Critical Mass VS Police State / Smart Mobs in Washington DC

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday March 30, 2003 20:13 by sterling

A great counterpoint to Dublin's Recent Critical Mass

Excerpt Below. Full Text Here: http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=60656&group=webcast

When I asked why they were following me, I was told by #1368 that they were ordered to follow me everywhere. This sent chills down my spine with a tinge of anger at the realization of irrefutable proof I am the victim of police harassment. However, a few minutes later the call came across the police radio that the Critical Mass is on Wisconsin Avenue. The police peddled off and this time I followed them to find my friends.

Soon I saw friends from the ride speeding in the opposite direction. I joined then to find out the ride was picked up shortly after it left M and New Hampshire. As it went to Georgetown and eventually ended up at the British embassy on Mass. Ave, the ride was spilt into smaller groups. At the embassy there where some activists who stood on the stairs and chanted. After lingering on Mass. Ave for ten minutes, I could see scores of motorcycle cops rumbling in long lines up and down the street. At one point I was crossing the street and a cop sped up as to run me over, only to hit his brakes at the last moment. He then called me a fucking asshole and asked me if saw him. I said yes, but he had a red light and I had a green and furthermore, bikes always have the right away, second only to the right of way of pedestrians.