I live in the Loring Park area and was leaving my home for dinner when I saw about thirty police cars on LaSalle and many bicyclists attempting to abandon the scene as quickly as possible. This news post has answered most of the questions I had concerning what I saw. I certainly hope that others await the MPD's explanation for their disgustingly violent behavior.

Here's some photos from the scene:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/diversey/sets/72157601796064051/

Teach cyclist that they are not cars. Get off the damn road.

"Teach cyclist that they are not cars. Get off the damn road."

Enjoy your clogged arteries and a slow death.

This kind of unprovoked police brutality will ring to the general public and those who perhaps haven't participated in CM before.

Police be damned. I'll be at the next one.

They're not cars, but they have the same legal rights as cars, you fool. That's one of the points of Critical Mass!

Me and a friend wittnessed alot of the so called "riot". All we saw were bikers peacfully riding and cops violently spraying pepper spray. The bikers were no threat. There was no violence except for what the police were doing. This is something we need to stand up for. I say next ride we need to have more people riding. They cant bring us down.

From what I saw, riding at the back of the pack right in front of the unmarked car mentioned, you've got it spot on. Unfortunately, some of the news stations in town are reporting inaccurately (as far as what I saw happen) that the officers were "attacked" by cyclists, and that an attempted arrest failed with the cyclist "escaping" into the crowd. From what I saw, there was an attempted arrest on Washington Avenue around 6:30; the police let the individual go. Then, around 7 on LaSalle and Grand, several police cars sped into the crowd for no apparent reason; I was immediately in front of the cars and had to swerve to avoid them. Then began the masing & tasering. The police were not just targeting specific individuals; they were simply spraying into the crowd, which by this point included bystanders. I got it in the side of the face. It was barbaric.

I was one of the many people who were maced for no apparent reason during 'Critical Mass' on the 31st of August 2007. I was present but remained calm while I watched other bicyclists being tazered and beaten and told to move out of the way of the police. I was told to move on (southward down LaSalle) by an officer. And as I did I was greeted by another officer macing victims heading up the street. I raised my hand in a peace sign and explained, "I'm just trying to get through." And with that the officer placed his can of mace inches from my faces and said, "Back up." He shot a considerable amount of mace in my eyes. I then couldn't move anywhere because I was blinded. Then I was being push by more police telling me to move on. I was helpless. Luckily someone took my hand and lead me to a safe location where I could regain my vision and rinse my face. This was horrible and uncalled for. I was not a threat in any way and should not have been treated the way I was.

"They're not cars, but they have the same legal rights as cars, you fool. That's one of the points of Critical Mass!"

Car or bike, nobody should be a dick on the road. I've had single Critical Mass riders get in front of my car and just stop. The point of Critical Mass is to make a point, not to be a douche bag about it.

"Teach cyclist that they are not cars. Get off the damn road."

Teach drivers that they are greedy, self-absorbed nincompoops. Get off the damn cell phone.

good article; but what's with the sensationalist "tear gas" claim? you don't back that up in the article, nor has any report been made of it elsewhere.

To the first anonymous poster, cyclists are of equal right to be on the roads, as they are not built solely for your 4x4, however much you might love it to be. In addition, both cars AND cyclists are in fact considered 'secondary traffic' on the roads, to pedestrians, according to the Highway Code.

This is such a strange circumstance, it will be very interesting to hear a statement from the police.

// "They're not cars, but they have the same legal rights as cars, you fool. That's one of the points of Critical Mass!" //

Bullshit. Critical Mass is nothing more than a collection of couch-surfing hipster douchbags who have nothing better to do.

"Hey, look at me, I have a fixie and I have rights too! I most likely don't have a job that involves paying taxes to support these roads, but I'll claim them as my own anyway!"

You'd have to be functionally retarded to believe that Critical Mass is in any way educational. None of the motorists being affected have any idea what's going on. No literature is being passed out. All they want to do is get to the daycare and pick up their kids before it closes.

We even have special lanes for bikers in downtown, which is more that most cities have, but of course that will get taken for granted and it will never be enough.

// "Enjoy your clogged arteries and a slow death." //

Enjoy being broke as fuck when you're older and not ever really being able to do the kinds of things that you want to do as your life winds down because you spent your youth running around trying to feel important by attaching yourself to a bullshit 'cause' that, when all is said and done, doesn't matter one bit.

