"Yes I saw the plans, they were in a filing cabinet down 3 flights of stairs with no light behind a door saying beware of the leopard"- Arthur Dent- Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I'm sorry that you and your friend were harrassed. I'm not gay myself, but I don't cotton with this kind of OBVIOUS abuse of power by the officer (at the very minimum), and possible harrassment of gays, or any other group.
Some of my straight white friends (I am mullato) wonder why I do not trust the police at all, but this incident you were forced to endure is just an example of why I don't trust those blue-suited autocrats.
Check out my playlist on Police Violence. I keep "pulled/unavailable" videos in there on purpose so people can see what is and was there. Next time film them! Sorry that u guys experienced our "justice" system.
cops can do what ever they want, they are the ones with the guns not you, and if they want to be rasist against a couple of fags, or latinos or blacks in the process of doing their job they're going to do it with pleasure. P.S. the law states that you must carry i.d. with you at all times when your out in public.
Well if that's the law, then no one bothered to mention my id/driver's permit has been expired for about 3 years on top of not showing having showed it that night, so I should've gotten in trouble for that. SinCity can suck it in Vegas - we don't take that shit in NY.
Btw, the id was issued 9-11-01. I was at the Coney Island DMV getting my eyes examined while the planes hit, which is part of why I kept it. I wonder if Leahy noticed the issue date. 8-o
i agreee with you SinCityLegend007 your a fool harassment from cops is not ok and they dont have a right to do what they please unfortunately they do anyway simply because they can get away with it thats not law its ignorence!!!
It is reasonable to be asked to leave the park, if it is, indeed, closed. There is no law, however, that anyone must carry identification. This harassment is evidence of the power-hungry mentality that infects those in whom we place our trust to keep the peace. My sympathies for your mistreatment.
wow that was terrible man. it's so sad really. "police officers", people who we count on to protect us, can't treat people with dignity and respect..or like human beings at least.
I have seen the NYPD harassing gays in front of The Monster once an arrest for loosing his wallet and not able to pay a cab they were yelling in his face even after they drove him to tears (for a $12 fee) **I Paid it for this stranger and they let him go ****another guy stopped walking into the monster surrounded and had his bags searched patted down asked him what drugs he had said he looked suspicious now this clip right across the st. with NYPD harassment calling guy queen is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!
gee, my dear friend. that's "beyond the law" i dont know wat to say... uhm let me think... perhaps ask them if their father is gay???!! wat da hell, i dnt knw! LOL!
Thank you for sharing this. I will definitely avoid festivities in New York this summer. For any East Coast LGBT's looking for a friendly big city that in my opinion has really embraced us, I would recommend Philadelphia.
Trenton, N.J./Philadelphia is my home away from home. Some of my best friends live there. Ever been to The Cartwheel or I forget what that other place is called? Used to be called The Raven.
When they ask for my ID, I kindy reply, "No, but I will be happy to identify myself if you'd like." This is because my identification information is not pertinent to me as a pedestrian on public grounds. If I were driving, then my drivers license would obviously be necessary to prove I am able to legally drive, but not in this case.
ugh, anti-gay makes me sick. i'm sorry that happened to you. this is the kinda injustice i'm studying in history. this is the kind of injustice my whole class scowled at in a movie.
While this is a minor injustice compared to some, this is where it starts. Police get away with small injustices and move on to more harmful ones. It has to stop somewhere.
We had to ID ourselves if asked by a police officer here. They could/would arrest you, if you refused. Since your friend refused to give the cop his ID, he was arrested. That said, my guess is he was arrested because the cop thought he was gay & he "flunked the personality test". The cop used poor judgement, but so did your friend. He should have shown his ID, like you did. Using slurs on anyone is wrong, all time, every time. I'm sorry this happened to y'all. <3
Sorry trees, but the summons I so pleasantly received AFTER I was arrested and let out of the cell only stated that I "Disobeyed Park Sign," not that I refused to show my ID.
That said, my judgment was only intuition and turned out I was spot on with it as I was called a "Queen" after my arrest and just check out all the wonderful footage of the park being open.
I hope to do something about this, too, & would do anything in fact, but I'm discouraged at this point. The legal advice I got from the LGBT Center was pretty much about lawyers wanting money, which I do not have.
Did the Stonewall riots need a lawyer to happen? I honestly don't know what to do. Phil and I documented the park Sunday night in case anyone had doubts, and I documented it again this past Tuesday so...
There seems to be lack of community action & obsession with gadgets these days.
Hetero men should take note - while this mightn't be JUST a gay issue y'all are certainly welcome to stand up to guys with guns and post about it. Go ahead, we're listening.
Lol, I was joking about you calling them something.
If I recall correctly the founders pledged their lives, fortune and their sacred honour for liberty. Perhaps next time you can pledge a night in the pokey. What say?
taner, founders of what? America? You mean the people that were supported by Europe to come and invade the long time natives here, then got greedy and took the land for themselves in what we know to be The Revolutionary War? You ever see the British flag with the red and white stripes? Says it all.
The evils of Europe have yet to die. Just sharing.
Lol. Ok, try picturing the world without the US. Do you have any idea of what a world without a champion for individual rights would be like? It don't be lookin' pretty to this fan of Western civilization. I can tell you that much. Slim chance you'd have an opportunity to even voice your opinion on something like the good ole intertubes.
At the national level it's dog-eat-dog, and even though the US isn't perfect, perhaps not even good, it beats anything else I can think of by miles.
As a famous philosopher once sang "You don't need diamond rings or eighteen karat gold. Fancy cars that go very fast, you know, they never last, no, no."
