Bell Protests Disrupt Traffic, Arrests Made
Sharpton, Nicole Paultre Bell Arrested
POSTED: 10:01 pm EDT May 6,
2008
UPDATED: 8:23 pm EDT May 7,
2008
Protesters held up traffic around the city Wednesday as they engaged in civil disobedience in response to the acquittals of three detectives in the killing of Sean Bell.
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Traffic is back to normal at the Brooklyn, Queensboro and Manhattan bridges after protests slowed down traffic for at least an hour.
Hundreds of protesters temporarily shut down traffic on the Manhattan Bridge. There was a small melee as police moved in to make arrests.
Commissioner Paul J. Brown, the NYPD's chief spokesman, said there were 190 arrests at all the demonstrations combined. All of the arrested protesters are getting an appearance ticket for disorderly conduct. Brown said all of the arrested protesters should be processed and released Wednesday night.
Several hundred people gathered at 125th St. and 3rd Ave. and began to walk across 125th St. toward the Triborough Bridge around 4 p.m. More than 30 people were arrested after sitting down in the street in an attempt to block traffic heading toward the bridge. Traffic was momentarily halted at the Triborough Bridge until police cleared the roadway.
About 24 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct on the Manhattan side of the Midtown Tunnel. There were also several arrests made near the Holland Tunnel.
More than 100 people chanted "Sean Bell" while protesting outside Bloomingdale's flagship store at East 60th Street and 3rd Ave. beginning around 3 p.m.
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Around 40 people sat down on 59th Street at 2nd Avenue and formed a human chain to stop traffic before arrests were made by police. Protesters carried signs saying "We are all Sean Bell - This Whole Damn System Is Guilty" and "50 Shots."
The protesters were diverse - black and white, young and old. Some activists traveled from Washington, D.C. to take part in the protests.
An unidentified man with a bullhorn was seen on camera telling protesters that the goal was to be arrested. The man also gave the crowd instructions on what to do when confronted by police and what to do following their release.
An NYPD task force and precinct officers arrested anyone blocking traffic during the evening commute.
Chopper 4 was overhead as a several protesters were being arrested near the Queensboro Bridge around 4:10 p.m.
Sharpton and Nicole Paultre Bell were both arrested in downtown Brooklyn near the Brooklyn Bridge.
“Somehow, someone will be held accountable for what happened to Sean,” Paultre Bell said on Tuesday. “No one’s held accountable. Sean died for no reason, and everyone walk away from it fine.”
Ever since a judge acquitted three NYPD detectives on all charges in the 50-shots case, Bell’s supporters had planned civil disobedience.
Groups gathered at 125th Street; 60th Street and Third Avenue; 34th Street and Park Avenue; Varick Street and Houston Street; 1 Police Plaza; and at a church in downtown Brooklyn at 3 p.m. before marching through the streets. The sites were all rush hour hubs just blocks from bridges and tunnels.
“The idea is to say all over the city that we are praying for justice – and pause,” Sharpton said Tuesday. “This city stops every day. We’re pausing to say you know an injustice was done here.”Classic Beauties: How They Aged Sexiest Women In World For 2008 What Happened To These Child Stars? Celebrities Who Died Young Recent Notable Deaths Celebrities: Then And Now Celebs Who've Suffered Illnesses 30 Dumbest People In Hollywood
Traffic is back to normal at the Brooklyn, Queensboro and Manhattan bridges after protests slowed down traffic for at least an hour.
Hundreds of protesters temporarily shut down traffic on the Manhattan Bridge. There was a small melee as police moved in to make arrests.
Commissioner Paul J. Brown, the NYPD's chief spokesman, said there were 190 arrests at all the demonstrations combined. All of the arrested protesters are getting an appearance ticket for disorderly conduct. Brown said all of the arrested protesters should be processed and released Wednesday night.
Several hundred people gathered at 125th St. and 3rd Ave. and began to walk across 125th St. toward the Triborough Bridge around 4 p.m. More than 30 people were arrested after sitting down in the street in an attempt to block traffic heading toward the bridge. Traffic was momentarily halted at the Triborough Bridge until police cleared the roadway.
About 24 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct on the Manhattan side of the Midtown Tunnel. There were also several arrests made near the Holland Tunnel.
More than 100 people chanted "Sean Bell" while protesting outside Bloomingdale's flagship store at East 60th Street and 3rd Ave. beginning around 3 p.m.
Around 40 people sat down on 59th Street at 2nd Avenue and formed a human chain to stop traffic before arrests were made by police. Protesters carried signs saying "We are all Sean Bell - This Whole Damn System Is Guilty" and "50 Shots."
The protesters were diverse - black and white, young and old. Some activists traveled from Washington, D.C. to take part in the protests.
An unidentified man with a bullhorn was seen on camera telling protesters that the goal was to be arrested. The man also gave the crowd instructions on what to do when confronted by police and what to do following their release.
An NYPD task force and precinct officers arrested anyone blocking traffic during the evening commute.
Chopper 4 was overhead as a several protesters were being arrested near the Queensboro Bridge around 4:10 p.m.
Sharpton and Nicole Paultre Bell were both arrested in downtown Brooklyn near the Brooklyn Bridge.
“Somehow, someone will be held accountable for what happened to Sean,” Paultre Bell said on Tuesday. “No one’s held accountable. Sean died for no reason, and everyone walk away from it fine.”
Ever since a judge acquitted three NYPD detectives on all charges in the 50-shots case, Bell’s supporters had planned civil disobedience.
Groups gathered at 125th Street; 60th Street and Third Avenue; 34th Street and Park Avenue; Varick Street and Houston Street; 1 Police Plaza; and at a church in downtown Brooklyn at 3 p.m. before marching through the streets. The sites were all rush hour hubs just blocks from bridges and tunnels.
“The idea is to say all over the city that we are praying for justice – and pause,” Sharpton said Tuesday. “This city stops every day. We’re pausing to say you know an injustice was done here.”
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