C at Oct 30, 2004 23:52

I would like to help by going to the courthouse -when's the date? Tell me when. You guys are right! We must Resist these bored cops/police-state chumps!-
see:
http://www.refuseandresist.org/article-print.php?aid=1524 please see this site!
-C

"Comrades"
Posted by: CHAOSMAGE at Oct 31, 2004 10:49

Sorry, the fact that you refer to your peers as "comrades" truly reveals where your sympathies lie. You are nothing short of a seditious communist and I have nothing but respect for the noble police officers who put you and your "comrades" in jail.

refuse and resist
Posted by: withheld at Oct 31, 2004 10:59

do see the suggested site, copy and distribute the article. amerika, u are under attack by your fascist government.! also see the nyc, portland, and sf indysites for more info on police state crackdowns on critical mass. come visit kanada for a breath of fresh air while the borders are still open.

.
Posted by: . at Nov 01, 2004 10:49

please tell the people!! a black man was chased down the street by sme white youths shouting ''nigger'' and when the black man asked a fireman standing on the corner for some help, the fireman said ''theres nothing illegal about calling someone names''.but when a black man was attacked in bellingham ,he called the attaker a racist and was charged with causing the attack against him!!!tyhe cops lied and used the fact that the black man thought the attack was racially motivated as a reason the black man was attacked.the white man assaulted the black man ,then the black man called him a racist in a diplomatic manner.then the white guy tried to jump on and pulverize the black man.the cops and the whites who were witnesses told a lie.the one witness on the black mans side was discounted because they said he couldnt have seen what happened because her wasnt in the ''right position'' or some bull crap LIE.thats what the bellingham police do!!finally , wake up THE MASSAS!! itsw critical MASS.seethe FALL of the FASCIST racist bellingham police.

too
Posted by: be at Nov 01, 2004 10:59

a cop in bellingham made a racial slur to me and lied about it.rally around the police and courthouse and ask why officer poortinga badge 208 ,makes racial slurs! a crippled old man told me the bellingham police beat him up in his apartment.this guy is 98 pond crippled bent over man.a couple of cops beat him up!!.the cops cover each other so they tell lioes.any means necessary!! expose them to the world.let iraqi and palestinians and africans haitians know we are with them and we know what this usa govt. is doing.no more LIES!!!!!!!!! a cop made fun of a black man grandmother.he is on bellingham police dept.you had it coming ,bellingham you DAMN liars!!

too
Posted by: be at Nov 01, 2004 11:00

.
Posted by: . at Nov 01, 2004 11:08

belingham stinks.a friend of mine moved away because he couldnt stand to see indians and others were marginalizeed by the sxtepford middle class robotic fascism there.god, that putrid dump of a town.it needs to be put on the map as being a testing ground for police social control.

out loud
Posted by: okay at Nov 01, 2004 11:21

i will be coming to town for any ralliies.will bring a ''diverse'' contingent.bellingham rally fpr democracy!!

FASCISM=Business As Usual?
Posted by: Former Bikie at Nov 01, 2004 17:45

Shortly after 1964 or thereabouts,I was busted for rideing my 3-speed"English Monkey-On-A-Stick"bike on Hiway 410,near Selah,Washington.
At that time,I was still pretty naeve about neo-fascist mentalities.
I pointed out to an group of apparently un-employed cops and State "Patrol"officers that,under the law used to stop me,I could bot be cited for not haveing vehicle Head-Tail lights inoperable or missing because It was about 5 minutes from legally defined"sunset"or civil twilight.
Several thugs kibitzing for cheap thrills,I assume,laughed when the SPD officer who claimed the authority to stop my bicycle by pulling up in the lane I was edgeing on shoulder,turning on siren,lights,and shouting at me:
stated that,I was under arrest for illegal pedestrianism after not stopping.
Then,I was handcuffed,and my bike photographed,serial # recorderd,and left in a ditch.
Whebn I pointed out that the officer was obviously "haunted by the ghost of Heinrich Himmler,because he was acting like 'the Gestapo'",It was explicit enough to irritate Mr.Macho.
Ever since this stupid thug-of-state gave me this kind of abuse of authority,I've always refused to grant the assumpyion of good will or good faith to any-one who claims any broad social authority of any nature.
Dog-Vatxher to President,they're all sociopathic "Little Seargeant"personalities.

more info?
Posted by: bham resident, for now at Nov 04, 2004 16:47

sorry, i must be outta the loop. is there a place where i can find out more info. about (these specific times) of bellingham racism by the cops that some of you have posted here. and about the old man? im really sorry that i havent heard about these things, i'll definitely back up anyone who is getting fucked over by the (fascist) pigs.

.
Posted by: . at Nov 04, 2004 18:47

thanx for concern.the bham herald never had any info about the many gang attacks that have been witnessed.jack a car or hold a peaceful protest ,and you will be vilified on front page.beat up an indian or filipino you wont even know it happened.in front of up and up tavern i heard that a filipino guy was attacked by a group of people and lost his glasses.the owner of that tavern probably knows about it but i dont know if he would be cooperative.he would be lying if he said he didnt know.thats the trouble with bham,noone wants to speak up cause its a small town.when you have such ingrate police around you might hesitate to speak up.yeah its a big mess, but so is everything in amerikkka public life.keep on keep on.......

Bellingham and the Blakely decision
Posted by: crying in Cali at Nov 15, 2004 07:48

Why is Bellingham doing its best to put people in prison for longer than the required sentences? Whydo the thumb there noses at the supreme Courts decisions and write plea-agreements that over rule the Blakely decision? Why is my son doing 3 years in prison for a charge that should have only gotten him a max of 9 months. Why did they not see that he had never been in ANY trouble in his life including never even a school fight? Why after only 2 weeks away from home did the railroad ave street life take him away from us for so long. If you dont ask why with me now, you could be asking why for your own sons in the future without anyone left to listen. :( Bellingham please give him back, he is truely loved and missed.

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6 arrests at Bellingham Critical Mass!