Without the "U.S." there would just be us. And if the world saw how great THAT was, if even for a day they'd get rid of their governments in an instant.
And how great to wake up in the morning (or whenever) and have a whole day dedicated to your favorite, environmentally friendly hobby with no more a thought to your garden and family. I cum.
jonsalvator, however the problem you're going to run into is reality. And the reality is that conflict among people/peoples is ubiquitous and resolving that in an constructive way is done about as well it can be in, and through, a capitalistic/democratic system such as the US. And you can thank the European transmitters of Western civilization for that.
well I think what you're saying is a half truth tanerofies.
The US is definitely not perfect. We are NOT the most free, Holland is. And capitalism has not made us more advanced, because Denmark is the most advanced and they are basically socialist.
We are not the bastion of what world societies should be by far. Slowly, or maybe even quickly, we are falling behind and being over run by fascist corporate capitalism.
If you ask me the proudest distinction of Americans, I would choose-because it contains all the others-the fact that they were the people who created the phrase 'to make money.' No other language or nation had ever used these words before; men had always thought of wealth as a static quantity--to be seized, begged, inherited, shared, looted or obtained as a favor. Americans were the first to understand that wealth has to be created. The words 'to make money' hold the essence of human morality.
Yet these were the words for which Americans were denounced by the rotted cultures of the looters' continents. Now the looters' credo has brought you to regard your proudest achievements as a hallmark of shame, your prosperity as guilt, your greatest men, the industrialists, as blackguards, and your magnificent factories as the product and property of muscular labor, the labor of whip-driven slaves, like the pyramids of Egypt.
The rotter who simpers that he sees no difference between the power of the dollar and the power of the whip, ought to learn the difference on his own hide-- as, I think, he will.
Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to be the tool by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of men. Blood, whips and guns--or dollars. Take your choice--there is no other--and your time is running out.
1) Some men like being the "tools" of other men if you know what I mean. Now you know why God put homosexuality there - to keep balance - if even not fully homo, but bi, and I'm telling you, it's prevalent in every culture from here to China whether it is accepted by culture or not is another story... (continued)
2) Homosexuality aside, when we put the value of the dollar, or anything material above another person or persons, that's when there's chaos.
We think that we must first achieve greatness in wealth in order to be worthy of love, but that is absolutely not the truth.
From my perspective, it's clear that both the prevalence of homophobia and flat out greed, war and needless starvation are not by any means coincidences in this world.
When love suffers, life suffers. This is God correcting.
3) God aside, JUST politically speaking, I can come to the same conclusion.
If homophobia weren't part of this situation, I'd have never been approached, but because Phil has a heart is why this video is here, and a heart is why I have to appear in court on the 24th - I didn't have to share this with anyone.
Anyone can deny up and down that THIS issue is not about homophobia, but there will be no chance of denying this truth any more than the cop had a chance of getting me to show id. (End)
Money allows for more sophisticated "tooling." It allows the master to keep the whips in the barn. But there is no real choice here. The slaves will always seek to avoid the whip. That's human nature.
The English didn't say that first? I don't know. Anyway, it is amusing to hear a Christian say that the phrase, "make money," holds the "essence of human morality," when the Jesus dude is quoted as saying, "if you have money, give it to someone who will not give it back to you." Well, that's from the Thomas book, but it's still a good representation of the official story.
Well, you sound like a nice guy, but you'd have probably been better off if you hadn't called them pig-ignorant dumbfucks! Did you check on what the law is re having to show your ID in the city?
I didn't call them any such things, nor did my friend. And yes I have checked the NY State laws. Police can ask for ID but you do not have to present it unless you are charged.
I hope that you and your friend pursue this to the fullest extent. As far as I'm aware, they had to have had good reason to have asked for ID the way that you say they did.
In any case, I look forward to an update & the police officer eating some humble pie.
I doubt that the officer will eat anything. My guess is they will drop the charges to avoid any public record of the actual events or any risk of actual testimony under oath.
That's disgraceful. Those attitudes should have been pensioned off many years ago. So sorry this happened to your friend and for nothing. Mind you, the cops are the same the world over. They arrested me many years ago for attempted car theft as I was taking a short cut through a car park. I don't and never have driven a car, so it was a complete fabrication. And these are the guys trusted to uphold the law?
I'm so sorry that happened. There's a video about this preacher who did not want to give his ID to the police. They smashed his face up, and, I think, arrested him. I'll tell you what, I am afraid of the police now, totally afraid. None of us are safe anymore.
That's so shameful. Bigotry is alive and well in the N.Y.P.D.
You're a well spoken and very common sense kind of person from what I've gathered listening to your videos Phil, so I look forward to hearing the outcome of what should be a very straight forward legal arguement.
just write a letter of complaint to the cop station but do not fabricate anything or interpolate new things and speculate
stick to the facts here...not your feelings, if you are going to use your feelings then qualify it by beginning with 'i think' ot 'i feel' 'maybe...etc.
I have written to the proper authorities, and there will be a court case where I will give evidence. I believe I have been factual in my presentation of the facts in this video. From those facts I have drawn conclusions which are my opinion and I believe it is clear in the video which is which. But I thank you for the rigorous debate. It keeps me honest.
but the cop should not have said 'gay-slur', you did not get arrested because you were not rude and argumentative.
i do not think your mate got arrested because he was gay but he got arrested by an indisciplined/impatient cop who did not take too kindly to your mate's stance.
NOT BECAUSE HE WAS GAY.
so it is pointless in you playing the gay-card here
cops had NO idea your mate was gay, so you have no evidence that cops target gays and arrest them
That's outrageous! I know that park and it can get kinda skeevy but the cops completely are in the wrong here. Are you aware of the recent police operation to arrest gay men in video stores. This is scary stuff. And Bloomberg thinks he will get the gay vote? I think not.
