The threat of death or injury comes from the actions of the “protesters”. They are violating the law, tying up traffic, and causing a hazardous condition wherever they go.
Now, the police can either ignore this or do something about it. If they decide to do something about it, how are they to stop a bicyclist who refuses to stop?
I think we can agree up front that shooting them is right out. Likewise Tazing them might be problematic, seeing as how they are moving so fast. Frankly, tackling them seems to be about the only thing they can do, other than letting them go.
Now, I am confident that the NYPD is working diligently on a countermeasure for this sort of protest. Before too long, they will come up with something that the bicyclists just can’t get around, and that will be the end of that. The NYPD tactics have pretty much eliminated the hazards involved in mass marches, greatly reducing the violence all around. It is only a matter of time before they solve this problem too.
Some of these things seem to materialize out of thin air, with little or no warning. Even if they had a tactic or took, mobilizing in time might be tough, at least as the start of the ride.
If the police can come up with a reasonable way of stopping nonviolent protesters without undue violence, I’d back them in a heartbeat.
Holding up a hand and saying “Stop!” and then grabbing the cyclist is certainly within reasonable bounds. If the cyclist doesn’t want to stop, and gets hurt when a cop grabs him, TOUGH.
>>If they decide to do something about it, how are they to stop a bicyclist who refuses to stop?<
Please watch the video again, and tell me where the officer tries in any way to communicate to the bicyclist to “stop.”
Did he wave his hands? Did he yell? Did he utter a single word or send any signal whatsoever that could be construed as a signal to “stop”?
No. He went over and violently pushed the bicyclist onto the sidewalk and could have caused severe bodily injury to the cyclist or someone in the crowd.
You should really stop trying to defend the indefensible.