Arrests
at Ground Zero
Police
Claim Ground Zero Sidewalk is “Private Property”On
February 7th, 2004, four activists from the “No Police State
Coalition” were arrested at Ground Zero when they refused a police order
to move from in front of the World Trade Center Path Train Station.
The police claimed the sidewalk directly in front of the train station
was “private property” of the Port Authority. I
overheard an officer say to one of the onlookers witnessing the arrests,
“This is private property, they were asked to leave and they refused.
They’re not being arrested for what they have to say. If they would
have went to the other side of the street, that would have been fine”. But
the Port Authority is only partially a private entity. It is also a
public entity, receiving public funding to create public spaces such
as train stations and sidewalks. The sidewalk should constitute a public
forum, meaning it is not a privately owned store or home, and therefore
the rights of free speech are guaranteed. Dennis
Griggs, Joel Meyers, Geoffrey Blank and Jason Blank were charged with
trespassing, disorderly conduct, refusing to disperse and refusing a
lawful order from a police officer, but they contend the order given
by the police was completely unlawful. They say there was no lawful
reason given for them to disperse and the request was in direct violation
of their constitutional, inalienable rights of free speech and assembly.
“We
weren’t arrested for trespassing on the sidewalk, we were arrested for
holding signs”, said Geoffrey Blank, one of the four activists from
the “No Police State Coalition” arrested on Saturday. “Going
forward, I feel good about this”, he said. According
to Geoffrey, there is a law that bans exhibiting a sign or banner in
the World Trade Center. This is the law he claims they will be charged
in violation of, but Geoffrey contends the law itself is unconstitutional
on its face. He was very confident when he told me they are going to
“see this to the end”. FTW
readers will recall on January 3rd, 2004 the NY Truth Movement
began its visibility campaign at Ground Zero with the controversial
sign “THE BUSH REGIME ENGINEERED 9-11”. On that date, Nico Haupt and
Geoffrey Blank were physically removed from in front of the WTC Path
Train Station. Since then, the NY Truth Movement has set up shop directly
across the street every Saturday. “Getting
educational material to the public and making space for discussion about
9-11 is our priority”, said one 9-11 Truth activist named Cristian.
He continued, “I have no problem cooperating with the police as long
as my rights of free speech and assembly aren’t violated. I’m not coming
here every Saturday to piss-off the cops. I’m here to get a dialogue
going that is critical to save our country”.
No
one from the NY 9-11 Truth Movement was arrested. The
NY 9-11 Truth Movement has worked with the “No Police State Coalition”
on various occasions. This group does not back down for anyone, and
often their strategies do not gain popular support. Nevertheless, these
arrests may prove to be of major significance. The courts must now rule
if free speech is allowed on the sidewalk in front of Ground Zero. This
has been repeatedly denied to the NY 911 Truth Movement. I myself have
been told by Port Authority police there was no way they would allow
me to display our sign on that side of the street. I
have always complied. The
four activists received a summons to appear in court on March 18th,
2004. Since they only received a summons and were let go after 4 short
hours, it appears the police didn’t want to arrest them, just shut them
up. It is likely the judge presiding will dismiss the charges based
on “facial insufficiency”, but since Geoffrey contends the law is unconstitutional
on it’s face this will not be an acceptable resolution. The case will
likely go to criminal court. The
arrest came after a successful “March for 9-11 Truth” down Broadway
ended at Ground Zero with two banners reading “THE BUSH REGIME ENGINEERED
9-11” and one reading “STOP THE POLICE STATE”. When those carrying the
banners set up right in front of the WTC Path Station, the police were
taken by surprise and left unsure how to react. There were too many
people for them to react as quickly, and illegally, as they did over
a month ago. A crowd of onlookers quickly formed. Regardless
of how the legal issues work out, it was a powerful display that lasted
over an hour. Educational literature was dispersed to many who passed
by. The majority of people seemed to feel this is what makes New York
great, while a minority felt differently. When the arrests happened,
one local resident was almost in tears as he said, “I can’t believe
I just saw these people arrested for free speech in my own neighborhood”. Believe
it. I
was there covering the event, which will be included in an upcoming
documentary on the NY 9-11 Truth Movement. I don’t know if I agree with
the tactics of those who were arrested, even though I believe they were
well within their rights the entire time. I certainly know it is not
how I would have handled myself. But what is clear is that this is only
the beginning of a long battle to bring Truth into the consciousness
of Americans everywhere, starting at Ground Zero, and now in the courts. One
thing is certain – the NY 9-11 Truth Movement will be back at Ground
Zero next Saturday, at noon, with our signs and literature to disperse
to the public. We will remain on the other side of the street, where
the police have basically left us alone for the past month, until the
legal issues are worked out. With
the Republican National Convention scheduled to be in New York in September,
one wonders if there are plans to rid Ground Zero of the dangerous
truth being presented by concerned citizens. This bold move by the
“No Police State Coalition” is an offensive move in a game of social-justice-chess,
and at stake is the essence of what it means to be free. The “No Police
State Coalition” is not asking for their rights, they are demanding
them. Keep
your ear to the ground – I doubt mainstream media will touch this one. peace
eternal m>k< Michael
Kane is a member of the NY 9-11 Truth Movement who has been forced into
journalism since no other “journalist” will cover the Movement. He is
an associate producer of Shadow Government TV and is following the SGTV
motto: BECOME
THE MEDIA. February
8, 2004 ***** Petition to the Senate to Investigate Oddities Involving 9/11 Terrorist Attacks |