Yes, I am aware of that entrapment operation and it is completely illegal. Attractive undercover cops make dates with older guys to meet them at a private location. No discussion is made of money changing hands, so it is a perfectly legal human interaction. Then they are arrested.
This is ridiculous! Not showing your ID in a park after it is closed gets you arrested today. Not only is the arrest wrong but it is compounded by what the brainless cop says to your friend. It's things like this that cause me to lose faith in the people of America. I hope something positive can come out of this situation and you friend is somehow able to put the cop in his place. He does not deserve to have the job, if he is going to treat anyone in this manner.
I linked an article from the Times in the description. From the number of park curfew violations per year, it's clear this is part of a money making scam for the city treasury. The mistreatment and homophobia are added as icing on the cake to intimidate people and try to keep them from bringing this to light.
its quite disturbing if you have so far been unaware of it, i mean, that talk has even been a bit disturbing for me when i watched it, and i dont even live in the united states.
if you like it, you will probarbly also like noam chomskys documentary "manufacturing consent". old, but still valid.
i think obama really tries to change things, otherwise mobilizing his supporters to the point that they turn into activists wouldnt make sense, would be too risky.
I wouldn't just let this go even though your friend was released. You should enlist the help of your other youtube friends and mirror this video until it goes viral.
I'm not letting this go, in fact, if we can draw enough attention to this, I believe it would go a long way for a lot of people's basic rights, and would be much more interesting than JUST going through the corrupt, tedious legal system.
(in response to your response, which Icant find) you have got to be shitting me, they actually have 'disobeying park signs' on the books? what happens to a dog that takes a dump? do they have to use 2 sets of cuffs?
You should have said "You don't need to see his identification". What wonders me is why the arrest -aren't city's normally perfectionist's in looking for ways to fine people to make more money ? Obviously they wanted to really intimidate here. And were talking about New York, one the openest city's in the world.
so the title of this could be misunderstood and can be misleading as at first i thought maybe the vid was about cops premeditatively harrassing gays....but your vid is just about your gay mate being arrested by a harsh cop after an argument
we do have problems with gays in the uk in parks too, at night they use the parks for homosexual activity, it is possible that the cop thought your mate was one of those gays
I never say they premeditated. The title is accurate and the video is honest at I see it.
This park is tiny and in full view and the cops saw my friend and I sitting talking on a bench in full view of everyone. They could not have made that mistake. You cannot mistreat people just because you think they may have done something or about to do something. You must have probable cause.
And in the US you cannot be arrested for arguing. Every citizen has the right to inquire as to charges, express disagreement, etc. You must think police have absolute authority over citizens. They do not.
Also, under the laws of NY State, unless you are charged with a crime, you can refuse to identify yourself. My friend was well within his legal rights.
And furthermore, there were other people in the park who were not harassed and they were mixed gender couples. The harassment and charges were selective and targeted.
its the united states. you dont need to know what they charge you with. they can drag you across the globe all the way to guantanamo and torture you by slamming you against a wall repeatedly, or sleep deprivation, or pepper spray in your anus, or waterboarding, or threatening with dogs, without ever telling you what they want to charge you with.
i hope this changes, but those are the facts at the moment, look at what amnesty international has to say.
im currently interested in the whole topic of torture, and the incident in this video, while not torture, serves a similar purpose, its a means to the same end, working on different levels but in similar ways.
and when it comes to torture, obama made it clear that he wants no punishment for those that did it. but torture needs to be punished whenever it happens, just like rape or murder, or it will unlike those crimes stay accepted in society and will continue to happen.
Will not be going - many places in the US I would not travel to for the same reason. It is institutionalized now - they just go after gay people like mad.
It doesn't. In fact it says "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. "
There are some people who should never be given power, because they will let it go to their heads and abuse it. This is such a case. Jon did get released and didn't have to stay in jail. I don't know if it is because I let them know this wasn't just going away or not, but I like to think I helped :)
We will definitely pursue this until there is some acknowledgement and remediation of what is going on. Only he can pursue legal remedies (I can be a witness). But I can raise a political stink, which I intend to do.
For instance, the only other time I was involved in a situation like this was back in 2005, when my best friend was pulled over for speeding. He was in the wrong, but I did yell at him to slow down.
When the officers called him a "dick" all hell broke lose from the passenger seat. Story short - they didn't even give him a ticket or anything.
While my friend isn't gay, he's dark skinned. That's what concerned me and part of why I blew up at them.
"Yes I saw the plans, they were in a filing cabinet down 3 flights of stairs with no light behind a door saying beware of the leopard"- Arthur Dent- Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
DarthAzabrush 4 months ago
Let's have a riot!!!! Serious!!!
Johnnyboytoy12 1 year ago
@Johnnyboytoy12 Let's have a Brittney Spears sex riot ;)
FantasticBabblings 1 year ago
@FantasticBabblings fine with me! :)
Johnnyboytoy12 1 year ago
POLICE SHOULDNT H MY OPINION FUKARASS THEM BUT INK GAY PEOPLE
Silenz1oStampa 1 year ago
things like that really shouldnt happen i mean seriously
coder928 1 year ago
I'm not sure sir.. but i think you may be gay.
Kidding aside... "sit down and talk'? you two..
Should have read the sign I suppose and being a silly devil that spent you're entire life in nyc you should have known better.
"locks that work'
My advice
Stop blowing your friend in the park and you'll be just fine..
jimmynorton1001 1 year ago
@jimmynorton1001 I can't figure out if you just don't listen closely, are stupid, or just an asshole.
