Posted on 11/19/2010 10:19:44 AM PST by JoeProBono
NEW YORK - Seven New York men said they were issued desk-appearance tickets for playing chess in an area of a park designated for kids.
The men said they were playing at the chess tables in a Manhattan park Oct. 20 when police officers arrived and issued them tickets for "failure to comply with signs," the New York Post reported Thursday.
The chess tables at the park are in a fenced-in area bearing a sign reading: "Adults allowed in playground areas only when accompanied by a child under the age of 12."
One of the men, Yacahuda Harrison, 49, said the group plays chess at the tables regularly and even once received the go-ahead from a park ranger.
"The day we got picked up, there were no kids" in the area, he said. "They treated us like drug dealers. All we were doing was playing chess."
Parks Department First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh said the rule is "designed to protect children using our playgrounds and to deter inappropriate adult use of space designated specifically for children."
Yacahudah Harrison got a ticket as he was playing chess in Emerson Playground at the corner of W 207th St and Seaman ave in Manhattan.
Maybe the chess tables should be moved outside of the child area.
Guess that eliminates the possibility of a remake of Searching For Bobby Fischer . . .
Does this guy know how to play chess? I guestion this entire story.
Isn’t that the “The rent is too high” bubba that ran for Gov in NY? Sure does look like ‘em.....
I know this is probably rude and even (gasp) profiling, but Mr. Harrison is kind of scary looking, which could account for no kids in the area. Perhaps a mother or two approached the area and saw the chess group and chose retreat, instead of playtime for the kids.
You have no future in government. Sensible people aren’t allowed. :p
“You can't fight in here, this is the war room!”
Such signage smacks of age discrimination.
Kids don’t pay taxes.
It’s not that sensible people aren’t allowed, it’s that sensibility isn’t allowed. Sensible folks can be hired and broken down appropriately...
How far from the chess table was the blacked-out van?
Nuts, pretty soon they won’t let me buy those Mario video games.
Yeah, I was just gonna say, maybe they should remove the chess tables, since it is after all, designated for children.
I am ambivalent.
Chess requires intelligence; Intelligence dictates one can read a sign. No one likes an abducted child, and every one in NYC lives in fear. Even chess playing pedophiles, believe it or not.
The right or wrong of a government being granted the power to decide who can play a medieval game where remains to be determined in the minds of people who stand more than the current minimum government defined standard outside their work place for a smoke. They can work this out in the next two years, then go out to vote for Rangle and Schumer.
he probably does... i dated this guy back in my younger days... he knew how to play chess because he learned how to play during his stint in the slammer... haha!
Knight jumps Queen! Bishop jumps Queen! Pawn jumps Queen! Gang bang! > Isn’t the queen a good sport?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.