The pReNC was hosted by the RNC Welcoming Committee for the pourpuse of organizing, networking, strategizing, etc. for the coming RNC in 2008. It was kicked off on fri, aug, 31, 07 with critical mass. A monthly bike ride through the city that promotes bike culture wile calling for less dependence on petroleum. The pReNC organizers lent mike and i bikes for the week and we promptly peddled off for the mass. The cops tailed the mass for an hour or so, routinely blaring their sirens, which we mimicked back at them. At this point a squad car, "attempting to arrest a provicator" rushed into the bikes to make the arrest. The car hit a bycilist, breaking his wrist, and tried to make the arrest. The order to 'mass up' was called and chants of 'let them go' and 'whats the charge' ensued. The police reacted by spraying pepper spray in wide arc's into the crowd. I was somewhere in that crowd taking photos of the exsesive force until i caught a blast of pepper spray in the face. The cops were yelling 'move forward' and thats what i tried to do until a projectile tazer dart hit me in the neck and i fell prone, spazing on the ground from electric shocks. The next thing i felt was my face being smashed against the street, by knee or boot. All i could say at that point was "im not resisting", and i wasn't. Me and 18 others were thrown into a sauna of a patty wagon for an excess of 2 hours to sweet the pepper spray back into our eyes (note: pepper spray is activated by water, do not try to rinse your face), until going through processing and then jail.
The charge? PC Riot. PC is probable cause and sense the riot charge wont stick we will get charged for other things. 4 guild lawyers took our case probono, 2 of which were at the jail that night to talk to us. Most of us were bailed out the next night, including me. Sense i was from out of state the bondsmen would not take a bond, so a lady i had never met before threw down the entire $3000 bail (and the bails of 2 other out of states bringing the total to $9000). Others took longer to bailout including a passerby on his way home from buying underwear. He was recording video of the arrests with his phone when he was peppered and arrested.
Our arrests were political, they were practice for the RNC and they were aimed to discourage and intimidate those that will protest next year for the RNC. Well we will not be intimidated. Indymedia did an article as did others, so read up for yourself. My camera, along with my backpack, journal, and ID (of all things) are being held as evidence, so i have no photos of my own. I will grab a few from the net for your viewing pleasure.
Notice the cop spraying people riding by that just saw a girl get tackled to the ground for no reason.
The charge? PC Riot. PC is probable cause and sense the riot charge wont stick we will get charged for other things. 4 guild lawyers took our case probono, 2 of which were at the jail that night to talk to us. Most of us were bailed out the next night, including me. Sense i was from out of state the bondsmen would not take a bond, so a lady i had never met before threw down the entire $3000 bail (and the bails of 2 other out of states bringing the total to $9000). Others took longer to bailout including a passerby on his way home from buying underwear. He was recording video of the arrests with his phone when he was peppered and arrested.
Our arrests were political, they were practice for the RNC and they were aimed to discourage and intimidate those that will protest next year for the RNC. Well we will not be intimidated. Indymedia did an article as did others, so read up for yourself. My camera, along with my backpack, journal, and ID (of all things) are being held as evidence, so i have no photos of my own. I will grab a few from the net for your viewing pleasure.
Notice the cop spraying people riding by that just saw a girl get tackled to the ground for no reason.
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