FantasticBabblings 1 year ago
I'm sorry that you and your friend were harrassed. I'm not gay myself, but I don't cotton with this kind of OBVIOUS abuse of power by the officer (at the very minimum), and possible harrassment of gays, or any other group.
Some of my straight white friends (I am mullato) wonder why I do not trust the police at all, but this incident you were forced to endure is just an example of why I don't trust those blue-suited autocrats.
ikvsabre 1 year ago
Check out my playlist on Police Violence. I keep "pulled/unavailable" videos in there on purpose so people can see what is and was there. Next time film them! Sorry that u guys experienced our "justice" system.
MothaFuckthePolice 2 years ago
cops can do what ever they want, they are the ones with the guns not you, and if they want to be rasist against a couple of fags, or latinos or blacks in the process of doing their job they're going to do it with pleasure. P.S. the law states that you must carry i.d. with you at all times when your out in public.
SinCityLegend007 2 years ago
You clearly know nothing about the law.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Well if that's the law, then no one bothered to mention my id/driver's permit has been expired for about 3 years on top of not showing having showed it that night, so I should've gotten in trouble for that. SinCity can suck it in Vegas - we don't take that shit in NY.
Btw, the id was issued 9-11-01. I was at the Coney Island DMV getting my eyes examined while the planes hit, which is part of why I kept it. I wonder if Leahy noticed the issue date. 8-o
jonsalvator 2 years ago
i agreee with you SinCityLegend007 your a fool harassment from cops is not ok and they dont have a right to do what they please unfortunately they do anyway simply because they can get away with it thats not law its ignorence!!!
vocalprince 2 years ago
Comment removed
vocalprince 2 years ago
@SinCityLegend007 Where does it say that people must carry i.d. with you at all times when your out in public???
HRTOACTIVIST 1 year ago
Give out their phone number and I'll kindly call and express discontent.
carehappens 2 years ago
It is reasonable to be asked to leave the park, if it is, indeed, closed. There is no law, however, that anyone must carry identification. This harassment is evidence of the power-hungry mentality that infects those in whom we place our trust to keep the peace. My sympathies for your mistreatment.
laraesque 2 years ago
wow that was terrible man. it's so sad really. "police officers", people who we count on to protect us, can't treat people with dignity and respect..or like human beings at least.
b1eed4me 2 years ago
I have seen the NYPD harassing gays in front of The Monster once an arrest for loosing his wallet and not able to pay a cab they were yelling in his face even after they drove him to tears (for a $12 fee) **I Paid it for this stranger and they let him go ****another guy stopped walking into the monster surrounded and had his bags searched patted down asked him what drugs he had said he looked suspicious now this clip right across the st. with NYPD harassment calling guy queen is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!
RyanReporting 2 years ago
gee, my dear friend. that's "beyond the law" i dont know wat to say... uhm let me think... perhaps ask them if their father is gay???!! wat da hell, i dnt knw! LOL!
sergeantHOTTIE 2 years ago
Thank you for sharing this. I will definitely avoid festivities in New York this summer. For any East Coast LGBT's looking for a friendly big city that in my opinion has really embraced us, I would recommend Philadelphia.
wbarreguy 2 years ago
Philadelphia is a lovely city. I was there last summer for a few days and felt quite welcome and safe.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Trenton, N.J./Philadelphia is my home away from home. Some of my best friends live there. Ever been to The Cartwheel or I forget what that other place is called? Used to be called The Raven.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
If you mean the place in New Hope, PA, then the answer is, yes. I have. :-)
wbarreguy 2 years ago
We might know the same people. Everyone knows everyone there.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
It's possible. I only visited two or three times though.
wbarreguy 2 years ago
I'll be there next weekend actually. :)
jonsalvator 2 years ago
When they ask for my ID, I kindy reply, "No, but I will be happy to identify myself if you'd like." This is because my identification information is not pertinent to me as a pedestrian on public grounds. If I were driving, then my drivers license would obviously be necessary to prove I am able to legally drive, but not in this case.
brokendave 2 years ago
You are correct. I think that is why they didn't hold him. They knew they were on shaky legal ground. We'll see what happens next.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
ugh, anti-gay makes me sick. i'm sorry that happened to you. this is the kinda injustice i'm studying in history. this is the kind of injustice my whole class scowled at in a movie.
specter093 2 years ago
While this is a minor injustice compared to some, this is where it starts. Police get away with small injustices and move on to more harmful ones. It has to stop somewhere.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
I agree with you. <3
trees75094 2 years ago
We had to ID ourselves if asked by a police officer here. They could/would arrest you, if you refused. Since your friend refused to give the cop his ID, he was arrested. That said, my guess is he was arrested because the cop thought he was gay & he "flunked the personality test". The cop used poor judgement, but so did your friend. He should have shown his ID, like you did. Using slurs on anyone is wrong, all time, every time. I'm sorry this happened to y'all. <3
trees75094 2 years ago
Sorry trees, but the summons I so pleasantly received AFTER I was arrested and let out of the cell only stated that I "Disobeyed Park Sign," not that I refused to show my ID.
That said, my judgment was only intuition and turned out I was spot on with it as I was called a "Queen" after my arrest and just check out all the wonderful footage of the park being open.
You were saying?
jonsalvator 2 years ago
Refusal to show ID is not a crime in New York State. He had every right to refuse. The police are not a law unto themselves.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
I don't mean to hurt you further. That was not my intent. My deepest apologies, if I hurt you in any way.
trees75094 2 years ago
Phil that is so so so so wrong!!! I am so pissed about this! Hope you & your friend do something about this.
