2008-08-29 Aug 2008 CM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:   Barbara Ross 917.494.8164
                  Judy Ross 917.405.1544

CYCLISTS WILL RIDE PEACEFULLY TOGETHER FOR SAFETY ON FRIDAY’S CRITICAL MASS

Critical Mass gains support from the community after release of videos showing NYPD’s harassment of the ride since the 2004 Republic National Convention

WHAT: Critical Mass Ride
WHEN: Friday, August 29, 2008 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Union Square Park North at 17th Street
**Ride participants & supporters will be available for comments before the ride begins.

New York, NY (August 29, 2008) – Friday night, cyclists will gather at 7:00 PM in Union Square North for the Critical Mass monthly group ride.  Supporters of the ride will be there to send off cyclists who have continued hitting the car-clogged streets, despite 4 years of harassment from the NYPD since the 2004 Republican National Convention.  Outrage from the community has been growing since a bystander’s video was released by Time’s Up! and the Glass Bead Collective showing Officer Patrick Pogan body slamming Christopher Long off his bicycle while riding on the July 2008 Critical Mass.  Members of the City Council have also joined the chorus of indignation, calling for the Manhattan District Attorney to investigate the NYPD’s policies toward Critical Mass rides.
 
“Under the management of Mayor Bloomberg, the NYPD has waged an expensive, unnecessary and dangerous campaign against group bicycle rides and non-polluting transportation since 2004.   Time’s Up! and the cycling community are confident that public pressure will convince the NYPD to return to the more sensible police tactics used prior to the Republican National Convention,” says Barbara Ross, a regular Critical Mass participant and volunteer with Time’s Up! Environmental Group.

RELEVANT LINKS:

Video of Christopher Long body slammed by NYPD on July 2008 Critical Mass ride in Time’s Square.

City Council Member’s letter to the Manhattan DA calling for an investigation into the NYPD’s policies toward Critical Mass.

Time’s Up! letter to the editor published in New York Times replying to Raymond Kelly’s comments on Critical Mass.

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Critical Mass is a monthly celebration of non-polluting transportation, which takes place in hundreds of cities around the world. Critical Mass and other group rides have contributed to the increase in cycling and safer streets.

Critical Mass 2003

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