community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
On police violence
by B
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 9:06 AM
wm654@bard.edu
My account of the march, police interactions, and my arrest.
Rather than reiterate the truthful accounts of the march that have already been posted, I’d like to share my thoughts as to why I was targeted for arrest. I was marching near the front, without a mask, primarily to watch out for the safety of the black bloc kids in the front. As we reached the intersection it quickly became clear to me that Officer Wood had extremely aggressive tendencies and was searching for any pretense to try his new toy out. After watching him exchange a slur of belligerent comments and subsequently unleash his OC on those in front when they clearly posed no threat to anyone, I continued to follow the officer from the sidewalk and tried to keep people away from him. As I walked I persisted in pointing at the Officer and yelling, “watch him,” and “criminal.” As we proceeded down the sidewalk the truth apparently became too much for the lumbering cretin and he charged at me with his OC. Haphazardly spraying into the crowd on the sidewalk he, along with several other officers, grabbed me, as members of the crowd tried to hold on. I was dragged by my neck into the street with another demonstrator clinging to my feet I was kicked at least once and had my shirt ripped from around my neck, while still blinded from the OC. I was then handcuffed and placed in a patrol car for at least 15 minutes. The officer originally ignored my requests for medical attention, even after the EMTs had arrived. Another officer, remembering that he was capable of being a decent human being, eventually took me from the patrol car and washed some of the agent out with saline solution. I was then returned to a squad car where we proceeded to the Swissvale police station.
While police violence and state repression will surely intensify as this movement grows (I’ve been in jail twice and the hospital once in the past week) remember that we stand for humanity and equality, which must and will overcome.
My thanks go out to all those at the march, those who tried to help me avoid arrest (thanks M), and all those who did jail solidarity (get in touch, I’ll buy yinz a root beer).
In Solidarity,
B
.
by .
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 9:19 AM
Yesterday, the City of Pittsburgh police were pretty decent prior to leaving the city. I think they were surprised when the Swissvale police officer started using pepper spray. The AP photo of that Swissvale officer spraying people on the sidewalk is a good indicator of how that guy was acting. I think that we all owe Edgewood and Swissvale another protest. What would be really fun would be to do something legal that ties up their traffic. Like perpetual motion in a crosswalk or something. Oh, and I'll be happy to come in costume as a big old can of pepper spray. Come to think of it, maybe Edgewood needs a healthy dose of street theatre, too.
.
by .
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 9:39 AM
The AP photo of that Swissvale officer spraying people on the sidewalk is a good indicator of how that guy was acting.
From the pictures he's spraying people who are either interferring with an arrest or refusing to move to the sidewalk after at least 3 warnings to. He should get a medal.
well well well informed for someone who didn't witness it
by jwg
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 10:04 AM
I got a dose of the spray and I did nothing that you just described.
Honestly, this guy seriously was waiting for someone to cause trouble, when no one did, he lost his rag and made his own. The other officers had to restrain tuffy at one point. He managed to spray an undercover Pittsburgh cop too. Do you think he 'deserved' it?
Return to Edgewood!
by ...
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 12:18 PM
I'd like to heartily second the post above calling for a return protest in Edgewood, unless tactically others think it's a bad move. I live in the community and I think that there is a strong anti-war sentiment there, (although it's obviously not reflected so much in the police department!) and the community, or at least broad segments of it, would support something like this. Maybe it could be something different from a march this time. Let's keep discussing it!
Also, I'm sure that this is being talked about elsewhere, but does anyone have that big fat cop's name and badge #? Also, what happened to the video link? It's gone!
Peace, and I hope that this police brutality and future police brutality will only serve to strengthen our movement and our convictions.
no, lets do rotating neighborhoods
by pjd
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 12:37 PM
I recommend doing Bloomfield or Squirrel Hill next...
no, lets do rotating neighborhoods
by pjd
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 12:37 PM
I recommend doing Bloomfield or Squirrel Hill next...
Edgewood
by Mary Hart
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 12:47 PM
mh5r@andrew.cmu.edu
The Edgewood police officer whose was pictured in the PPG and on TV pepper-spraying appears to be Nicholas Bielich.
Mary Hart
Edgewood
mh5r@andrew.cmu.edu
Kacsuta
by Old
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 2:34 PM
The police sargent, Reyne Kacsuta, who signed all of the arrest records was named as a defendant in the ACLU civil rights lawsuit against the city of Pittsburgh.
Lood at Section 198 of the complaint, which seems to allege that this person made a false arrest.
