Outrage over NYPD Maze Attacks on Benefit Party

NYPD attacks peaceful gathering at Brooklyn Community Space

from Manmeet Bindra

NYC Indymedia criticalresistance.org -November 16, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Critical Resistance Northeast Office, 718.398.2825, crnyc@criticalresistance.org

8 People Arrested at Benefit for Anarchist People of Color (APOC)

Brooklyn, NY -- People attending a private fundraising event in Brooklyn were shocked early this morning by an unprovoked and violent assault at the hands of the NYPD. Up to 100 people attending a fundraiser for activists of color were indiscriminately sprayed with chemical agents, beaten with nightsticks, and harassed by a throng of police officers. Witnesses say there was no cause for the assaults and the subsequent arrests following the melee.

Over 25 police vehicles arrived at 968 Atlantic Avenue, the location of the fundraising event, at around 2 AM, to investigate an officer’s report of someone standing outside the party allegedly holding an "open container".

Within minutes, the police unleashed their wave of violence onto the crowd, provoking onlookers and beating down attendees who were not resisting their orders. Over 20 people were experiencing effects of the pepper spray that was erratically sprayed into the air by the officers.

All tenants of the private, residential building were present at the event, did not request police assistance, and no one in the building placed a complaint with the precinct or the emergency response system. Witnesses report that no warrant was presented upon police entrance. Organizers responded peacefully to police threats and physical provocation, yielding to their disrespectful demands.

"I was stunned at the severity of the attack, and I am genuinely concerned for the safety and well-being of those who were unfairly detained and arrested", said a witness at the scene of the incident.

Legal council at the scene confirmed that at least 8 arrests were made. Preliminary allegations include violation of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and inciting a riot, all of which are classified as misdemeanors. The 77th Precinct, which is where the arrestees were initially held, has been unwilling to provide even the smallest information about the status of those arrested. EMS visited the precinct to attend to those who sustained serious injuries, which include bruised ribs, a spinal injury, and severe blows to the head.

Critical Resistance is a national grassroots group that focuses on prisons and police brutality, and challenges the belief that policing, surveillance, imprisonment, and similar forms of control make our communities safer.

Is this the "War on Terrorism" or what?

by Warcry

I witnessed up to 25 police vehicles and up to a hundred police officers swarm a perfectly peaceful and fun gathering at the Anarchist People of Color fundraiser. Someone got arrested for nothing and when everybody went out to witness and stand by their friend, the cops got more upset. More cops showed up and the party goers started chanting "shame" over and over.

The police got really aggressive and I was afraid that Nazi PD would shoot somebody as they are prone to. What they did do, was beat people and pepper spray them indiscriminately.

There is no doubt in my mind that this completely peaceful gathering was targeted (a few days before FTAA) because it was promoted as an anarchist event. The FBI defines "anarchists" as terrorists basically, especially after 9.11.

It was clear that the police wanted to create an incident or situation where there was none. I asked them who was giving them the order to target this APOC event, and of course they responded the way they always do - with force.

I impressed with the amount of solidarity and clarity with which the party-goers reacted to the police attack. They stood by their arrested friends, treated each other's injuries, tried to document the arrests, called for legal back up, and generally refused to be intimidated by what looked like Waco minus the tanks.

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printed from Outrage over NYPD Maze Attacks on Benefit Party on 2004-06-03 07:19:07