Manchester, NH Police Dept. Confiscate Multiple Video Cameras and Arrest Peaceful Protestors

[JohnyCanuck]

Manchester, NH Police Dept. Confiscate Multiple Video Cameras and Arrest Peaceful Protestors

On Saturday, June 4th, 2011 activists gathered outside of the Manchester, NH police dept. in a concerted effort to hold them accountable for two separate incidents. The procedures used in the recent shooting death of local resident James Breton and four off duty police officers that assaulted Christopher Micklovich on March 3, 2010 in the alleyway outside of the Strange Brew Tavern in Manchester, NH. The Attorney General later absolved the four officers of any culpability.


Christopher Micklovich is shown a police booking photo after the incident at the Strange Brew.

The Protest

The days rally kicked off with sign waving, community outreach, and people writing with chalk on the sidewalks and the concrete wall surrounding the police department. We talked to pedestrians and motorists educating them on the reasons for our assembly and garnered support from every individual we spoke with. There was not one complaint to us from area residence regarding our presence.

On the contrary people were driving by honking their horns and cheering us on. Cars drove by us playing Immortal Technique. We handed out literature. One bicyclist even stopped to share his message with the MPD via bullhorn. People coming out of the police dept. pumped their fists in support and shared their stories with us about the injustices they had experienced at the hands of the Manchester PD.

We were initially swarmed by multiple squad cars and a paddy wagon they decided to park directly across the street as a reminder of where we would end up for exercising our first amendment right to protest. When confronted, the police officers could not give us a valid reason or lawful justification for why we could not be there. They simple said, "You have to leave. You can't be here." Protesters argued that it is a public sidewalk and a public building paid for by taxpayers; we have every right to be here.

snip

Inside the precinct under police custody Pete Eyre of copblock.org and myself debated all officers involved in the civil rights violations of the day. In the beginning we were laughed at and often ignored especially when a valid point was raised. Though we were never accosted directly or physically harmed one of the detectives remarked on how all of the shoes lined up, "looks like the holocaust". It was at this point that I told Pete Eyre how the lieutenant gave the order to arrest us after the local news crew left. The lieutenant stood on the corner of Chestnut and Merrimack with four other officers watching the news van pull away at which point he said, "when she leaves, arrest them."


http://snardfarker.ning.com/profiles/blogs/manchester-nh-police-dept?xg_source=activity

Complaint towards New Hampshire police officers for beating under investigation
March 22, 2010 (NewYorkInjuryNews.com - Personal Injury Accidents)

Four off-duty police officers accused of beating NH man, using excessive force.

Manchester, NH (www.NewYorkInjuryNews.com) - Christopher J. Micklovich, 32, filed a complaint Monday March 15 to the Manchester Police Department after a bar scuffle that occurred March 3, 2010. The complaint states four off-duty officers used excessive force against Micklovich, attacking him without provocation, repeatedly kicking and punching him as he lay on the ground begging them to stop, as reported by the New Hampshire Union Leader.

Micklovich faces charges of disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, simple assault against an officer, and resisting arrest as a result of the March 3 incident, which occurred outside the Strange Brew Tavern at 88 Market Street. Micklovich’s attorney said the client denies all charges. Micklovich stated last week he suffered a broken nose and two broken eye sockets from the incident.

http://www.newyorkinjurynews.com/2010/03/22/complaint-towards-new-hampshire-police-officers-for-beating-under-investigation_201003222849.html

[msongs]

1. look, over there, our leaders are all playing golf together and ignoring this stuff nt

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. I've noticed that during these demonstrations, when shit starts to hit the fan, people shove their

cameras right in the face of the cops, just swarms and swarms of people buzzing around like bees with cameras trying to capture it all.
I think it would be a good idea to stay hidden and film this stuff so that the cameras do not get taken or destroyed by the cops.