Poeboi 2 years ago
I hope to do something about this, too, & would do anything in fact, but I'm discouraged at this point. The legal advice I got from the LGBT Center was pretty much about lawyers wanting money, which I do not have.
Did the Stonewall riots need a lawyer to happen? I honestly don't know what to do. Phil and I documented the park Sunday night in case anyone had doubts, and I documented it again this past Tuesday so...
There seems to be lack of community action & obsession with gadgets these days.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
We will. Thanks for your support.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Hetero men should take note - while this mightn't be JUST a gay issue y'all are certainly welcome to stand up to guys with guns and post about it. Go ahead, we're listening.
NEOjsg 2 years ago
The silence is deafening.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Way to go fellas!
TheLoveNazi 2 years ago 2
Lol, I was joking about you calling them something.
If I recall correctly the founders pledged their lives, fortune and their sacred honour for liberty. Perhaps next time you can pledge a night in the pokey. What say?
tanerofies 2 years ago
My own shortcomings make me admire the founders that much more :)
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
taner, founders of what? America? You mean the people that were supported by Europe to come and invade the long time natives here, then got greedy and took the land for themselves in what we know to be The Revolutionary War? You ever see the British flag with the red and white stripes? Says it all.
The evils of Europe have yet to die. Just sharing.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
Lol. Ok, try picturing the world without the US. Do you have any idea of what a world without a champion for individual rights would be like? It don't be lookin' pretty to this fan of Western civilization. I can tell you that much. Slim chance you'd have an opportunity to even voice your opinion on something like the good ole intertubes.
At the national level it's dog-eat-dog, and even though the US isn't perfect, perhaps not even good, it beats anything else I can think of by miles.
tanerofies 2 years ago
As a famous philosopher once sang "You don't need diamond rings or eighteen karat gold. Fancy cars that go very fast, you know, they never last, no, no."
Without the "U.S." there would just be us. And if the world saw how great THAT was, if even for a day they'd get rid of their governments in an instant.
And how great to wake up in the morning (or whenever) and have a whole day dedicated to your favorite, environmentally friendly hobby with no more a thought to your garden and family. I cum.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
Yes, well, fine sentiments, to be sure,
jonsalvator, however the problem you're going to run into is reality. And the reality is that conflict among people/peoples is ubiquitous and resolving that in an constructive way is done about as well it can be in, and through, a capitalistic/democratic system such as the US. And you can thank the European transmitters of Western civilization for that.
tanerofies 2 years ago
...or you can not.. picture it.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
well I think what you're saying is a half truth tanerofies.
The US is definitely not perfect. We are NOT the most free, Holland is. And capitalism has not made us more advanced, because Denmark is the most advanced and they are basically socialist.
We are not the bastion of what world societies should be by far. Slowly, or maybe even quickly, we are falling behind and being over run by fascist corporate capitalism.
That is reality.
XenMonkey13 2 years ago
If you ask me the proudest distinction of Americans, I would choose-because it contains all the others-the fact that they were the people who created the phrase 'to make money.' No other language or nation had ever used these words before; men had always thought of wealth as a static quantity--to be seized, begged, inherited, shared, looted or obtained as a favor. Americans were the first to understand that wealth has to be created. The words 'to make money' hold the essence of human morality.
ChristianInHollywood 2 years ago
Yet these were the words for which Americans were denounced by the rotted cultures of the looters' continents. Now the looters' credo has brought you to regard your proudest achievements as a hallmark of shame, your prosperity as guilt, your greatest men, the industrialists, as blackguards, and your magnificent factories as the product and property of muscular labor, the labor of whip-driven slaves, like the pyramids of Egypt.
ChristianInHollywood 2 years ago
The rotter who simpers that he sees no difference between the power of the dollar and the power of the whip, ought to learn the difference on his own hide-- as, I think, he will.
Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to be the tool by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of men. Blood, whips and guns--or dollars. Take your choice--there is no other--and your time is running out.
ChristianInHollywood 2 years ago
1) Some men like being the "tools" of other men if you know what I mean. Now you know why God put homosexuality there - to keep balance - if even not fully homo, but bi, and I'm telling you, it's prevalent in every culture from here to China whether it is accepted by culture or not is another story... (continued)
jonsalvator 2 years ago
2) Homosexuality aside, when we put the value of the dollar, or anything material above another person or persons, that's when there's chaos.
We think that we must first achieve greatness in wealth in order to be worthy of love, but that is absolutely not the truth.
From my perspective, it's clear that both the prevalence of homophobia and flat out greed, war and needless starvation are not by any means coincidences in this world.
When love suffers, life suffers. This is God correcting.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
3) God aside, JUST politically speaking, I can come to the same conclusion.
If homophobia weren't part of this situation, I'd have never been approached, but because Phil has a heart is why this video is here, and a heart is why I have to appear in court on the 24th - I didn't have to share this with anyone.
Anyone can deny up and down that THIS issue is not about homophobia, but there will be no chance of denying this truth any more than the cop had a chance of getting me to show id. (End)
jonsalvator 2 years ago
Money allows for more sophisticated "tooling." It allows the master to keep the whips in the barn. But there is no real choice here. The slaves will always seek to avoid the whip. That's human nature.
AllSucksIt 2 years ago
The English didn't say that first? I don't know. Anyway, it is amusing to hear a Christian say that the phrase, "make money," holds the "essence of human morality," when the Jesus dude is quoted as saying, "if you have money, give it to someone who will not give it back to you." Well, that's from the Thomas book, but it's still a good representation of the official story.