According to news reports of this incident, the Minneapolis police have extensive video of this demonstration taken from their helicopters. If the Minneapolis Police behave as they historically have, this video will never be publicly released. It this is how the local constabulary responds to a relatively benign demonstration, how are they going to handle the Republican Party Convention, under the glare of the national press next year? These poorly trained, visibly unprofessional "cowboys" are going to run out of pepper spray the first day of the convention.

it was complete set up. the police where trying to get a response from the crowd. they where calling people names and pushing people and, judging by the expressions on their faces, having fun doing it. my friend was sprayed with mase in the eyes and was told to move while he was obviously blind. not only where they spraying people left and right, they where spraying clowds of pepper spray into the air and tasing people. people had their cameras and bikes taken. all without any warning or reason that i know of. i just hope this gets some attention and i hope people that are upset by this will attend the next CM to help spread awareness.

An article in the Strib says the police were trying to subdue a bicyclist "the felt had been trying to provoke them" and that's how the whole thing started.

Is there something wrong with simply not taking the bait?

And to the first anonymous coward: bicycles are perfectly legal on the road. Read up on it. Critical Mass? Maybe not so much, but there's no excuse for macing and tasering random people.

CTP: You're right. Witnesses at the scene reported being sprayed with tear gas; turns out, they were referring to the mace. Sorry about any confusion. Changes on the way.

What do you see, when you witness a Critical Mass ride? Do you see cyclists coexisting with other vehicles? Do you see them obeying stop signs, stop lights and other traffic controls? These are some of the responsibilities that come with those ever-important rights that the sycophantic journos at City Pages (we know our demographic: young, hip and irresponsible!) are oh-so-happy to whine about in print.

No, I don't condone the police response of violence. I think the response was horribly disproportionate, and hope that someone has video of the incident to use in court against the police. But please, drop the pretense of "Gosh, I was just going for a bike ride, and then all of a sudden I was tasered for no reason!" Your faux naiveté is unbecoming; we know better.

I know there's an MN statute that allows a bicycle the same rights to the road as a motor vehicle. I can't reference it offhand, though. The issues forced by the police will probably be something along the lines of "protesting without a permit" and "disturbing the peace" Blocking the road and overtaking controlled intersections when it's not their right of way is definitely means for crowd control

so we violated traffic laws. normally people get tickets for running red lights and stop signs. if you're on a bike, you get tasered, maced, beaten, and arrested.

This is obviously getting ready for the convention. All I can say is look at every single demonstration since the WTO in seattle.

They are training. The gloves need to come off. Random monkeywrenching is what is going to have to happen since the police show no restraint. I reccomend that if you are unhappey with what the republicans havedone with the goverment it is time to get a gun. Then itis time to demonstrate like the black panthers did.

Peaceful protest is great if the police and media allow it to work. If not violence and property damage are going to happen. I am sick of seeing protesters getting beat by police and tapped by the FBI.

Without the media's help the civil rights firehosing woul\d have gone on for ever. Vietnam didn't end til demonstrations got violent.

finally police need to understand that if they are breaking the law and suppressing constitutional rights they lose thier untouchability. If there is not an election in 2008 I will be ready. I fear that most will not as they are too busy sipping latte worrying about thier job to worry about thier country.

The "dirty hippy" bullshit sounds stupid comming from a fat office droned. This is what happens in a service society. You think teamsters and ironworkers got beat by police passively?

The Star Tribune article suggests a link between the bicyclists and planned protests of the RNC. And how many different law enforcement agencies were involved? 8? Hmmm... Is it possible that what we've witnessed is a training exercise for the RNC protests? A little test run?

i have one short clip i took on you tube...its very bad resolution sorry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_PpgVUraQQ

we need to test run against them and start planning shutting down this city. Police cars and burning tires. Why are they even coming here. get out of our city warmongers.

I suggest getting lawyered up and getting paid to protest. Police suppressing protest are breaking the law. Black Block

Bicyclists want to be treated just like they are in a car but most of them don't follow traffic laws. I constantly see cyclists run red lights, change lanes without signaling, ride between cars and so on. It really is most of them so don't bother arguing with the "one bad apple" excuse. As far as the macing goes, if they followed the police officers orders then they would not have been maced. You people whine about the police all the time but then you bitch about all of the crime in Minneapolis and bitch even more about how the cops do nothing. Well, if didn't dislike cops so much and if this city weren't so liberal we'd have more cops and less crime. Quit bitching!

I'd have more sympathy for the Critical Mass riders if they, y'know, flowed with traffic and actually acted like they were a part of it (which means stopping at red lights, signaling, etcetera). I say this as a pedestrian that can't afford a car (and, if he could, would own a small, fuel-efficient vehicle and drive it in a limited capacity): your rights as a cyclist don't extend to barrelling through red lights on Hennepin as I'm trying to cross on foot. But it's totally cool 'cuz you're a for-real anarchist and at least you're not driving one of those soul-sucking cars, right? Pfft. Schmucks.