Notice that Sargent Kacsuta signed the M20 arrest documents, apparently falsely claiming that thre were approximately 10 PA announcements to disperse.
Here is a link to the ACLU complaint:
http://archive.aclu.org/court/pghcomp.html
.
by .
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 2:40 PM
at M20 I heard at least 6 orders to disperse, and after the 3rd I was walking away, so I know they were being loud about it.
While we're at it where do I go to file a lawsuit against the protesters for violating my civil rights by illegally blocking the roads?
Orders to Disperse
by OLD
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 3:47 PM
If you listen to the tapes, there are orders to get on the sidewalk. There are no orders on any of the tapes to disperse. There certainly aren't "approximately 10" orders to disperse on any of the tapes that I listened to.
.
by .
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 4:12 PM
you're right, there weren't any at M30, but at M20 there were. Yesterday's march would have been fine if everyone would have stopped being dicks to the cops.
dicks?
by jwg
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 4:21 PM
so how do you not be a dick to a cop, disobey his orders? Because Tuffcop there showed us yesterday that if you follow a cops orders to get on the sidewalk, he will leap onto the sidewalk, punch kick and mace you, until his fellow cops have to forcibly restrain you.
But I mean you are right, those three should go to jail for attacking that cop in the fist with their faces.
Orders to Disperse
by OLD
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 4:29 PM
On March 20, there were NOT multiple PA announcements to disperse. Listen to the audio or video tapes. All you here are orders to get onto the sidewalk.
In my opinion, the statement that there were "approximately 10" announcements to disperse is a false statement.
.
by .
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 4:29 PM
so how do you not be a dick to a cop, disobey his orders?
Either that or by interferring with an arrest. Which at least 5 people in the one video scene were doing, although I counted at least 15 on the sidewalk doing that when I was there.
Because Tuffcop there showed us yesterday that if you follow a cops orders to get on the sidewalk, he will leap onto the sidewalk, punch kick and mace you, until his fellow cops have to forcibly restrain you.
He jumped in because everyone was refusing to let him in to arrest that one guy. He punched and kicked and maced because the entire crowd was grabbing him and the guy he was trying to arrest. Honestly I'm surprised they didn't arrest everyone there.
But I mean you are right, those three should go to jail for attacking that cop in the fist with their faces.
Fine, turn to sarcasm. Or you could grow up and admit the fact that you are partially to blame for yesterday. You all scream about how the cops were trying to provoke something yet you ignore that "let's start some shit" look that was present in nearly every young person's face yesterday. I hope next time Swissvale just turns the firehoses on you.
Support Our Protesters
by contrarycrow
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 4:33 PM
Dissent is patriotic...
"When I see them lying in the street, their wrists being lashed with plastic as if they're bundles of produce, I hope the rest of the world is seeing them too. The protesters do more for homeland security than Tom Ridge and all the border patrols combined..."
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0330-09.htm
.
by .
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 4:45 PM
Dissent is patriotic...
Yes, I will agree with that. I've agreed with that for the 10 years I've found to change the drug laws in this country. I just disagree with the method you're choosing to voice your dissent. It's arrogant and selfish. If you really want to make a point you have to make sacrifices, not just march down a street taking all the attention you can grab. You have to earn it. Stand on a corner and sing every day until the war is over I bet after 2-3 weeks of that you'll get media coverage and maybe even an interview (a real live chance to voice an opinion! don't waste it with a quick "NO BLOOD FOR OIL!" chant!)
Anyway, this site is starting to get dull. Still no one on here can intelligently discuss the facts (or even the possibility that things exist outside their realm of knowledge) and that's no fun. Oh well, I look forward to seeing you all at the next protest...I'll be the one standing in the back quietly videotaping any and all abuses by the demonstrators. You'll probably think I'm a cop because you're so close-minded you can't conceive of someone being intelligent and having a different opinion.
or grow up?
by jwg
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 4:46 PM
for the sarcasm thing, nothing says that 'growing up' precludes having a laugh now and then. and it's not really sarcasm in the "new america" A protestor in NYC was actually charged with assaulting an officer with his face.
and I was right in the middle of it, nobody had a 'lets start some shit look on their face. They announced before we moved that the march was going to be 15 minutes long, it was about to break up, not break out.
Tuffcop wanted to fight, pure and simple, he was looking to provoke, the other cops there knew he was wrong, that's why they didn't arrest anybody. Several cops came up to the sidewalk and told us to stay out of tuffcops way. and he eventually had to be pulled off of someone on the sidewalk by other cops.
