FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Liane Nikitovich – 646.431.5098
Bill DiPaola – 917. 577. 5621
NEW YORK, New York (Friday, July 25, 2008) – An NYPD officer assaulted a bicyclist , Christopher Long, on Friday night’s Critical Mass bike ride at 46th street and Seventh Avenue, in full view of tourists and spectators in the heart of Times Square. One bystander’s video captured the officer pushing Christopher off his bicycle, violently propelling the him onto the curb. This most recent attack follows a pattern of harassment of bike riders on the Critical Mass ride. On March of 2007 Richard Vazques was thrown off his bike by another NYPD officer as he was riding through Times Square.
“Critical Mass is a peaceful, non-violent bicycle ride promoting the use of non-polluting transportation. There is no reason for the police to use such unprovoked violent tactics,” says Critical Mass participant Barbara Ross.
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.
Click here to view video evidence of NYPD civil rights abuses from past critical mass rides, includes Mr. Vazques being thrown off his bike at .40 seconds.
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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.