On the other hand, the cops were being complete dicks in this case, as it's already been made clear. If this kind of bullshit starts spilling over into my neighborhood during the RNC, anyone with a badge or a circle-A better stay the hell away from my apartment. Not every building down here is a rich-folks condo.

To Meh?:

I participated in Critical Mass on August 31, 2007. I take issue with your crude generalization that "Critical Mass is nothing more than a collection of couch-surfing hipster douchbags who have nothing better to do." I ride a fixie, I am a graduate student at the University of Minnesota and teach (taxpayers') kids, I pay taxes that support our roads, and I don't intend to be "broke as fuck when you're older and not ever really being able to do the kinds of things that you want to do as your life winds down.

In fact, if I'm lucky enough to enjoy old age (because a long life is never a given for anyone, no matter their means of transportation), I hope to be fit, thanks to my years of cycling, and still enjoying riding my bicycle. I don't understand why I would be "broke as fuck."

About the roads I help support by paying taxes: bicycles tear up roads much, much more slowly than do cars. However, I help pay for road repairs that are the result of automobile traffic.

As you can read on the Wikipedia page about Critical Mass (and many other sites online with information about Critical Mass), Critical Mass has no clear agenda. There is no "bullshit cause" that you speak of; everyone riding in Mass is there for their own personal reasons. What unifies us is that we all ride bicycles.

For this reason, the excessive force used against riders, regardless of their conduct, by the Minneapolis Police Department is especially unwarranted.

Also, regarding your response to the comment "They're not cars, but they have the same legal rights as cars, you fool. That's one of the points of Critical Mass!" You responded, "Bullshit." However, you did not address the comment with any evidence. In fact, bicycles do have the same legal rights as automobiles in Minneapolis. There are links to bicycle-related laws and statutes here.

The argument that Critical Mass is running red lights and not going with the flow of traffic is done so because of the volume of riders. If say we did stop at every red light instead of the mass taking up 2-4 city blocks it would take up 5-8 city blocks. This would allow cross traffic to go but it would seriously hinder(even more so) the flow of traffic. The numer of cyclists reach "Critical Mass" and demonstrate. I've found that most, seriously MOST motorists are very curious during critical mass. Asking questions, waiting, taking pictures, giving the peace sign, or a good ol fashioned thumbs up. This is from the pedestrians and motorists. These are the people affected by this, not the cops. Let the people speak. Pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists these are the people involved not the cops.

ps That video will never be released and the police statement should be yet another testament to the lies and pussyfooting we say on television or hear on the radio daily.

Somewhere between the extremes lies the truth about Critical Mass; bicyclists do get short shrift in traffic, but it's also annoying to have to idle in your car behind a mass group of people making some kind of a point.

One thing is for sure, however. The Minneapolis Police sure stink up the place. I see now they're coming up with stories for the Star Tribune about being overwhelmed by the mass of bicycle terrorists. Oh, yeah, sure. Whatever.

There's your douchebags, wearing the blue uniforms.

as a participant in this CM ride, sure i broke traffic laws, but from early on, the police were attempting to intimidate us. as we made siren noises along with their cars, they saw we weren't intimidated. i saw an officer grab a man off his bike, forcefully, i saw the person just behind me maced with what i was later told is a "mild" nerve gas, not regular mace. i saw serveral people pushed off their bikes by cops, and the most violent thing that i saw to ellicit dozens of cop cars responding to this "threat" was a motorist that decided to try getting across the intersection while we were riding through got stopped, his car was spit on and he was stuck for several minutes.
this is just cause to arrest many people and use mace or nerve gas?
we are not couch surfers, we are bike riders.
we are not trying to disrupt traffic, we are trying to say 'bikes are traffic too'.
if my bike is such a threat to the established order, then i'll keep on riding my zero-emission vehicle and you can keep relying on warmongering to support our mid-east oil addiction, and your police who use brutal tactics to stop peaceful protesters.

Ride a fucking bike.

This is terrible, but to the person who said "I suggest getting lawyered up and getting paid to protest. Police suppressing protest are breaking the law. Black Block"

The black block is basically a non working group now. The government is starting to use officers under the guise of the black block to incite violence at peaceful protesters in order to be able to move in and use force against the peaceful. It is kind of ironic how the government is giving the black block a bad name.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/08/22/ot-police-070822.html?ref=rss

They need to be reprimanded, preferably beat, fined, and fired. I hope that whoever gave the order also gets the same treatment. I can just imagine how fox or someone will report this though.

"Terrorist with weapons of mass destruction now are being transported via bicycles so they can infiltrate America and wreak havoc on the economy. These terrorists will stop at nothing, if you see them being beat down, it is ok, because they are terrorists. Also at 11, we have new recipes for Angel Food Cake."