AllSucksIt 2 years ago
Well, you sound like a nice guy, but you'd have probably been better off if you hadn't called them pig-ignorant dumbfucks! Did you check on what the law is re having to show your ID in the city?
tanerofies 2 years ago
I didn't call them any such things, nor did my friend. And yes I have checked the NY State laws. Police can ask for ID but you do not have to present it unless you are charged.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Fucking pigs.
darthdidious 2 years ago
O.m.g. ! These Policeman should be suspended. You know I'm not gay, but this goes muth too far!
brilsmurf 2 years ago
They won't be, unfortunately. Its our word against theirs and they protect each other.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
This IS outrageous!
Elaina43 2 years ago 5
It was surreal, as well. I couldn't believe such nonsense was actually happening.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
I hope that you and your friend pursue this to the fullest extent. As far as I'm aware, they had to have had good reason to have asked for ID the way that you say they did.
In any case, I look forward to an update & the police officer eating some humble pie.
Peace Phil.
logicaust 2 years ago 4
Hey logicaust,
We shot some footage Sunday night. The video is attached to this one on my channel.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
I doubt that the officer will eat anything. My guess is they will drop the charges to avoid any public record of the actual events or any risk of actual testimony under oath.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
I'm speechless because of the awful shameful experience you had and perfect video response you did!
There's still a long way in our fight!
f3xpgm 2 years ago 2
We need to revive the spirit of Stonewall.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Fuckin NYPD are a bunch of fuckin NAZI stormtroopers !
zipperdedoodah 2 years ago 2
This one certainly fit that image.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Yo man ya gotta punch dat pig cop in dat snout b4 u getz da flu..........
bossofthenight 2 years ago
My side of the story can be read if you go to:
JohnAsInJohn (dot) com.
While this isn't a legal forum, the story is to the best of my recollection.
Thanks again Phil for being a great friend and to everyone for their support/comments/suggestions.
DlVlNATl0Nx 2 years ago
That's disgraceful. Those attitudes should have been pensioned off many years ago. So sorry this happened to your friend and for nothing. Mind you, the cops are the same the world over. They arrested me many years ago for attempted car theft as I was taking a short cut through a car park. I don't and never have driven a car, so it was a complete fabrication. And these are the guys trusted to uphold the law?
TamHickey67 2 years ago
They believe they are the law.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
I'm so sorry that happened. There's a video about this preacher who did not want to give his ID to the police. They smashed his face up, and, I think, arrested him. I'll tell you what, I am afraid of the police now, totally afraid. None of us are safe anymore.
Belle19700 2 years ago
We are supposedly free of unreasonable searches and self-incrimination, but apparently not so.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Unbelievable.
chicago85bearz 2 years ago
That's so shameful. Bigotry is alive and well in the N.Y.P.D.
You're a well spoken and very common sense kind of person from what I've gathered listening to your videos Phil, so I look forward to hearing the outcome of what should be a very straight forward legal arguement.
Good luck.
TandEeesDad 2 years ago
The court date is in June. I will certainly follow up when the matter proceeds.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Ignorance will be overcomed.
It always has.
Ánimo.
mrfoxtalbot 2 years ago
just write a letter of complaint to the cop station but do not fabricate anything or interpolate new things and speculate
stick to the facts here...not your feelings, if you are going to use your feelings then qualify it by beginning with 'i think' ot 'i feel' 'maybe...etc.
otherwise you could be misleading
mannypatel1 2 years ago
I have written to the proper authorities, and there will be a court case where I will give evidence. I believe I have been factual in my presentation of the facts in this video. From those facts I have drawn conclusions which are my opinion and I believe it is clear in the video which is which. But I thank you for the rigorous debate. It keeps me honest.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
and i thank you for your mild-mannered method of debate that you put forward
many people over the internet resort to disrespectful means of discussion when challenged with an opposing view
you, clearly are not one of these
thank you sir
mannypatel1 2 years ago 2
but the cop should not have said 'gay-slur', you did not get arrested because you were not rude and argumentative.
i do not think your mate got arrested because he was gay but he got arrested by an indisciplined/impatient cop who did not take too kindly to your mate's stance.
NOT BECAUSE HE WAS GAY.
so it is pointless in you playing the gay-card here
cops had NO idea your mate was gay, so you have no evidence that cops target gays and arrest them
mannypatel1 2 years ago
How can you say the cop had no idea he was gay? Why else would he call him a queen?
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
That's outrageous! I know that park and it can get kinda skeevy but the cops completely are in the wrong here. Are you aware of the recent police operation to arrest gay men in video stores. This is scary stuff. And Bloomberg thinks he will get the gay vote? I think not.
gllafc 2 years ago
Yes, I am aware of that entrapment operation and it is completely illegal. Attractive undercover cops make dates with older guys to meet them at a private location. No discussion is made of money changing hands, so it is a perfectly legal human interaction. Then they are arrested.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
so to me it seems you should change the title of the video because it can be misleading
mannypatel1 2 years ago
Thank you for sharing this. People need to know this is still happening.
rantingsteve 2 years ago
Thanks. Help us get the word out. The more this is brought out into the open, the more likely it will stop.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
This is ridiculous! Not showing your ID in a park after it is closed gets you arrested today. Not only is the arrest wrong but it is compounded by what the brainless cop says to your friend. It's things like this that cause me to lose faith in the people of America. I hope something positive can come out of this situation and you friend is somehow able to put the cop in his place. He does not deserve to have the job, if he is going to treat anyone in this manner.