He wanted to 'start some shit' I guess there's not enough action guarding the Edgewood Giant Eagle from terrorist attacks
.
by .
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 4:51 PM
and I was right in the middle of it, nobody had a 'lets start some shit look on their face.
Yeah, ok. Either you're very very stupid or very very untruthful. I saw the faces, I saw the kids throwing batteries, I saw the kids keying cars, I saw the kids playfully rocking parked cars to see if they could get a giant rush started. I also saw all the older people in the crowd either turning their back in disgust or ignoring it.
blah
by Evan N
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 5:30 PM
The only thing you seem to have against the march is the fact that it was unpermitted, and while i'm ok with unpermitted marches i think they are getting a little old, its time to start focusing all of our energy on the permitted reconvergence.
I personally didnt attend M30 for a number of reasons
1) cold out
2)couldnt get there
3) unpermitted marches are losing their effect, the media and other people overlook the message and focus on the lawbreaking
Evan.
by -
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 5:41 PM
That's great Evan. The question is why do you believe the re-convergence will be worthwhile to devote all this energy to? Why will the media give it attention? You say un-permitted marches are "getting old", but a permitted rally is about the oldest thing there is.
There is no possability that this convergence will get the numbers of jan 24-26th and there is no direct action taking place at this event. The convergence is much smaller then last time and has none of the components that made J24-26 a sucess. There is no convergence center, no diversity of tactics, no calls to action, no flyers that I've seen, and no apparent organizing happening.
I don't see how this event will suceed without the support of the radicals who don't seem to be getting involved.
batteries
by Some Guy
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 6:08 PM
Please explain the allegation of protesters throwing batteries to someone who wasn't there.
Why batteries ?
What types ?
At what cross street locations ?
Hey Mr *
by contrarycrow
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 6:11 PM
IF you really want information on the permitted re-convergence, check out the Thomas Merton Center or Pittsburgh Organizing Group websites. There is a lack of flyers at this point but that will be taken care of. It's common knowledge that a permitted march is less likely to get 'fucked with' by the police, though no guarantee. Each new protest brings a new chance to reach others, that's never old. I don't agree with certain tactics either, but guess what? I'll be there because I personally believe this war is immoral and illegal. The Pope is even against it!
Oh and by the way: While you're out there hunting with your camera for the acting out of a few angst-ridden rabbler-rousers, do me a favor and tape the several thousands marching from various points in the city and try not to lump a diverse group of individuals with individual ideas about what dissent means into a stereotype you made. We may be united against the war, but every single human there has a unique opinion. Try talking to some of them, without yelling or scolding them. Who knows, maybe you'll both learn something.
PS Please proofread. Makes your point(s) seem more educated...
.
by .
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 6:54 PM
I'll be there because I personally believe this war is immoral and illegal. The Pope is even against it!
So your blocking traffic on a morality issue...sounds like you'd get along with anti-abortion groups. As for "illegal" I'm curious what law school you attended. I'm also curious if you consider the 1998 attack on Iraq by Clinton as illegal (he didn't get UN approval either, he didnt' even TRY.) Oh and by the way: While you're out there hunting with your camera for the acting out of a few angst-ridden rabbler-rousers, do me a favor and tape the several thousands marching from various points in the city and try not to lump a diverse group of individuals with individual ideas about what dissent means into a stereotype you made.
heh. look around you for a good example of people stereotyping others. I don't agree with the anti-war side so I must be stupid, right? I also doubt I'll have to hunt for images of anti-war people destroying property or acting out, as so far all I've had to do is stand there. Don't worry, I turn over copies of all tapes to the police.
Try talking to some of them, without yelling or scolding them. Who knows, maybe you'll both learn something.
Er, please direct that at your leftist friends. Everytime I try talking to them about the war their reaction is "You aren't anti-war? You fascist asshole!"
PS Please proofread. Makes your point(s) seem more educated...
Er...OK. Thanks for the tip. I guess somehow during my 7 years of undergrad/gradschool work no one ever taught me to proofread. Although looking at my original post I don't see what's hard to understand about it, or what seems uneducated about it. Uneducated to me is trying to squeeze all the facts in opposition of this war into a cute little propaganda fueled soundbyte (NO BLOOD FOR OIL) while ignoring all the reasons we should be over there.