Enjoy being broke as fuck when you're older and not ever really being able to do the kinds of things that you want to do as your life winds down because you spent your youth running around trying to feel important by attaching yourself to a bullshit 'cause' that, when all is said and done, doesn't matter one bit.

I'll remember that in Business Law on Wednesday. Thanks for the advice, you've really turned my life around.

It's about time the cops get these freaks off the road......if we hit them when they are in the middle of the road trying to be in the Tour De France it's our fault. So.....get off the road freaks.
Like momma always said.....don't get into a situation you regret....nice job MPD!!

The gloves need to come off. Random monkeywrenching is what is going to have to happen since the police show no restraint. I reccomend that if you are unhappey with what the republicans havedone with the goverment it is time to get a gun. Then itis time to demonstrate like the black panthers did.

Yeah, there are a lot of Republicans in Minneapolis, right?

As for your recommendation, I recommend you finish the third grade.

Whatever you think of Critical Massers and Black Clad Anarchists preparing to protest the RNC, one thing is happening that clearly cannot stand in a democratic society. That is, one group is being used as a stand in for another to see how their violent suppression will play in the media.

Even if you disagree with group "A" and group "B", spreading rumors about group "A" that you plan to later use to discredit group "B" to see how these rumors will play smacks of fascism and thought control.

I receive emails about Critical Mass, and I might have attended if I wasn't fed up with testosterone fueled antics. None of the letters suggested a link to RNC protests. In fact, most critical massers are Republican in thought.

Make no mistake, the police are seeing how far they can go at the RNC. Before you dismiss these obnoxious kids, ask yourself if you'll ever again be in a position to oppose the state. The tactics they are developing now will be used on you next. You the mainstream American, not the kids whose opinions you despise, are capable of drawing the line.

I have witnessed some of these rides also and agree that no one knows what is the point. Just a bunch of losers with nothing to do but cause trouble.

I was in Chicago's mass last night and similar events unfolded, though not nearly as violently as with ya'll.

I'm in agreement with all those who mentioned that cyclists need to follow the rules of the road if they expect any equal treatment. I'm tired of seeing cyclists harass those in cars for no reason.
I was also extremely irritated to see cyclists clog the public transportation route. Most people who ride the bus don't drive cars. I heard a few very angry men shouting last night because their bus was stuck as a result of the mass, consequently making them late for work. These are people we're trying to earn the support of, not irritate.

Don't act like an idiot just because you can.

I saw the cops knock the first person off their bike. knocked him down and arrested him. if anytying the cops started the whole conflict. it has completely destroyed my respect for the minneapolis pd. the cops that took out their batons were soo excited to get to hit people its terrible that these people are supposed to be protecting us.

I've ridden in about a 1/2 dozen critical mass rides. I'm professionally employed and pay at least $35,000 in income tax every year. I quit riding these 2 years ago for fear of police interaction.

From heroes to Sturmabteilung in a month's time, apparently. What a shame. At least no one was seriously hurt.

cops are vicious when it comes to people speaking their minds, demonstrating, protesting. Its getting worse with PD's around the country getting extra cash infusions and joint terrorism training. I'm sure the MPD will be getting a billion dollars or at least many million to beef up on "less lethal" weapons and other toys for them to have fun with during the RNC, just like the NYPD got tons of cash for the RNC in NYC in 2004. The Minnesota police state will be getting more repressive.

On this topic, check out what happend recently in Rhode Island to a young women who had the audacity to picket her employer with fellow union members young women who had the audacity to picket her employer with fellow union members.

It just makes you sick to see these blue boy jocks fuck people up. They don't care who gets hurt. It seems clear that many of them took the job so that they could regularly dish out pain and sometimes murder with impunity. It also seems clear that many of them joined for political reasons... namely a fascist urge they have to fuck up those who they disagree with politically (of course they're right wing).

Hey Critical Mass… stop pissing everyone off and making the rest of us law abiding bikers look bad. GET OFF OUR SIDE!!!!!

It is very clear that the police were not dolling out beatings left and right. If that were true we would probably see a few pictures proving that. Thanks Aaron for showing that nothing like that really happened (see Aaron’s pic on flicker). These pictures nothing in the way of police brutality. It does, however, show Critical Mass blocking the entire road!

Bikers do deserver the right to be on the road, but we need to respect others who we share the road with. As soon as bikers start intentionally blocking traffic they are breaking the law and probably should be arrested for causing a disturbance.

These “bike-enthusiasts” are ruining the reputation of law abiding cyclists like me. I put a lot of miles on my bike every week as I train for triathlons. Sure the occasional jerk in a car will swing to the side of the road to try to scare me… these ignorant people would not do things like that to law abiding bikers if the idiots involved in Critical Mass weren’t pissing everyone off!

