2008-08-26 Police Target Glass Bead Collective

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:   Vlad Teichberg – 917. 650.2486
                    Barbara Ross – 917. 494. 8164


NYC VIDEOGRAPHERS WHO RELEASED VIDEO OF THE NYPD BODY SLAMMING A CYCLIST IN CRITICAL MASS RIDE, ARE TARGETED BY POLICE IN MINNEAPOLIS

Minneapolis police illegally detained and seized the electronic gear of videographers in town to cover the Republican National Convention


MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (August 27, 2008)
– Minneapolis Police officers surrounded, detained and searched three videographers early Tuesday morning, confiscating personal belongings including their video and computer equipment, cell phones, notebooks, clothing and money.  The videographers are in Minneapolis to document the upcoming Republican National Convention.  The videographers are members of the New York City based Glass Bead Collective, who recently worked with Time’s Up! to release the video of the NYPD aggressively pushing a cyclist off his bike while riding through Time’s Square on the Critical Mass ride.

Videographers, Vlad Teichberg, Olivia Rachel Katz and Anita Brath were stopped by three police cars while walking back to the place they were staying in Northeast Minneapolis.  Police officer York photographed the three videographers and questioned them individually about their travel plans and what they intended to report on.  They were forced to line up against the police vehicle and their personal belongings were searched and confiscated, even though they were released without charges.

“Despite our request, the officers refused to file an official report of the incident or give us a receipt for the items taken, claiming that they were allowed to conduct the search and seizure under the jurisdiction of Homeland Security”, said Mr. Teichberg.

The Glass Bead Collective has been successful at exposing NYPD’s aggressive behavior in NYC, including working with Time’s Up! to document police harassment of cyclists during the monthly Critical Mass bike ride. This Friday (8/29/2008) cyclists will be gathering at 7pm at Union Square for the four year anniversary of the NYC Critical Mass Ride that occurred during the 2004 Republican National Convention.

“The Minneapolis police are repeating the unconstitutional, dangerous and costly tactics that the NYPD began using at the 2004 Republican National Convention and continue using against Critical Mass riders to this day”, says Barbara Ross, a spokesperson for Time’s Up!.

Click here for video coverage of 8/26 press conference in Minneapolis with the three videographers and their attorney, Bruce Nestor.

###
Time’s Up! is a non-profit environmental group that has been using educational outreach and direct action for the last 20 years to promote a more sustainable, less toxic city.

Press Releases