Comments on: Election Celebrations Take Over Bedford

By: loudmouth

loudmouth — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:13:44 +0000

This looks to be the saddest collection of hipster do nothings since the old days of hippie beatniks at the Haight-Ashbury district. All you had to do was clear the streats and shut your faces. Most of you weren’t even there for Obama…Just there cause you had no where else to be. And those who caught a billybat in the belly probably deserved it. Quit whining. If you’re going to stand up to the man- do it like a man. No crying.

By: NutsInNY

NutsInNY — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:21:11 +0000

Works for me! Let the good times roll! Not esp. related, but I couldn't resist: http://www.nutsinny.com/all-nuts/soup-to-nuts-get-your-fresh-nutty-bits-right-here

By: Joy

Joy — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:04:01 +0000

Here is another great video that shows the positive energy being squashed by the riot police.
http://vimeo.com/2167980
Here is the bottom line, half of the comments have no place basing opinions on others comments, you simply weren’t there. This was a fun collection of people. The problem is not about hipsters or the drinking, it was because we were in the street. The real problem is excessive force, it was truly over the top. The issue of opening up the street could have been handled by a few more local police cars/officers, easily!!! The beat cops that were there were awesome and from what i personally observed they appeared to be enjoying themselves, it helped in a positive way. Involving the riot police was completely unnecessary, I was totally surprised when they showed up, my happiness quickly turned to fear.
By the way, people were also drinking in front of the cops in Fort Greene according to a resident there on the NY times comments page, and the riot police weren’t involved, no-one griped online about them being stupid hipsters. People in Harlem also claimed to have been treated poorly, again no-one posts idiotic comments to suggest they are deserving of a beat down because of their lifestyle.
The problem here is not about people drinking or being idiotic, its obvious that this wasn’t a dangerous group, it was allowed to play out peacefully in other areas, permit or no permits it was the same celebration, not a riotous angry mob. Things got a little out of hand as a result of mistreatment at the hands of those that should have been there to make sure no one gets hurt, quite the opposite in fact. I don’t know anything about a couple of bottles being thrown, but by all means arrest that person, mace them even, remove them safely. This did not happen by any accounts from victims/witnesses. Why were peaceful others, men and women beaten with batons? again its excessive, mace would be preferable if you are going to randomly attack me, at least i wont bleed. Several people minding their own or those who simply verbalized concern in reaction to riot police excessiveness, were targeted none of which is illegal last time i checked. According to several witnesses some revelers were shoved so hard they fell to the ground into glass shards! shards that were created by a rogue (riot) officer who smashed them with a baton to intimidate. This is key, they intimidated the crowd i think if it wasn’t for the original tone of happiness being set in place before hand people might have reacted more angrily.
Before you all start with hipster hatred (which is becoming very boring) remember there are always gonna be a few who act poorly, but those who behaved were hurt and arrested needlessly and excessively, and that is the problem. Hipster or not.

By: Elisa

Elisa — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:31:24 +0000

In summary to last entry, Diana, COPS WERE BEATING UP PEDESTRIANS WITH BATONS AND PUNCHES!!!
- in response to “No police beat anyone up as much as pedestrians threw bottles at them.”

By: Elisa

Elisa — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:20:09 +0000

I was there when in the very first instance of the police misconduct. While most of the officers were following appropriate protocol, there were a few that were completely out of line. I am seriously worried and frightened by one cop in particular; serious mental instability, I’m not kidding, he has no business being on the force and is going to hurt someone someday.
My friend and I had been at the spontaneous gathering in its early stages and celebrated for about an hour, dancing to some bongos, cheering with the crowd. We went down Bedford for a bit and returned to see Riot Police assembling, marching militarily as they led a dump truck behind them. Moments later, I heard a cop screaming ‚ÄúGet on the sidewalk‚Äù and turned to see a tall man directly in front of me being barreled into by this cop, barreling into him like a linebacker while the guy stumbled awkwardly, trying to walk backwards into the crowd on the sidewalk. Okay, so the guy wasn’t moving fast enough, fine. But the cop instantly pulled out his baton started beating this guy, shoving him violently into the metal trashcan, using his arms to elbow others standing nearby. He continued to beat him when the guy was already on the sidewalk even after he‚Äôd fallen down onto some garbage bags.
We all started yelling, “Stop hitting him” and about five other cops ran up and randomly started throwing punches into the random onlookers. Apparently yelling, “Stop beating him” is considered disorderly conduct meriting a baton hit. WTF??!! My friend apparently blocked a punch that would have nailed me in the face, as I found out later.
This was the incident that started the entire thing. It was absolutely outrageous and no one can convince me that there was ANY justification for it.
By the way, I don’t live in Williamsburg and have no reason to be anything but an impartial observer. In my humble opinion, there was no “Riot” or “Mob”, it was a peaceful and overjoyed group of people being noisy, yes, some beer drinking, cheering, but traffic was getting through slowly. The police created a really hostile and dangerous situation.
This particular cop, a short guy with blue eyes, ash brown hair buzz cut, stocky build, has serious anger management issues and has no business being an officer of the law. Did anyone get his badge number? I know he was being extremely belligerent all night and that others were as shocked as I was with how out of control he was. (not the crowd!!!)
I filed a complaint with the Internal Bureau of Investigations, so if anyone can provide any info, please do!

