Activist Arrested For Harassment And Disorderly Conduct After Reciting First Amendment
An activist in New York who goes by the name "Reverend Billy" was arrested in Union Square while attending a monthly mass bicycle ride that is held to assert cyclists' rights and in protest of the city's reliance on cars, cabs, buses and generally anything that has a motor.
The bike riders are part of a group called Critical Mass, and their monthly rides in the city have caused friction between the cyclists and the police. As the group grows in size, more arrests are made at the rallies.
"Reverend Billy", whose real name is Bill Talen, was reciting the First Amendment through a bullhorn just before the most recent ride on June 29th, when he was arrested. Talen says he was sticking up for cyclists' rights.
The arrest itself is rather ironic. Talen's lawyer, Norman Siegel, witnessed the arrest and said "Reverend Billy has a First Amendment Right to recite the First Amendment."
Police say that Talen harassed them at the rally by following them around with the bullhorn. They reportedly asked him to stop several times before arresting him.
For now "Reverend Billy" has been released without bail after spending a night in jail, but he will make his court appearance in August to answer the charges.
Talen is a charismatic activist who leads "The Church of Stop Shopping" and the "Not Buying It Band", which is an anti-consumerism street-theater troupe, band and choir. He claims to preach the "anti-shopping gospel" and has recently appeared in a documentary made by award-winning filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, titled "What Would Jesus Buy". The film has not been widely distributed, perhaps because Wal-Mart is a major distributor of DVDs and it's really doubtful that they would want to push Talen's anti-consumerism message.
While it sounds like a bunch of silly banter and over the top attention seeking antics, "Reverend Billy" has toured internationally and been called an outstanding performer. He has many "followers" who enjoy his performances and take his message to heart. His "Church of Stop Shopping" has targeted such retail giants as The Disney Store, Starbucks and Victoria's Secret. This was not his first arrest.
The question remains though, did police violate Talen's First Amendment rights by arresting him for reciting the First Amendment?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Was Talen entitled to recite the First Amendment through a bullhorn under the protection of the First Amendment? Was he assembling peacefully at the rally? I'm sure these issues will be brought up in court. Where do police have the authority to draw the line regarding free speech, and at what point does speech become harassment?
Did "Reverend Billy" deserve to be arrested or were his First Amendment rights violated by NYPD when he was thrown in jail? It will be interesting to see how this all turns out.