Once again; Critical Mass….GET OFF OUR SIDE!!!!

Side note:
Come on people; not even the worst seed in the MPD is going to start beating people when there are hundreds of witnesses watching. Try a little less negative spin in your articles and letters next time you want to make the MPD look bad.

I've been doing critical mass for months and this has never happened. The only illegal thing we ever do is bike in a circle in a intercection for less than five minutes and run red lights. We always allow public transportation and emergency vehicles to get by.
As to critical mass sharing the road, the whole point of it is that cars don't share the road with bikers. I bike everywhere, and I obey all traffic laws and I keep to the side. But I still have cars tailgating me and honking and yelling at me simply because I'm on a bike.
Here's the rules of the road for bikers. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/getpub.php?type=s&year=current&num=169.222

We wouldn't do critical mass if drivers would give as much respect to bikers as bikers are forced to give to cars. I think that it's okay if bikers take up as much space as cars for a few hours once a month. It doen't seem like drivers notice us otherwise.

And Brad, I don't know what you're talking about in your side note, police officers beat people up in riots all the time in front of hundreds of people. Ever heard of the civil rights movement or the vietnam war protests, not to mention all the police brutality cases? Just because they have a badge doesn't give them the right to beat and arrest indiscriminately.

Heh, a bunch of bicycle dorks with too much time on their hands got pwned. Awww. Sniffle.

Getting pwned by the police?

No. Getting rioted on by them.

Kindly learn the difference.

I'd ask you to think again, but that requests assumes certain facts not in evidence.

death to the fascist insect that preys on the lives of the people!!!

death to the fascist insect that preys on the lives of the people!!!

Che Guedildo has spoken.

hey brad S
I watched these officers instigate this "riot". There were beatings right in front of my eyes and a crazed officer with a taser looking to zap anyone. Only problem, no one was doing anything wrong. The police had the street blocked off from behind the riders. Not the riders blocking the street.
They intentionally hit one of the riders with their squad and grabbed him to arrest him. The Mass stopped riding at that point and began chanting at the officers to let him go. At this point the officers choose to escalate the situation. As others have stated this more that likely was a RNC practice riot for them. That's why they had the State chopper in the air for over 2 hours filming the whole ride. And undercover officers with video cams filming individual riders. It was a disgrace the behavior of the officers. Keep searching the net, there are plenty of pictures and video. I would have taken pictures, but I was trying to avoid getting maced or tasered. Last month the officers were awesome and had a good sense of humor about the thing. I thanked them several times for helping.
This months ride was a set up. They got word that some pReNC people were in the ride. It's a shame, because families with kids and grandmother's also participate in this ride. It not "outlaw bikers".

If these cyclists want to ride 'en masse' there are plenty of organized bike rides that they can participate in all summer long. (The police even block off streets and intersections and look out for your safety while you ride.) Our Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs are also fortunate to have miles upon miles of trails that connect and intersect. So get out and enjoy the excercise and the beautiful scenery and skylines without the protests and maybe you won't get such a bad rap for using bicycles in a negative way.

I agree with Brad "The Tri-F*g" up to the point about the MPD. They actually have a long history of harassing cyclists in the city. I was almost a victim, but I'm too damn fast for porky. ;) After all is said and done CM events piss far more people off than make happy. Just a bunch of pseudo intellectuals that are politicizing riding a bike. So, so stupid. We've got it so good here in this city for cycling that a few people just aren't satisfied. Shedding a tear. If all you CM riders would channel your energy into doing something positive for cycling instead of making an excuse to hang out with your pals for beer and joints in the park than maybe the general public would actually give a flying turtle fuck about your "cause".

Why not have a Fuck In? Pick an intersection and everyone just start fucking in the street!

you're missing the point here alleged bicycle enthusiasts like vic. i don't do the rides anymore personally cuz i think they're kinda boring. but just cuz these people who do do cm are your style, just cuz they aren't as happy with the status quo as you are... just cuz you're dishing them a big "you deserved it" batch of bullshit. you don't have to defend the cm'ers. but watch all the videos and realize that they didn't do what the police said they did and they were the victims of police brutality. regardless of what you think of cm, you shouldn't try to justify police violence against them. that's just wack as hell for you to side with the police who totally lied to the media and who totally over reacted. if you're not just some cop trolls on here i'd be surprised. i don't care if i don't agree with some one, i'd never wish them to get brutalized by the police based on that opinion. its just sad and shortsighted, and really kind of sick that you side with the police. and if the police jack you up in the future you won't have any right to complain i guess (or else you'd be a hypocrite)