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:16:55 +0000

Hey nytimes just posted an article yesterday saying a lot of police all over were ready for full riots all over nyc because they were prepping for what could of happened if mccain won. No police beat anyone up as much as pedestrians threw bottles at them. People were drunk, it got out of hand. As much as I am someone who likes to blame police, this is actually the peoples fault. You are blocking roads, damaging peoples properties, who by the way are probably Obama supporters. Next time just do it right and go to the park. Also saying you have the right to assemble makes me sad because people assemble for womens rights, and workers right, not the right to party. And those of you who think police targeted williamsburg because if critical mass, guess what you are not that critical, or that big of a mass, and the brutality incident that happened in times sq are completely different cops in the neighborhood. Yes everyone should gather and celebrate obamas win, but no need to take it to the streets. There are city parks, paid by your own money so you can celebrate in peace and security. You do not have the right to block traffic and take other peoples right away in order for you to celebrate. Please try to be held accountable for your actions and don’t blame the police because it will be harder to blame them when there are REAL acts of brutality happening all thought the city all the time.

By: JH

JH — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:07:39 +0000

For those who keep claiming last night was a “beautiful celebration”, please don’t make it seem as though it was a night of song and candles lit out of hope or a bunch of people holding hands and drinking in the moment out of reverence.
It was a freaking party in the middle of the street.
Another thing…
How dare any of you accuse me of not understanding the significance of the elections last night just because my idea of celebrating does not involve getting shit-faced on the street?
Let me tell you something…
I have been proud to be an American since Carter took office through even Bush Jr.’s terms in office.
Not for one moment have I EVER been ashamed to say I’m an American…even in its darkest times.
I love this country more than any of you will ever realize.
For those who think I don’t get it…I do.
The problem is you don’t get it and rather than trying to understand it, you would rather hurl insults and close your ears.
Obama is about change.
The change he spoke about did not include being drunk in public, disrespecting your neighbors and disregarding your law enforcement.
It’s about changing for the better and not many of you showed that last night.

By: bacon butt

bacon butt — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:11:18 +0000

Mary one thing you are right about is that everyone should not be judged by the actions of a few stupid ones. Of the 600 or so out there I’d say about 30 to 40 were the ones trying to incite (and I doubt they even live there). They ruined it for everyone. I don’t know how long you were there but we staged and sat and waited for about 30 minutes letting everyone party and have fun, then sent in a few cops to ask everyone to start moving. They were met with obscenities and refusals. Sorry I guess 30 minutes of unadulterated revelrie wasn’t enough before we could restore the streets to the vehicles and sidewalks to the pedestrians. Even then we were hit with more bottles, spit and loose punches before arresting anyone. At some point enough has to be enough and even then only the aggressors get arrested. I’m sure you weren’t one of the 30 trying to incite a riot. You sound too intelligent and proud of your community to do that.

By: lisa

lisa — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:04:58 +0000

Listen, people keep saying ‘well if this was happening in other areas and there was no violence, it must because ‘you hipsters’ were causing trouble’. NO. THE REASON CELEBRATIONS GOT UGLY HERE WAS BECAUSE FOR SOME CRAZY REASON THAT WE’RE NOT PRIVY TO, THEY CHOSE TO SEND RIOT POLICE IN FULL RIOT GEAR TO COME DEAL WITH A NATURAL, BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION, THE SAME KINDS THAT WERE HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY. IF YOU WEREN’T THERE YOU DON’T KNOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE HECK THEY WOULD REACT THAT WAY FROM THE BEGINNING. PEOPLE WEREN’T RIOTING IN THE STREETS. THEY FILLED UP ONE STREET CORNER. IN OTHER AREAS THE POLICE BLOCKED OFF STREETS AROUND THE PEOPLE CELEBRATING SO THAT THINGS DIDN’T GET MESSY. They could have done that here, but the police got ugly. Sorry, I have no anger toward the police in general, they have a very tough job – but this kind of thing is simply WRONG and they need to be held accountable. FULL RIOT GEAR??

By: bacon butt

bacon butt — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:59:19 +0000

hey William,
the assemblies in Harlem, Ft Greene, Union Sq…were planned rallies, not impromptu drunken melees. Whatever man we’re beating a dead horse, forget it and let’s get on to 1/20/09 when intelligence once again enters the White House.