BlakRonin 2 years ago
I linked an article from the Times in the description. From the number of park curfew violations per year, it's clear this is part of a money making scam for the city treasury. The mistreatment and homophobia are added as icing on the cake to intimidate people and try to keep them from bringing this to light.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
this whole situation reminds me of a talk by naomi wolf, its on youtube and can be found here:
watch?v=RjALf12PAWc
Talk by Naomi Wolf - The End of America
the larger picture into which this event in the park fits doesnt look good.
kurtilein3 2 years ago
I will watch the whole thing when I can, but I did look at the beginning and my appetite is whetted.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
its quite disturbing if you have so far been unaware of it, i mean, that talk has even been a bit disturbing for me when i watched it, and i dont even live in the united states.
if you like it, you will probarbly also like noam chomskys documentary "manufacturing consent". old, but still valid.
i think obama really tries to change things, otherwise mobilizing his supporters to the point that they turn into activists wouldnt make sense, would be too risky.
kurtilein3 2 years ago
I don't understand. What was the charge for your friend's arrest?
Castaa 2 years ago
"Disobeying park sign." And we never actually saw the park sign. It is only at one of the three entrances, and we didn't use that entrance.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
i find police are usually very irrational and irritable anyway (white male here). i'd hate to be targeted by a bigoted cop.
tomfrankly 2 years ago
I was so intimidated by the head cop that I thought he might resort to violence. I'm sure that's how he wanted me to feel.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
this disgusts me. We really dont have any rights if the cops can do this shit and get away with it.
One of the many reasons why i don't say the pledge of allegience anymore or the national anthem
I'm attempting to leave this country for greener pastures after college.
Theres plenty of other 1st world countries out there that deserves my tax money and treats its people fairly.
JetpackNinjaDinosaur 2 years ago
I understand. Freedom seems to be shrinking in this country - if it ever really existed.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Yah we had it back in the day. THe thing is we have alot more freedoms than in other countries but theres one thing that urks me.
we're the only country that seems to be flaunting the idea that we are so big on freedom when in fact we're not. Its the hypocracy that drives me mad.
I've realized slowly that there are plenty other countries that treat its people much better and have just as much freedoms if not more.
They are worth my tax dollars and effort not this one.
JetpackNinjaDinosaur 2 years ago
I wouldn't just let this go even though your friend was released. You should enlist the help of your other youtube friends and mirror this video until it goes viral.
RDJim 2 years ago
I'm not letting this go, in fact, if we can draw enough attention to this, I believe it would go a long way for a lot of people's basic rights, and would be much more interesting than JUST going through the corrupt, tedious legal system.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
(in response to your response, which Icant find) you have got to be shitting me, they actually have 'disobeying park signs' on the books? what happens to a dog that takes a dump? do they have to use 2 sets of cuffs?
hoomelemele 2 years ago
Haha! I find that charge odd, too. I think they had to make something up to try to justify the arrest.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
You should have said "You don't need to see his identification". What wonders me is why the arrest -aren't city's normally perfectionist's in looking for ways to fine people to make more money ? Obviously they wanted to really intimidate here. And were talking about New York, one the openest city's in the world.
drschnaggels 2 years ago
I don't think it qualifies as one of the openest cities anymore.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
This is another example of why I'm an anarchist.
787Bisurdaddy 2 years ago
The mind boggles.
ChickGin 2 years ago
Its fucked up that these things happen.
Xone7 2 years ago
Fucked up things happen, but sometimes you have to fight back so they happen less often.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
damn shame this had to happen to you, I hope your friend is OK
palmtreez101 2 years ago
I think he's ok now. A little traumatized, but fired up.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
It's hilarious to think that the police present themselves as "public servants" and worth remembering that it's the public who pay their wages.
Thanks for posting this video!
I've favourited it!
plato12000 2 years ago
Obviously some of them think we serve them.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Ridiculous ridiculous ridiculous
ChristianInHollywood 2 years ago
In a word :)
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
This angers me....
sunsetlover 2 years ago
Anger can be very useful.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
i dont think the police did it because they were gay ppl
mannypatel1 2 years ago
I'm not certain of that, but it is an area with a large gay population and the officer did use an anti-gay slur.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
so the title of this could be misunderstood and can be misleading as at first i thought maybe the vid was about cops premeditatively harrassing gays....but your vid is just about your gay mate being arrested by a harsh cop after an argument
we do have problems with gays in the uk in parks too, at night they use the parks for homosexual activity, it is possible that the cop thought your mate was one of those gays
mannypatel1 2 years ago
I never say they premeditated. The title is accurate and the video is honest at I see it.
This park is tiny and in full view and the cops saw my friend and I sitting talking on a bench in full view of everyone. They could not have made that mistake. You cannot mistreat people just because you think they may have done something or about to do something. You must have probable cause.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
so if your mate was compliant with the cop's rquest he would not have got arrested.
your mate is to blame.
mannypatel1 2 years ago
Under NY State law my friend has the RIGHT to not comply. The arrest was illegal.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
And in the US you cannot be arrested for arguing. Every citizen has the right to inquire as to charges, express disagreement, etc. You must think police have absolute authority over citizens. They do not.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Also, under the laws of NY State, unless you are charged with a crime, you can refuse to identify yourself. My friend was well within his legal rights.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
And furthermore, there were other people in the park who were not harassed and they were mixed gender couples. The harassment and charges were selective and targeted.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
maybe the mixed-couples were compliant to the orders of the cops, your mate was not...therefore he was arrested by an unprofessional cop
you have NO evidence it was because your mate was gay.
so you are jumping to conclusions and making a bigger issue out of it and being melodramatic
just write a letter of complaint to the cop station but do not fabricate anything or interpolate new things and speculate
stick to the facts here...
mannypatel1 2 years ago
That is horrible. What an abuse of power.
