Teens Arrested For Waiting For School Bus While Black

[Ifreann]

"One of the police officers actually told me, if he had a big enough caravan, he would take all of us downtown," Scott said.

Which is funny, because there's a radio in their car and they entirely could have called for a few vans to take them all in.

[Aurora Novus]

I'm not so convinced that this is racism, simply because there seems to have be a rise in the awareness of police misuse of power in general. I'm pretty sure the cops arrested these kids because they were on a power trip, not because they were black. Though it would not at all surprise me if it were the latter.

I really, really detest local and state police.

But there has to be a reason most of the victims are black.

I've seen plenty of whites being the victim of cops abusing their powers. I'm not inclined to believe more blacksa than whites are wrongly arrested at this point in time as a result.

[Aurora Novus]

But there has to be a reason most of the victims are black.

I'm betting it's more of a passive racism.
If you're going to go on a power trip and target a white kid, there is a chance his parents might be the mayor.
Or lawyers.
Or something that'll get you into trouble.

Blacks?
Far more likely to get away with it.

This is also a large possibility.

[Pope Joan]

Your tax dollars at work.

I feel so much safer now.

NOT.

Here's a great idea for getting welfare hogs out of the public trough: Trim law enforcement budgets.

[Ralkovia]

Yes, we had the controversy over people arrested for Shopping While Black, and even Working While Black. Now we have Waiting For The School Bus While Black. To wit:

Three Edison students who were charged with disorderly conduct pleaded not guilty in court.

The boys were with about a dozen basketball teammates Wednesday morning on Main Street waiting for a school bus to take them to a scrimmage at Aquinas. There was no school that day and their coach had arranged for a pick-up at a central meeting spot.

An officer asked the boys to disperse and they refused. The young men say they tried to explain to him they were waiting for a school bus. The officer arrested three of the players.

"We didn't do nothing," said Raliek Redd. "We was just trying to go to our scrimmage."

"We was just waiting for our bus and he started arrested us," said Wan'Tauhjs Weathers.

"You just downtown, minding your own business, and next thing you know, anything can happen," said Daequon Carelock.

The police report says the students were obstructing "pedestrian traffic while standing on a public sidewalk...preventing free passage of citizens walking by and attempting to enter and exit a store...Your complainant gave several lawful clear and concise orders for the group to disperse and leave the area without complaince."

The report does not accuse the boys of using abusive or obscense language.

A department statement issued Wednesday evening affirms the account in the paperwork.

The boys' families had to post $200 bail to make sure they were home for Thanksgiving.

Their coach, Jacob Scott, who is also a district guidance counselor, arrived at the location as the three students were placed in handcuffs. Scott said he pleaded with the officer to let the boys go, saying he was supervising them.

"He goes on to say, 'If you don't disperse, you're going to get booked as well,'" Scott said. "I said, 'Sir, I'm the adult. I'm their varsity basketball coach. How can you book me? What am I doing wrong? Matter of fact, what are these guys doing wrong?'"

Scott said a sergeant showed up and backed up his officer.

"One of the police officers actually told me, if he had a big enough caravan, he would take all of us downtown," Scott said.

Scott said the incident was traumatic for the players who got arrested and the players who witnessed the arrests and such treatment of their coach.

"It's a catastrophe. These young men were doing nothing wrong, nothing wrong. They did exactly what they were supposed to do and still they get arrested," said Scott. "I'm speaking to the officers with dignity...and still and yet - they see me get treated like nothing."

Rochester school board member Mary Adams showed up to the arraignment.

"I think the charges should be immediately dropped and I think the district attorney's office should be stepping in an looking at these kinds of matters," Adams said.

A trial date has been set for December 11.

TL;DR: A bunch of kids were waiting for a school bus to take them to a scrimmage. Cops showed up, told them to disperse. When the kids tried to explain that they were waiting for a bus, they were told to disperse again. When they tried to explain again, three of them got arrested. When the coach showed up and tried to explain matters to the arresting officers and sergeant in charge, he was threatened with arrest. The arrested teens had to pay $200 in bail apiece, and have a trial date set for December 5th.

I'm aware that black people, particularly young men, have generally been a prominent target for police harassment. Are the police being more blatant about it lately, or is this sort of thing simply being reported more often?

I didn't see a racial component here. Quick let me put on my "Everything related to black people getting arrested for stupid things like white people do must be racist" glasses.

Now I see your point. Yeah that cop obviously was part of the KKK. Also plot twist, the police department is the KKK. Also another plot twist, America is the KKK.

[The Emerald Dawn]

Yes, we had the controversy over people arrested for Shopping While Black, and even Working While Black. Now we have Waiting For The School Bus While Black. To wit:



TL;DR: A bunch of kids were waiting for a school bus to take them to a scrimmage. Cops showed up, told them to disperse. When the kids tried to explain that they were waiting for a bus, they were told to disperse again. When they tried to explain again, three of them got arrested. When the coach showed up and tried to explain matters to the arresting officers and sergeant in charge, he was threatened with arrest. The arrested teens had to pay $200 in bail apiece, and have a trial date set for December 5th.

I'm aware that black people, particularly young men, have generally been a prominent target for police harassment. Are the police being more blatant about it lately, or is this sort of thing simply being reported more often?

I didn't see a racial component here. Quick let me put on my "Everything related to black people getting arrested for stupid things like white people do must be racist" glasses.

Now I see your point. Yeah that cop obviously was part of the KKK. Also plot twist, the police department is the KKK. Also another plot twist, America is the KKK.

You don't see a racial component to a situation where 12 black kids were standing at a bus stop (a place specifically designed for waiting), in an area large enough to house ten times their number, where suddenly "zomg obstruction of pedestrian flow" rule was applied?