Critical Mass enthusiast here, who is also a highly trained engineer employed by government projects. Back in '99 I trained for and participated in direct action against the WTO and came to some startling realizations:

i) When populous and organized, protests become a difficult thing to control. Understand that police, though aggressive, are terrified by these situations. I recall a riot squad that was forced to retreat in to an ally, having no backup. In that case, if the police were to have followed the "Force Matrix" (guidelines for the application of force) and if we'd pursued that squad, they're rules of engagement would have allowed for the application of deadly force.

ii) The police are a standing army, the authority of which (over the populous) must be maintained at all costs. Don't be naive, abuse by police is a symbolic act to gain the compliance of those witnessing it.

iii) Those most willing to antagonize police, smash shit, ect. are those who are least willing to stick around and deal with the consequences of their actions. During the WTO, it was our objective to prevent access to the convention. The Starbucks and other establishments that got smashed up were several blocks away from the "front". None of those so called anarchists where helping us hold the line, none of them participated in the months of training and organizing and when it came to it, none of them were willing to risk their wellbeing for any sort of cause. Understand those who escalate the conflict make choices for everyone involved. There should be no illusions about the role of the police in these situations and it should be anticipated that the police will initiate conflict.

Someone suggested that it was time to get a gun. My response is this; if one is to do so, then one should do so with the understanding that they will be making a choice for every participant that may well end up in the application of deadly force by the police against unarmed civilians. However, you will have provided the justification for that violence. In short, activism is a hobby that can get you killed. Act responsibly.

I think that the public would favor groups like Critical Mass more if they would be more law abiding. Blocking intersections for your own reasons does not make for positive PR. If you were a formal parade with permits that would be one thing but doing to during a "coincedence" of a mass of riders is simply breaking the law.

It's a long standing policy of the liberals and this shitrag to bash all police for any incident that every happens. Those douches on the bikes instigated everything and got what they deserved - bottom line - I saw it all happen. Stop defending domestic terrorism! Put your bikes on the miles of bikepaths and stop blocking vehicular traffic! Maybe then will you get respect

Rich:

Please call me at 612.372.3722 tomorrow and we'll get you on record regarding what you saw. You are the only third-party witness I'm privy to who's claimed that the cyclists instigated the violence. It would be unfair of us to relegate your invaluable perspective to an anonymous comment post. And no: I'm not being facetious.

people keep saying that cm should not break laws. bad laws remain laws until people break them often enough for people to see that they should be changed. the main law that cm breaks is the unwritten one that bikers should stay off the streets and that cars should rule the streets 100% of the time. 99.9999999% of the time is obviously not enough. The amount of time that intersections are blocked up with bikes and the number of intersections that are blocked at any one time is way smaller than 99.9999999% but the rage filled car people (who incidentally are rage filled because of their car experience.... traffic jams and long commutes getting longer) simply can't stand to see bikes in a huge mass on the road. if you think about it a mass of 400 people is a mass of 400 people. 400 people on bikes should have just as much right to the road as 400 people in cars. any intersection blocked has maybe a hundred cars at most who are affected. more people on bikes than in cars would seem to mean that those bikes have more right to the road than the single people in cars from a utilitarian perspective.

i ride a bike and i have to tell you that i get shit from cars all the time even when its just one car and me riding on the side of the road. that's in minneapolis where the mass happens. out in the suburbs its even worse. you can get killed out there when some roid-head in a hummer tries to run you over. this shit really happens folks. cm'ers get together to say hey you can't do tha to us. that's what really gets stuck in the craw of the people who have such a problem with cm. their puny ass in that big car is supposed to make them gods of the road who can drive all over pedestrians. that's what the bible according to grand theft auto teaches, right?

and as for all you hipsters and your organized rides. funny thing. most of those rides are based on drinking bear and riding a bike all drunk. most massers that i know of aren't drinking while massing. the other thing about these hipster rides is that thats the fucking point of cm is that it isn't organized. some of us don't get off on following some route put together by the head hipster. some us get sick thinking about the manipulative ego maniacs that organize so many events. we like doing things with out quasi celebrity jackasses in charge. the last thing about you hipsters and you "law abiding rides" is that you dress all grungy and hardcore and really get a lot of your prestige by trying to look like the bike kids who have been doing critical mass a lot longer than you've been having your hipster rides. a lot like white kids who dismiss jazz in favor of rock and roll, not realizing that there wouldn't be any rock and roll if it weren't for jazz in the first place.

I treated people who were affected by the chemical irritant used by police and also visited the arrested adults in jail and have a few comments.

