Protesters tell Bloomberg: "No Third Term For False Arrests"

DEMONSTRATION held at noon on Saturday, February 14, 2009 in Upper East Side of New York City.

Tell Mayor Bloomberg to Stop the False Arrests of Gay Men for Prostitution.

Read The New York Times article about this protest rally: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/nyregion/15arrests.html

Read the Gay City News article: http://gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20262507&BRD=2729&PAG=461...

Read the WCBS story about the protest rally: http://wcbstv.com/topstories/protest.gay.prostitute.2.935377.html

Read a blog post about the rally: http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2009/02/nyc-protest-to-mayor-gay-sex-stings.html

Read the article from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=3254&MediaType=1&Category=26

Read the 1010 WINS story: http://www.1010wins.com/Protesters--NYPD-Targets-Gays-as-Prostitutes/3851515

Read the WNYC report: http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/124010

Video features statements made by Robert Pinter during an interview at the protest rally.

In an overzealous and illegal effort to close down adult video stores in Manhattan, the New York Police Department has been found to be engaging in the false arrests of gay male patrons of these stores, charging them with prostitution. The cops then cite the establishments for condoning illegal activity and the City sues to shut them down as public nuisances.

Scores of innocent men have been swept up in these false arrests, documented in the Gay City News. Young undercover cops go up to middle-aged gay men, cruise them, ask for consensual sex, and then offer to pay the older men to have sex with them. Though none of the men agree to the offer, they are then arrested by a gang of undercover cops and put through the system. None of the men have prior arrests. And while only 17% of male prostitutes arrested in NYPD's Manhattan South district are over 40 years old, 66% of the men arrested at the Blue Door video store are. The legitimacy of these arrests is inconceivable. It also casts doubt on arrests at other targeted stores.

These false arrests have been condemned by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Rosie Mendez and State Senator Tom Duane. Mayor Bloomberg must put a stop to these arrests now and bring the rogue cops engaging in these crimes to justice.

WE DEMAND:

1. MAYOR BLOOMBERG Stop the false arrests of gay men for prostitution!

2. GOVERNOR PATERSON Appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and punish these crimes by the police!

3. MAYOR BLOOMBERG, D.A. MORGENTHAU and POLICE COMMISSIONER KELLY Sit down with gay groups, leaders and victims of these illegal stings, to get to the bottom of this outrage, and stop the arrests and prosecutions NOW!

STOP THE OUT-OF-CONTROL VICE SQUAD NOW!

Sponsored by the Coalition to Stop the Arrests!

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Michael Bloomberg
• No Third Term
• NYC
• Gay Rights
• Robert Pinter
• Harvey Milk
• Entrapment
• Discrimination
• Coalition
• to
• Stop
• the
• Arrests!
• Stonewall Rebellion

[hoochee003]

The New York Times article in the description says that only three gay men were arrested and 97 women. This is hardly a rash.

[astoria25]

And you believe everything that the NYT reports ? I would think you and Bloomberg only swear by Fox News Channel ?

[hoochee002]

Porn video shops, free legal aid, homeless shelters, women's shelters--they all have a negative impact on real-estate appraisals in Manhattan. I would suggest closing porn video shops and moving shelters to Mississippi where they are cheaper to manage. Or let the residence pick oranges in California.

[astoria25]

Wow. I'm beginning to think that you and Mayor Bloomberg want to drive all of the middle and working classes out of New York City. I already read that New York state lost millions of residents due to the high cost of living and the high taxes on the middle class. Now, you want to shut down all essential services that is the underpinning of a safe and healthy society. Let's be truthful : who is it that you only want to be able to afford to live in Manhattan under a 3rd Bloomb3rg t3rm ?

[hoochee002]

Stop this term nonsense! Elect Bloomberg for life!

[astoria25]

Mayor Bloomberg is the reason that same-sex marriage cannot legally be performed in New York. After NY Supreme Court Judge Doris Ling-Cohan issued a judicial ruling that the right to marry the person of one's choosing was both a privacy right and a liberty right, her decision was appealed by order of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

[hoochee003]

Don't you think you're reading just a bit too much into what I wrote? Cutting city expenses will cut taxes at all income levels. The problem with Bloomberg is that he spends too much in a vain attempt to be loved. He should stick to his guns, like Margaret Thatcher.

[hoochee003]

It is great how Mike Bloomberg supports entrepreneurship, developing incubators for New York City!

[hoochee002]

I just love to watch Thompson choke on Bloomberg: watch?v=_xk5UIdDu3g

Thompson is bought and paid for by Mike Bloomberg. If Bloomberg lost, it would matter not. He can rule by proxy through the moronic suck up Thompson.

[AlexTheWarrior0588]

Bill thomson made Bloomberg look like a jack ass at the debate. He hates poor ppl so badly. Saying they don't want to work. So many people work for $8 an hour here in the city and he flat out said those ppl ruin the city! They chose to make that income. Everyone knows that's not true. Bloomberg is evil and he knows that. People, vote for Bill this coming election. Defeat Bloomberg. We can do this

[dionreedsamurai]

he is a closet fag!

[orange9016]

This is a good example of Bloomberg using gestapo tactics to target people who he knows will not receive public support. It is a devious, underhanded tactic to affect change that would be otherwise impermissible under the law. This is one example, Bloomberg has done this on a number of issues. It has become common practice for the police to make false arrests, and lie under oath, in support of Bloomberg's vision. New York City has become a fascist enclave where Constitutional rights are ignored.