takingtheblade 2 years ago
I guess they think the law us for us to obey, not them.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
that is reall frustrateing that there are dick head cops out there screwing with folks.
joealanouf 2 years ago
Power corrupts... even petty tyrants.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
he told me the story just an hour ago
coder928 2 years ago
My nephew (coder928) gets very upset over injustice. I wonder who he takes after...
jonsalvator 2 years ago
Yeah, I wonder.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
I didn't hear Leahy much at the scene. Unfortunately I didn't get the badge # of the power drunk macho man who was barking orders.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
I can't believe this in this day and age. What do they think they are the nazi patrol? I am sorry you guy had to go through this.
wildheart5 2 years ago
I suggested to one of the officers that this was like Germany before the war and he said "stop exaggerating". Thanks for your support.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Obviously he doesn't know his history! It is exactly like Germany before the war. Exaggerating my ass!!!
wildheart5 2 years ago
I hope this leahy guy goes to jail. Thanks for sharing this.
DrOman5596 2 years ago
I hope somebody is held to account. I'm not sure who is ultimately responsible for this, but before all is said and done, I hope to find out.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
You didn't mention the charges, what was he charged with?
hoomelemele 2 years ago
hoomelemele:
its the united states. you dont need to know what they charge you with. they can drag you across the globe all the way to guantanamo and torture you by slamming you against a wall repeatedly, or sleep deprivation, or pepper spray in your anus, or waterboarding, or threatening with dogs, without ever telling you what they want to charge you with.
i hope this changes, but those are the facts at the moment, look at what amnesty international has to say.
kurtilein3 2 years ago
If Obama really means what he says, he will work to reverse the erosion on our liberties. But he has power now. Power has a way of changing people.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
im currently interested in the whole topic of torture, and the incident in this video, while not torture, serves a similar purpose, its a means to the same end, working on different levels but in similar ways.
and when it comes to torture, obama made it clear that he wants no punishment for those that did it. but torture needs to be punished whenever it happens, just like rape or murder, or it will unlike those crimes stay accepted in society and will continue to happen.
kurtilein3 2 years ago
I agree, kurtilein3. The torture is the near two months Phil and I will have to deal with this utter bullshit.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
The violation on the summons reads:
"Disobey Park Sign (park closes at dusk)"
It's like being arrested for a parking meter expiration.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
THATS MY UNCLE HES TALKING ABOUT!
coder928 2 years ago
Which one? Jon or Leahy?
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
my uncle, john.
coder928 2 years ago
Oh, good. He has a lot of fight in him. Does that run in the family?
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
yes it does he stands up for himself and thats good
coder928 2 years ago
That's my awesome nephew, I can confirm. He loves this stuff.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
OH STOP! In this day and age -yes I believe it but it's STILL unbelievable and in Greenwich Village no less. Sickening.
Beachmama57 2 years ago
I know. And the 6th Precinct was involved in the Stonewall riots. Maybe somebody is carrying a grudge and wants a little 40th anniversary payback.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Will not be going - many places in the US I would not travel to for the same reason. It is institutionalized now - they just go after gay people like mad.
thenarf66 2 years ago
How can they celebrate Stonewall and violate the spirit of Stonewall - or keep the people out of the park where the Stonewall riots occurred?
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
So very true this is horrific to me. In my wildest thoughts I can not justify this.
thenarf66 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing this Phil...
CCF01 2 years ago
Thanks so much for watching.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Barney Miller would have never tolerated that from his officers.
Barklord 2 years ago
Abe Vigoda lives in my neighborhood. I wonder if he will help us.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
I don't see where the Constitution says you need a name.
Spalg 2 years ago
It doesn't. In fact it says "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. "
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
My husband spent an hour in a patrol car in zip ties for asking if the cop had jurisdiction in a parking lot.
Certainly not the same as being booked for a whole night but too much power in their hands... terrible experience, for you guys, sorry.
Sabrnig 2 years ago
There are some people who should never be given power, because they will let it go to their heads and abuse it. This is such a case. Jon did get released and didn't have to stay in jail. I don't know if it is because I let them know this wasn't just going away or not, but I like to think I helped :)
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
You are a wonderful friend to have!
Sabrnig 2 years ago
Any "authority" that can't tolerate being questioned isn't qualified to BE an authority.
PERIOD.
It DOES sound like a scam, I have to say.
I hope your friend makes a legal issue out of this.
OhCurt 2 years ago
what curt said: i agree.
thebigfatlamp 2 years ago
We will definitely pursue this until there is some acknowledgement and remediation of what is going on. Only he can pursue legal remedies (I can be a witness). But I can raise a political stink, which I intend to do.
FantasticBabblings 2 years ago
Still Harrassing Gays at Stonewall?
I wonder if they still call a black person a nigger? Or a Puerto Rican a spic? FOR TALKING?
Felonious chatter?
That is soo last century!
I am writing a letter to Bloomberg and the Chief of Police.
ron956 2 years ago
Ron: Thank you.
For instance, the only other time I was involved in a situation like this was back in 2005, when my best friend was pulled over for speeding. He was in the wrong, but I did yell at him to slow down.
When the officers called him a "dick" all hell broke lose from the passenger seat. Story short - they didn't even give him a ticket or anything.
While my friend isn't gay, he's dark skinned. That's what concerned me and part of why I blew up at them.
jonsalvator 2 years ago
Also, Ron, they said this to me: "I'll break your arm, get out of the car."
Oh I got out alright, and gladly extended it to him as he came around the other side, while my friend was shitting a brick, talking to the officer.
He loosely fumbled with my arm then let go. Stared him dead in the face the whole time.
We have to stand up for our rights people, and each other.
jonsalvator 2 years ago