I look forward to white kids being arrested for the same crime at the same area.

Which should happen pretty much any time that bus stops.

[ScrewAllTheThings]

But there has to be a reason most of the victims are black.

I'm betting it's more of a passive racism.
If you're going to go on a power trip and target a white kid, there is a chance his parents might be the mayor.
Or lawyers.
Or something that'll get you into trouble.

Blacks?
Far more likely to get away with it.

I have to agree with this....but at the same time not anymore. ...not much

[Farnhamia]

I'm betting it's more of a passive racism.
If you're going to go on a power trip and target a white kid, there is a chance his parents might be the mayor.
Or lawyers.
Or something that'll get you into trouble.

Blacks?
Far more likely to get away with it.

I have to agree with this....but at the same time not anymore. ...not much

You don't have to agree. Really. You can disagree if you like.

[Natair]

Perhaps but what crime where these young men committing? They were waiting for a bus to go somewhere.

They were blocking a store and a sidewalk and ignored a police order.

So blocking a freaking door is now a crime?

Throw my ass in jail.

[ScrewAllTheThings]

I have to agree with this....but at the same time not anymore. ...not much

You don't have to agree. Really. You can disagree if you like.

I agreed to an extent....more black people are carrying nice jobs now...not just whites. Just the majority of blacks are looked upon like they can't do anything so most just kinda don't.

I probably just botched that explanation.

[Natair]

You don't have to agree. Really. You can disagree if you like.

I agreed to an extent....more black people are carrying nice jobs now...not just whites. Just the majority of blacks are looked upon like they can't do anything so most just kinda don't.

I probably just botched that explanation.

No you didn't. I mean, people don't like him as much anymore but look at Obama!

[Imperializt Russia]

Perhaps but what crime where these young men committing? They were waiting for a bus to go somewhere.

They were blocking a store and a sidewalk and ignored a police order.

Police orders can be issued maliciously and completely pointless.
As this seems to be.

The power to arrest for standing in front of a store is a power that we've had in the UK for a long time, rightfully controversially.

[Luveria]

And some people still ask themselves why employers respond negatively to "black" names.

I have no idea how to pronounce Wan'Tauhjs, but I am more troubled by the poor grammar of "You just downtown".

Blame the American education system for that.

[Ifreann]

They were blocking a store and a sidewalk and ignored a police order.

So blocking a freaking door is now a crime?

Throw my ass in jail.

Why wouldn't blocking a door be a crime? It would kinda need to be to ensure the operation of businesses that serve the public.

[Imperializt Russia]

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=North+Clinton+Avenue+and+Main+Street+rochester+new+york&hl=en&ll=43.157048,-77.606212&spn=0.00181,0.003484&sll=45.543408,-122.654422&sspn=0.444835,0.891953&hnear=N+Clinton+Ave+%26+Main+St+E,+Rochester,+Monroe,+New+York&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=43.157151,-77.606399&panoid=rhsez_NpTreuL3X4Y1hGEA&cbp=12,210.86,,0,0

Here's the intersection.

You'd struggle to block those standing twelve abreast, let alone single file or a loose group.

[Olivaero]

Ignoring a police order shouldn't be a crime unless a police officer is arresting you for something or ordering you to comply with a law. As for obstructing a shop front... they can go fuck themselves if its a public walkway the public should be able to do what the fuck they like on it.

[Arcturus Novus]

I demand that Hercules rise from the dead to once again cleanse this stable of bullshit.

There's likely morre to the story. There almost always is.

[Natair]

So blocking a freaking door is now a crime?

Throw my ass in jail.

Why wouldn't blocking a door be a crime? It would kinda need to be to ensure the operation of businesses that serve the public.

So are you suggesting we should arrest everyone who's ever stood in line in front of a door?

[Luveria]

Why wouldn't blocking a door be a crime? It would kinda need to be to ensure the operation of businesses that serve the public.

So are you suggesting we should arrest everyone who's ever stood in line in front of a door?

Blocking doors is not a crime.

[Imperializt Russia]

So blocking a freaking door is now a crime?

Throw my ass in jail.

Why wouldn't blocking a door be a crime? It would kinda need to be to ensure the operation of businesses that serve the public.

Doing this is probably illegal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ95bX7MYyc&t=00m18s
Because it's probably a breach of the peace. It's probably threatening behaviour. Arguably extortion.

Standing at a bus stop, for a bus, on an American-sized sidewalk?
Nah. That's a mere nuisance obstacle at best that should lead to the entirety of Manhattan's able-bodied population being in the prison system.

[Natair]

Why wouldn't blocking a door be a crime? It would kinda need to be to ensure the operation of businesses that serve the public.

Doing this is probably illegal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ95bX7MYyc&t=00m18s
Because it's probably a breach of the peace. It's probably threatening behaviour. Arguably extortion.

Standing at a bus stop, for a bus, on an American-sized sidewalk?
Nah. That's a mere nuisance obstacle at best that should lead to the entirety of Manhattan's able-bodied population being in the prison system.

Thank you. My point exactly.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

I demand that Hercules rise from the dead to once again cleanse this stable of bullshit.

There's likely morre to the story. There almost always is.

I admit to the possibility that there is more to the story. However, considering the number of disturbing reports we've been seeing lately (two of which I linked in the OP), I'm uncertain as to the likelihood.

[Fortitudinem]

What is this world coming to?

[Nervium]

So are you suggesting we should arrest everyone who's ever stood in line in front of a door?

Blocking doors is not a crime.

Blocking emergency exits is, but I doubt they were doing such shenanigans.

[Luveria]

Blocking doors is not a crime.

Blocking emergency exits is, but I doubt they were doing such shenanigans.

Yes, but the crime itself is not "blocking emergency exits." The crime would be categorized as something else.