DRAMA! Leaving NYC - Chinatown Bus [Sunday Feb 15th]
So I'm catching the 11 pm Chinatown Bus. I took a cab, so I got there way ahead of schedule. What was to come in the next 30 minutes was unbelievable.
This cop starts bullying a middle-aged Chinese woman who was handing out tickets for the bus. "Show me some identification! Where is your ID??!" He was yelling unnecessarily. She was frightened; couldn't really speak English and I would also bet that she wasn't legal. [Who cares? I know some people who are here illegally who contribute to our country more than half the deadbeats who actually lived here as US Citizens all their lives.] Anyway, the cop wouldn't let up. A docile, soft-spoken man who also works for the Chinatown bus comes down to see what is going on. He aims to protect her. In addition to being his coworker, she is probably a friend or a family member. The cop orders him to get back on the bus. As the situation escalates, the man gets back off the bus to try to help her.
"Don't do this" the Chinese man says.
The cop screams "NO! YOU DON'T DO THIS! DO YOU WANNA MAKE THIS YOUR PROBLEM BUDDY? GET THE HELL ON THE BUS!"
The Chinese man is passive and never raises his voice or a hand. But somehow, the cop decides that he has crossed the line by shielding this woman.
The cop says, "ALRIGHT, BUDDY. YOU HAVE MADE THIS YOUR BUSINESS NOW. I AM TAKING YOU IN! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST."
This is clearly illogical and racially driven. At this point, my heart was pounding and my blood was boiling. I was in the front row of the bus, so I am witnessing everything. I can hold my rage in no longer. I shout "THIS MAN IS INNOCENT! WHY ARE YOU ARRESTING HIM?" And with that, I am ignored.
The Chinese man runs on to the bus, as if somehow he would be able to evade the inevitable. The cop grabs him by the arm, yanks him off the bus, and throws him up against one of those metal grates that slides over a closed storefront. His arm is bleeding. I am on the verge of tears.
I continue to rant. “THIS MAN IS INNOCENT! SO THIS IS WHAT YOU GET PAID TO DO? IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL UPHOLDING THE LAW? YOU REPRESENT THE LAW?!” The cop finally acknowledged me by telling me to mind my own business.
Back up cops came. I again started to speak out. “THIS MAN HASN’T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. HE IS INNOCENT. THERE ARE NO GROUNDS FOR ARREST! I SAW EVERYTHING!” I am again, ignored. These fuckers must like to stick together.
The Chinese man wanted to get his coat. It was 20 degrees outside. The cop wouldn’t let him get back on the bus. I don’t know if he ever got his coat. He was cuffed and they drove away.
I gave my phone number to a lady at the Chinatown Bus Company. They may need me as a witness. After all, I’m white, a citizen of the US, and I am English as a first language. This is probably the reason why that asshole didn’t lock me up to. After all, I spoke up more defiantly than the arrested victim had. It’s a shame that bad apples like him give cops a bad name. What an abuse of power. I’m sure that one day some thug will give him his just desserts.
This cop starts bullying a middle-aged Chinese woman who was handing out tickets for the bus. "Show me some identification! Where is your ID??!" He was yelling unnecessarily. She was frightened; couldn't really speak English and I would also bet that she wasn't legal. [Who cares? I know some people who are here illegally who contribute to our country more than half the deadbeats who actually lived here as US Citizens all their lives.] Anyway, the cop wouldn't let up. A docile, soft-spoken man who also works for the Chinatown bus comes down to see what is going on. He aims to protect her. In addition to being his coworker, she is probably a friend or a family member. The cop orders him to get back on the bus. As the situation escalates, the man gets back off the bus to try to help her.
"Don't do this" the Chinese man says.
The cop screams "NO! YOU DON'T DO THIS! DO YOU WANNA MAKE THIS YOUR PROBLEM BUDDY? GET THE HELL ON THE BUS!"
The Chinese man is passive and never raises his voice or a hand. But somehow, the cop decides that he has crossed the line by shielding this woman.
The cop says, "ALRIGHT, BUDDY. YOU HAVE MADE THIS YOUR BUSINESS NOW. I AM TAKING YOU IN! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST."
This is clearly illogical and racially driven. At this point, my heart was pounding and my blood was boiling. I was in the front row of the bus, so I am witnessing everything. I can hold my rage in no longer. I shout "THIS MAN IS INNOCENT! WHY ARE YOU ARRESTING HIM?" And with that, I am ignored.
The Chinese man runs on to the bus, as if somehow he would be able to evade the inevitable. The cop grabs him by the arm, yanks him off the bus, and throws him up against one of those metal grates that slides over a closed storefront. His arm is bleeding. I am on the verge of tears.
I continue to rant. “THIS MAN IS INNOCENT! SO THIS IS WHAT YOU GET PAID TO DO? IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL UPHOLDING THE LAW? YOU REPRESENT THE LAW?!” The cop finally acknowledged me by telling me to mind my own business.
Back up cops came. I again started to speak out. “THIS MAN HASN’T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. HE IS INNOCENT. THERE ARE NO GROUNDS FOR ARREST! I SAW EVERYTHING!” I am again, ignored. These fuckers must like to stick together.
The Chinese man wanted to get his coat. It was 20 degrees outside. The cop wouldn’t let him get back on the bus. I don’t know if he ever got his coat. He was cuffed and they drove away.
I gave my phone number to a lady at the Chinatown Bus Company. They may need me as a witness. After all, I’m white, a citizen of the US, and I am English as a first language. This is probably the reason why that asshole didn’t lock me up to. After all, I spoke up more defiantly than the arrested victim had. It’s a shame that bad apples like him give cops a bad name. What an abuse of power. I’m sure that one day some thug will give him his just desserts.