Please post video
by Anon
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 7:00 PM
To the anonymous poster above who claims to have video of protestors commiting violent acts, could you please post it to the site instead of just referencing it? All of us, both the pro-war and anti-war types, would love to see it. It would give the pro-war types some factual evidence of how terirble the marches are to base their rhetoric on. It would also give the anti-war organizers a chance to view the chaos that we all seem to keep missing but you somehow keep witnessing. So please, if you have the video produce the evidence of it.
you for got to tell this part
by concerned citizen
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 7:24 PM
you forgot to tell everyone that was not there, how when the police asked yunz to get on the sidewalk, your response was to throw rocks and batteries at them hitting an officer.
just didn't want you to appear to be a liar
dude
by Evan N
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 7:42 PM
the reason you havent heard much about it is because ITS A MONTH AWAY
the AWC is still planning for it, and a large scale convergence is a huge thing to plan for man. If you dont like the tactics being used to advertise it, why not come to an AWC meeting and lend a hand.
also
by Evan N
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 7:50 PM
Who says the radicals aren't going to be able to lend a hand? the point of a convergence is where all sorts of different groups lend a hand and cooperate. the convergence is meant to be an event where everyone can feel safe attending, a large scale permitted march will arttract a ton of more people, and then possibly some CD at the end will create the juicy press coverage we all want, without sacrificing our values and resorting to violence (as news reports and videos of some other anti-war marches around the country have done, fighting sidewalk hecklers and such). alot of people do not attend unpermitted marches because they dont like the idea of blocking up traffic. we need another all-inclusive event where tons of people can participate. and the planning HAS been going on at AWC meetings. althouhg i haven't regularly attended, i do sometimes and more frequently now, and it's my understanding that the permit applications are already in, the march route is sketched out and groups are beginning to endorse as the whole thing comes together
Prove it
by Joe Schmoe
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 8:14 PM
For all of you who keep saying that batteries, rocks, etc., were thrown, and that you have the pics to prove it...why don't you post your great evidence? I am beginning to doubt you have any such evidence.
Thank you for being stupid
by S.G. Stout
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 9:50 PM
I want to thank all of the members of the Sunday march for being stupid. You have no idea of how many people you angered, how many enemies you made on Sunday. I know you don't care since only your way of thinking can possibly be right and your desire to march down a residential street blocking traffic is much more important than the desire of ordinary people to travel freely. I mean, what to they know compared to you and your superior intellect? How can their ordinary middle-class lives compare to your desire to forward your cause?
The best tactic the peace movement in Pittsburgh can use in the future is to hide you people. No, I take that back. Keep marching. Keep disrupting the lives of the average citizen. Keep making enemies for your cause. I love it. Once, again, thank you for being stupid.
Quote from Citizens Review Board
by Norm
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 9:53 PM
"An officer was indiscriminately spraying -- and if somebody hollered at him, he turned around and sprayed 'em."
-- Elizabeth Pittinger, Citizen Police Review Board
From KDKA, concerning the March 30 protest.
I'm Sorry
by S. G. Stout
Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 10:13 PM
I'm very sorry for the comments I posted here earlier. I was just upset because you people seem to think you have more rights than my automoblie. There are Americans dying so that I can drive my lazy ass two blocks for some Red Man and Moon Pies. If others are willing to die for my convenience, I see no reason why you should be using public space that is intended for my automobile, for something as silly as free speech. If I post again and act like an asshole, my medication wore off.
Police officer still on active duty
by ms. B.
Tuesday, Apr. 01, 2003 at 7:19 AM
darkroom_dweller@hotmail.com
Incidentaly, the police office (big bald angry fellow) from the Edgewood police dept. is still on duty. As of Tuesday morning, all local news channels were reporting that he is not being suspended or disciplined in any way. In addition, when showed a video of this officer kicking a protest who was already restrained, the police chief of Edgewood said that he could "not clearly see any movement of a kick".
From what I could tell by the video, this kid probably had a huge boot print in his stomach. Does Edgewood even fall under the Citizens Review Board?
PLLLEAASSE
by RICK O'SHEA
Thursday, Apr. 03, 2003 at 4:08 PM
NO EDGEWOOD DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD. IT IS EDGEWOOD NOT PITTSBURGH.
BRAVO
by RICK O'SHEA
Thursday, Apr. 03, 2003 at 4:10 PM
GOOD POINTS THERE FELLA!!
THE BIG BALD ANGRY GUY
by MS. ESTHER
Thursday, Apr. 03, 2003 at 4:21 PM
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THE "BIG BALD ANGRY OFFICER HELPED ME TO MY CAR WITH MY GROCERIES.
