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Bicyclists sue Police
The Sacramento Police Department is being sued for $11 Million in damages by bicyclists whose civil rights were repeatedly violated when they tried to participate in the Sacramento Critical Mass bicycle demonstrations.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 4, 2002
$11 MILLION SUIT v. Sacramento Police Department
Press conference Tuesday, June 4, 2002 with supporters and victims present
Noon, in front of Federal Courthouse (5th and I Sts.) following filing.
Quality Hi-8 Footage Available
The Sacramento Police Department is being sued for $11 Million in damages by bicyclists whose civil rights were repeatedly violated when they tried to participate in the Sacramento Critical Mass bicycle demonstrations.
The lawsuit, organized on behalf of plaintiffs by Bicycle Civil Liberties Union (BCLU) activists and attorneys, targets the rampant pattern and practice of civil rights abuses committed by the Sacramento Police Department over the past decade, specifically with regards to abuses against Critical Mass bicycle demonstrations which began May 4th of 2001. Heavy-handed police response made it clear they intended to crush the right to demonstrate on two wheels in California’s capitol city. This was at least the third time community members attempted to organize an ongoing monthly ride.
“There’s no telling how much Sacramento has been set back over the past decade by the repression the Sacramento Police Department has channeled against these bicycle demonstrations,” said BCLU Director and Jason Meggs. “Participants have been intimidated and harassed into forsaking their fundamental rights under our Constitution. There is a clear pattern and practice of abuse.”
“A preponderance of evidence indicts the Sacramento Police Department for knowingly and repeatedly violating the First Amendment rights of the cycling citizens of Sacramento to demonstrate,” said BCLU attorney Lawrence Hildes.
“We tried to work with the City reasonably, appealing to the City Council, the Office of the City Manager, the Office of Police Accountability and more. We were promised that the police would not abuse the demonstrators’ rights – but they continued,” said Jason Meggs. After suffering ten years of preventing legitimate first amendment activity for clean air, safer streets and sustainable cities, plaintiffs feel they have no choice but to follow through with this action at this time.”
Photos, video and specifics of police abuses can be found at the BCLU website, specifically under http://www.bclu.org/sactocm/. Quality hi-8 footage is available. The press conference will occur shortly after the suit is filed Tuesday morning. Supporters with signs and banners will be present.
JUNE 4, 2002
$11 MILLION SUIT v. Sacramento Police Department
Press conference Tuesday, June 4, 2002 with supporters and victims present
Noon, in front of Federal Courthouse (5th and I Sts.) following filing.
Quality Hi-8 Footage Available
The Sacramento Police Department is being sued for $11 Million in damages by bicyclists whose civil rights were repeatedly violated when they tried to participate in the Sacramento Critical Mass bicycle demonstrations.
The lawsuit, organized on behalf of plaintiffs by Bicycle Civil Liberties Union (BCLU) activists and attorneys, targets the rampant pattern and practice of civil rights abuses committed by the Sacramento Police Department over the past decade, specifically with regards to abuses against Critical Mass bicycle demonstrations which began May 4th of 2001. Heavy-handed police response made it clear they intended to crush the right to demonstrate on two wheels in California’s capitol city. This was at least the third time community members attempted to organize an ongoing monthly ride.
“There’s no telling how much Sacramento has been set back over the past decade by the repression the Sacramento Police Department has channeled against these bicycle demonstrations,” said BCLU Director and Jason Meggs. “Participants have been intimidated and harassed into forsaking their fundamental rights under our Constitution. There is a clear pattern and practice of abuse.”
“A preponderance of evidence indicts the Sacramento Police Department for knowingly and repeatedly violating the First Amendment rights of the cycling citizens of Sacramento to demonstrate,” said BCLU attorney Lawrence Hildes.
“We tried to work with the City reasonably, appealing to the City Council, the Office of the City Manager, the Office of Police Accountability and more. We were promised that the police would not abuse the demonstrators’ rights – but they continued,” said Jason Meggs. After suffering ten years of preventing legitimate first amendment activity for clean air, safer streets and sustainable cities, plaintiffs feel they have no choice but to follow through with this action at this time.”
Photos, video and specifics of police abuses can be found at the BCLU website, specifically under http://www.bclu.org/sactocm/. Quality hi-8 footage is available. The press conference will occur shortly after the suit is filed Tuesday morning. Supporters with signs and banners will be present.
For more information:
http://www.bclu.org/
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We're going to Sacramento tomorrow to file a lawsuit in
behalf of Critical Massers there. We're getting the
Amtrak train 522 which leaves Emeryville at 7:55 AM,
(and gets to Berkeley a couple minutes later). We'll
go to the Federal Courthouse at 5th and I Sts. to file,
and then have a press conference at noon.
Then this Friday we'll go for the monthly ride itself,
most of us meet at Emeryville Amtrak station at 1:30 PM,
and return to Berkeley by 10 PM. The station is close
to Ashby and MacArthur BART stations.
If you use our 10-pass, the cost is $9.70 each way.
If you don't, it's reportedly at least $17.00 each way.
I should have enough for everyone, but let me know if
you can -- page me at (510) 720-2818 as I might not
necessarily get your email in time, and need to purchase
enough but not too many. From Marin you can take
the GGT #40 to the Richmond Station. You can get on
at a different station and still use our 10-passes.
This has been a spirited and fun campaign, and a successful
one at that! At least two times in the past the SPD had
essentially trounced the rides out of existence, and
this is the first time it's survived. The road rage
incident last month is hopefully just a growing pain
as Sacramento learns there's a new kind of demonstration
on the scene -- but all the more reason to come out
and support the right to ride! Hold a sign! Meet a
friend! Have fun :)
-Jason
behalf of Critical Massers there. We're getting the
Amtrak train 522 which leaves Emeryville at 7:55 AM,
(and gets to Berkeley a couple minutes later). We'll
go to the Federal Courthouse at 5th and I Sts. to file,
and then have a press conference at noon.
Then this Friday we'll go for the monthly ride itself,
most of us meet at Emeryville Amtrak station at 1:30 PM,
and return to Berkeley by 10 PM. The station is close
to Ashby and MacArthur BART stations.
If you use our 10-pass, the cost is $9.70 each way.
If you don't, it's reportedly at least $17.00 each way.
I should have enough for everyone, but let me know if
you can -- page me at (510) 720-2818 as I might not
necessarily get your email in time, and need to purchase
enough but not too many. From Marin you can take
the GGT #40 to the Richmond Station. You can get on
at a different station and still use our 10-passes.
This has been a spirited and fun campaign, and a successful
one at that! At least two times in the past the SPD had
essentially trounced the rides out of existence, and
this is the first time it's survived. The road rage
incident last month is hopefully just a growing pain
as Sacramento learns there's a new kind of demonstration
on the scene -- but all the more reason to come out
and support the right to ride! Hold a sign! Meet a
friend! Have fun :)
-Jason
For more information:
http://www.bclu.org/
Thanks for protecting everyone's freedom of speech and assembly with this lawsuit. Police harassment of Critical Mass bicycle rides, marches, peaceful assemblies, labor and other protests, and now even random citizens (thanks to the [un]Patriot[ic] Act) has been commonplace for too long.
Reclaim our Rights and Reclaim the Streets!
Reclaim our Rights and Reclaim the Streets!
Great work and courage . . . keep it up!
Right on, BCLU!! Go for it! The SPD deserves a good
thrashing.
thrashing.
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