ARE YOU OUTRAGED YET? SPEAK OUT!

PEOPLE’S PUBLIC FORUM * AUG 17 7PM * ST MARK’S NYPD FORUM * AUG 23 * 1 POLICE PLAZA

Under NYPD's newly proposed rules: Any group of two or more cyclists or pedestrians traveling down a public street, violating any traffic law, rule or regulation can be arrested for parading without a permit; and every group of 20 or more cyclists rid-ing lawfully must obtain a permit and approved route from the NYPD, and every group of 35 of more pedestrians must obtain a permit and approved route from the NYPD.

Get the official Assemble For Rights NYC press release.

Speakers: City Council Members Rosie Mendez and Alan Gerson, United for Peace and Justice, Civil Rights Attorney Norman Siegel, NYC Housing Works Advocate Terri Smith-Caronia, Bruce Bentley of the National Lawyers Guild

“[Will] substantially limit protests.” — Donna Lieberman, NYCLU Executive Director.

“It’s antithetical to the principles and values of the right to protest that New York is associated with.” — Norman Siegel, civil rights attorney.

“These rules are designed to protect the health and safety of participants in group events on the public streets.” — Paul J. Browne, NYPD Chief Spokesman

“The right to protest is the right to spontaneously protest.” — Council Member Alan Jay Gerson

“Don’’t arrest me...I’m not with him.” — Steve Stollman

Rides to the Forums!
Thursday, August 17, 6PM Union Square Park South
Exercise your right to walk or cycle in NYC. Ride leads to "The People's Public Forum" at St. Mark's Church.

Wednesday, August 23, 5PM
Union Square Park South -Ride will end at- NYPD's Public Hearing at 6PM at 1 Police Plaza.

Summer Bummer: Don’t let the NYPD sneak these rule changes through while everyone is thinking summer vacation! Write, fax, speak out!

Send an efax to Mayor Michael Bloomberg: online at: transalt.org/e-bulletin/2006/Aug/0802.html#efax

Info: Time’s Up! Ride line 212-802-8222 and assembleforrightsnyc.blogspot.com

OPPOSE THE NEW NYPD REGULATIONS!

• They are deleting the words "march, motorcade, caravan, promenade" from the defi-nition of a parade or procession (note how the emphasis on vehicles is reduced) and instead they propose that it be tailored to a group of 2 or more pedestrians, vehicles, bicycles or other devices moved by human power that does not comply with traffic rules
• They are adding the words: "any procession or race which consists of a group of 20 or more vehicles, bicycles or other devices moved by human power." There is no mention of that group complying with traffic rules and still being subject
• In the explanation section (paragraph 2), it states that the purpose of that change is to address "groups of 20 or more vehicles, bicycles or other devices moved by human power on public streets that OPERATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS"
• Why does the actual rule change not spell out that the group of 20 or more vehicles or bicycles is in compliance with traffic rules and is yet still subject to a permit require-ment. Is it implied? Is there a legal angle here we must research?
• MAJOR CHANGE IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH - the act of publicizing any kind of gathering that would be in motion is now something that would require a permit….in other words, just writing the words "RIDE TONIGHT TO CENTRAL PARK TO-GETHER" on a flyer or a website would require obtaining a permit? The explanation pretends to make things easier for promoters who are not organizers. That's clever double-speak (they say, "so as to make it possible…"). What it really means is, well, just look at the proposed change: "(f) "Applicant" shall mean a person or entity respon-sible for organizing a parade or a person or entity THAT PUBLICIZES A PARADE THROUGH ADVERTISEMENTS OR OTHER MEANS OF MASS COMMUNICATION."
• Send an efax to Mayor Michael Bloomberg: online at: transalt.org/e-bulletin/2006/Aug/0802.html#efax
  Info: Time’s Up! Ride line 212-802-8222 and assembleforrightsnyc.blogspot.com/