First, the chemical that was used was not mace or tear gas. The Minneapolis police department uses a chemical called Freeze Plus P, which is a combination of oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray) and CS nerve gas. I touched and smelled the chemical and am almost positive that's what they were using. To learn more about this noxious chemical, go to http://www.capstun.com/english/cap-stun/reports/dugwayreport.html

Secondly, it is clear to me from the large number of witness statements I took and the video I saw that the CM people did not do anything to provoke or bring down the attack they experienced at the hands of the MPD. Blaming them or asking what they did to deserve it is a little like asking what a battered woman did to get beaten by her spouse. Trying to pin the cops' conduct on the CM riders is a way for people to feel like they might not ever be the hapless victims of police brutality. However, my experience tells me that although people of color and poor people are much more likely to be victims anyone can experience unprovoked police violence, especially in Minneapolis where cops face no consequences for even the most egregious behavior.

No matter how you feel about CM, unprovoked and unjustified use of force by police is a serious civil rights violation that cannot be condoned. There needs to be an immediate independent investigation of police conduct in this incident and police officers who crossed the line must be held accountable for their conduct.

Michelle Gross
Communities United Against Police Brutality

hunter, you said that during your own Critical Mass rides you ran red lights and circled in intersections for several minutes. How is that "taking up the same amount of space as cars for a few hours a month"? That sounds like you are intentionally taking up a lot *more* space, and time, than the other users of the road.

Vengeance is not a just cause.

Shit happens. You bitches.

Minor nitpick... CS and CN are not technically nerve gases. They do not attack the central nervous system. They are extreme irritants though...

Disrupting the flow of traffic isn't co-exsisting w/vehicles and those on foot. If the only way to raise the awareness of bikes is stopping those on their way home, to work or whatever, (I've waited for more than 2 light cycles personally) they certainly are, but in a negative way.

I wouldn't however, be surprised that the MPD did overeact, it wouldn't be the 1st time.

Sorry Matt, I appreciate your response to what I saw, but I cannot go on the record with the opinion page you work for. Kinda like the liberals picking and choosing what debates they'll do. Nothing personal, just taking a page out of the liberal playbook.

I live downtown Minneapolis. I've been The Critial Mass riders are looking for a confrontation. They want attention... that's why they are doing what they are doing. I was driving home one day from work. I was confronted by these Critial Mass assholes. A group of five or so guys got in my way, so I had no escape besides driving towards them. They rode around in circles and looked at me in a challenging manner. It pissed me off. I'm a big guy at 6'4 and 250, and no wimp. If I would have been an older citizen, I would have been scared shitless. The people in the car next to me were senior citizens, and the douchbags were doing the same shit to them. That's really brave, scaring old ladies.

If you want to make a point, then vote and show up at city council meetings. Don't block traffic and scare old ladies. It's intimidation.

Fuck them. Yeah MSPD! I only wish they had kicked the shit out of more of them. If I would have had the dispensation, I would have happily kicked the asses of these guys myself.I wish I could have knocked the teeth out of a few of those bastards. It would have made me a very happy guy.

Rich:

What's with the liberal-directed ire? I merely want talk to you to ensure that all possible perspectives are covered (thus making the story as complete, fair, and accurate as possible.) Is that the mark of an "opinion page?" If you wish to sit on the anonymous, comment-board sidelines, fine. But until you're willing to go on record and counter-balance the bias you perceive, I kindly ask that you cease your obnoxious bitching.

I have never seen a car on the sidewalk but plenty of bikes. Bike riders want to go on the road, on the walking paths, on the sidewalk, wherever they want. They never slow down and never stop at intersections. I saw a guy on a bike go thru a red light and cross six lanes of Hiawatha while cars were slamming on there brakes and it caused an accident. The bike just kept going. Can't stop on a red because you’re exercising?

I think Critical Mass and it's no car movement should also be no bikes. Learn to WALK! If police observe these Critical Mass people going thru red lights and interfering with pedestrians then write them tickets. Critical Mass riders need to learn to be courteous! If they can’t do it then, mace and batons works for me!

Oh man !

Does the MPD have any idea how fucking big the next Critical Mass ride is going to be? It will be huge !

The MPD might want to rethink their approach....Seriously !

How is a bunch of cars riding in the street different than a bunch of bikes riding in the street, legislatively?
As for running lights and riding on the sidewalk, well, tough titty cars. You just don't fit, and clearly can't do the running lights part without it being worth it, or endangering others.

as far as i know, bikes can come to a red light and make a stop and then proceed to go through the red light after looking both ways. this law was added to the books around the same time that bicycle licensing requirements were dropped just after that last critical massacre that happened in the early 2000's (2003?). motorcylces have the same right i believe.

honestly i think most of the ire is from people who hate driving, but don't see an alternative because they are lazy or they have to go to far or have to carry lots of junk with them to work. they hate it when they see a bike come down the street on the side of the side of the street and just scoot on by while they're sitting there in a jam up of cars (a jam that happens everyday so many places, and is NOT caused by critical mass).

