Al Sharpton Threatens To Shut Down NYC, Briefly Succeeds

Al Sharpton, his National Action Network, and hundreds of protesters briefly made good on their promise to shut down New York City in the wake of the Sean Bell verdict by blocking traffic at the entrances to Queensboro Bridge, the Triborough Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge and the Queens-Midtown Tunnel this afternoon.

Around 3:30 p.m. they stepped onto the lanes of the Queensboro Bridge, blocking traffic for about 30 minutes. The Rev. Dock Johnson, pastor of Community Baptist Church in South Ozone Park, Queens, kneeling with both arms extended and wearing a pin-striped suit, a leather cap and sunglasses, led the protesters, who sat down in the middle of the traffic lanes. After they resisted police orders to disperse, the protesters — including Mr. Johnson — were placed in plastic handcuffs and arrested. About 100 protesters marched east on 34th Street before turning north of Second Avenue. A group of about 40 formed a line across the entrance to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and formed a line, chanting. They blocked traffic for about 10 minutes until about 20 were arrested; the remainder continued their protest but stopped blocking traffic.

The largest protest occurred outside of police headquarters in Lower Manhattan — it ended about 20 minutes ago when police began mass arresting the protesters. [NYT]

UPDATE: Sharpton and Sean Bell’s fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell, were arrested at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge.

May 7, 2008 · posted by Lauren Williams, Stereohyped · Link · 7 Responses

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Tagged: Al Sharpton, New York City, Sean Bell

Comments (7)

No. 1 · J

Um— with all due respect to the Reverend Al Sharpton? Um…if he would have stepped in front of *my* car on the Queensboro Bridge, chile, it would have been me and the late Reverend Al. smh

Reverend Al, people have places to G-O. Aint nooooooooobody trying to slow down to avoid killing *you.* smh

Posted: May 7, 2008 at 5:10 pm

No. 2 · J

… but uhhhhh—

power to the people

*bows head & raises fist*

Posted: May 7, 2008 at 5:12 pm

No. 3 · Kenya

I was at one of the rallies and have to say that the turn out was much smaller than I thought it would be. I’m shocked and don’t know why it was so small. Maybe Al has complained about so many minor things that no one trusts him any more. People will buy the message but not from that messenger. There was hardly any national coverage and all the local coverage wasn’t that big. Al took way too much credit for the Jena protest and this just proves that it wasn’t him.

Posted: May 7, 2008 at 8:25 pm

No. 4 · Nichelle

I wonder if anyone is going to march for Romona Moore? Police blew off her mother as she searched desperately for her as Romona was tortured and murdered.
I saw this on What About Our Daughters and the Village Voice

http://whataboutourdaughters.b.....e-law.html
http://www.villagevoice.com/ne.....9,1.html/1

Posted: May 8, 2008 at 12:03 am

No. 5 · Ike

I hate it when people make claims and can’t back it up. Like I said in a previous thread: if they really wanna make a point, boycott all the retail stores and fast food joints. But oh wait… we all know “black folks” can’t give Mickey D’s and sneakers.

Posted: May 8, 2008 at 12:14 am

No. 6 · Ike

I meant to say “give up” McD

Posted: May 8, 2008 at 12:49 am

No. 7 · Chic Noir

Kenya, I think what is happening is the changing of the gard(sp). Many younger blk folks don’t feel the need to get out and protest or call for change. Sadly, many of those from Sharpton’s generation are passing away.

Posted: May 8, 2008 at 3:03 pm

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