Ms. Esther
by dawg
Thursday, Apr. 03, 2003 at 7:38 PM
I too live in Swissvale, and that big bald angry officer has some of the best heroin around! Better than that North Braddock garbage.
THE BIG BALD ANGRY GUY
by MS. ESTHER
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 12:33 PM
Oh yeah - I forgot to add - he also gave me some good hot sauce that added that extra spice to my meal!
I saw it
by Mark McColloch
Saturday, Apr. 05, 2003 at 3:35 PM
mdmhist@pitt.edu
My son was the one maced in the face and then kicked by Edgewood policeman Nick Bielich. I was about 15 feet behind my son in the march from the entire time we left Pittsburgh. I guarantee that he threw nothing at any cop, (nor for that matter do I believe that anybody did.) He was on the sidewalk the entire time once we left Pittsburgh.
He was yelling at Bielich, because Bielich had aggressively sprayed other protesters farther up the line in the face with mace. So were lots of other people. It was obvious that Bielich was out of control; many other police were warning of him and trying at one point to restrain him. Bielich attacked with no warning. Bielich deserved to be yelled at, without any doubt.
AFTER my son was maced in the face and kicked by Bielich, (see the KDKA video, any who doubt this), my temporarily blinded son was dragged into the street, (I guess so that the ridiculous "obstructing the street" charge would have some validity.) He was then put into a Swissvale squad car. While my wife stayed with him, I ran up to the Swissvale station to try to insure that my son would not be further asaulted once he was there.
I was there when my son and the two other arrestees arrived and was allowed inside the station waiting room. Two of the Swissvale officers came out and told me that my son and the others would be given a citation and released very soon. Then, the assailant, Bielich, arrived at the station and conferred with the Swissvale lieutenant. After getting their cover-up straight, they then announced that charges would be filed against the three and that they would be arraigned. That's what happened.
By the way, I went later that afternoon to the Edgewood station to complain about Bielich's assault on my son. The officer in charge came out and talked to me. She rolled her eyes knowingly when I described Bielich and his behavior. It was obvious that MANY of the police were embarrased by his out-of-control behavior, but are now circling the wagons to cover up. That's why Edgewood Chief Wood could see Bielich's lower leg moving and hitting my son on the ground but couln't somehow percieve that that was a kick.
So, to conclude: I was there. I saw it, and so did a lot of other people. I WON'T let it drop.
Business as usual...
by name witheld for fear of being beaten and fra
Saturday, Apr. 05, 2003 at 3:50 PM
...ask Monty Clay
http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20020203boxer3.asp
http://www.zi-activism.net/downloads/handoutsNposters/montyfactsv1-2.htm
http://postgazette.com/columnists/20020212tony0212p3.asp
Boxer in cuffs
by Fact Finder
Tuesday, Apr. 08, 2003 at 5:39 PM
Unbelievable. The stories you cite from the newspaper are laughable! The author uses terms like "aspiring Olympic athlete" when the dude has never been in the Olympics. I guess every kid with gloves is an "aspiring" Olympic athlete. I can imagine his quote "Man, like I was gonna be in the lympics but, like man, the cops brutalatized me when I'ze just hav'n a quick smack." He makes the boxer sound like the perfect little angel. What a joke. If a white guy wrote an article like that about a white guy who was beaten by black police, everyone would call him a racist! The author took everything told to him by the boxer as fact and published it that way. The newspaper should be ashamed of itself for printing such baseless garbage. There are always two sides to every story and they either present both or don't publish it unless it's a letter to the editor or clearly labeled as a mere opinion piece. You guys not only buy all that crap, you actually rely on it! Unbelievable.
Silly as Free Speech?
by scared of pro-war people
Tuesday, Jun. 17, 2003 at 4:29 PM
on Monday March 31, 2003, S. G. Stout posted a short rambling. in this short rambling it says ''I see no reason why you should be using public space that is intended for my automobile, for something as silly as free speech''. am i the only on angered by this??
April 31 comment
by pro-CLASS war person
Tuesday, Jun. 17, 2003 at 6:09 PM
That was actually my sarcastic parody of an apology that we'd never get as a follow-up to an earlier post by the "real?" S.G. Stout, entitled "Thank you for being stupid" I apologize for the confusion. I was angered by that TV zombie, and tried to sum up that mentality in a few lines.
![[masthead]](/images/masthead_140.png)