the thing is that these road ragers often don't realize that they are transferring their rage onto bikers instead of the car experience that is actually the cause. granted poor infrastructure contributes, but the car is so 20th century, and it just isn't working for many people in the 21st century anymore.

cm may be defunct. it's been usurped by a crazy little ego problem. and with that, grounds for positive change toward cyclists evaporate.

my apologies, but the majority of cm riders are nothing but pawns eagerly bloodied in a very well funded transportation regime geared towards automobiles.
the fact is that automobile creation, use and infrastructure drive this economy-
this system may or may not continue, but cm does little to modify behaviors of auto drivers positively.

auto drivers despise the mobility superiority a cyclist has. and truthfully, cyclist break every societal rule squeezed into our heads since kindergarten. a cyclist always scoots to the front of the line, most always executes a rolling stop, and often weaves in thru red lights.
not all of us, but many.
but it actually burns drivers up to see someone squeezing ahead. or breaking a little rule. while they sit idle in the car late for daycare pickup or drop off. it's frustrating, i'm sure.

common ground is narrow and will be tough to find, but really is a necessity, if any of these issues would ever begin resolution.
it's unfortunate to the riders that the police were so- shall we say- involved personally. there is not a reason in the world that this should occur.

common courtesy from both entities is really lacking recently.
and that is what is killing us cyclists, daily.

Or, maybe turn Critical Mass events into the bike equivalent of a vintage car show. You could hold it over at the newest section of the Greenway trail that the city bought for y'all and have a contest for who has the lamest fixie.

"as far as i know, bikes can come to a red light and make a stop and then proceed to go through the red light after looking both ways. this law was added to the books around the same time that bicycle licensing requirements were dropped just after that last critical massacre that happened in the early 2000's (2003?). motorcylces have the same right i believe."

Uhhh... No.

Cyclists, motorized or not, MUST obey the same rules of the road, and control signals/signs, as automobiles.

Thank you City Pages for this blotter and for providing an alternative to the other newspapers. I appreciate your reporting. Minneapolis councilmember Cam Gordon is holding a meeting or two to discuss how police can assist CM better (or something like that.) Wed. Sept 19. It will not be any kind of in-depth discussion of what happened at the last ride, but will be forward-looking. That said, and that nobody represents CM as it is not an organization, but whoever shows up to ride, I would like to know if anyone has a link to what the rules for police are.
People interested in police-bicycle interactions might check out www.bikeamici.org and www.greencycles.blogspot.com or come to an event at French Meadow Bakery and Cafe on Tuesday evening 9/18 7 pm.

Running red lights, impeding the flow of traffic yeah thats not doing anything wrong - how about when a Police Officer tells you to do something and you ignore them - thats not doing anything wrong either. All the people at the U of M hockey riots who got maced and tear gassed didn't do anything wrong either. If you want respect, give it. You want to ride your bikes go for it, but do so in a respectable manor. There are more bike lanes and paths around the twin cities than most cities have. Like every other protest practice, usually the people causing problems don't even live in the state - If you want to be taken seriously and listened to, then again use respect and act like law abiding adults. The bikers did nothing to provoke the situation - nope making siren noises and yelling out the words pigs and other slander isn't trying to get a rise out of the cops is it. Those damn cops just for no reason started beating people and trying to kill the poor bikers. Just a little advice - Be respectful, obey the laws like the motoring public has too, don't yell and swear at the cops and you won't get the ass kicking that you asked for.

critical mass is not simply bicycling around town. It's an organized effort put together for the public to make a political statement about several issues, one of which includes more bike lanes in the city. Now, with the issue of police brutality, a bigger issue has come to light! For those of you protesting the critical mass effort, you need to start an effort against them. Maybe a sign that says something like, "I'm pro police brutality, pro-pollution, AND anti 'groups of people on bicycles." When 'the people', as in 'we the people', put together a movement that they feel strongly about, they will follow through with it whether most people like it or not, whether it's the civil rights movement, the kkk, or critical mass. That's the u.s.a. and democracy. The best thing the police could do would be to set aside a route for the riders to ride peacefully. What's created by the police force's uber-control is fear and a police state which leads to civil unrest. Which do you think would be more effective with keeping the peace?

If I'm in my jeep and the light is green, I'm going regardless if there's an idiot on a bike in front of me (unless it's a cop) who thinks their Cannondale trumps my jeep.

There are better ways to voice your opinion than being a public nuisance because people like me don't tolerate puplic nuisances... it's for your safety.

Visit http://cmsupport.wordpress.com/ for the latest information on the city's continuing smear campaign against participants in the 8.31 CM and to find ways to support those still facing charges (like donating money for their legal defense!).

Pass the link along to any who might be interested.