cop body-slams cyclist

[withm]

Just to play devil's advocate.... The videos making the rounds don't have any sound. We don't know if the victim was in fact taunting the police officer, daring the "pig" to get in his way, or even if he might have been voicing obscenities towards the police. We are quick to assume the victim is innocent I don't think any of us was actually there and we just don't know.

On the other hand, these Critical Mass Rides probably don't do anything to further the cause of responsible cyclists either.

I've gotten so that I'd rather not do club rides because even in a supposedly well behaved group, there are always one or two idiots who persist in riding all over the road, or fail to fall into single file when "car back" is announced.

A large charity ride with several thousand riders is a little different though many of those participants will still exhibit poor cycling behavior. But with several thousand riders, the motorists will just have to learn to relax and deal with it. I hope they will use the extra time to contemplate the benefits of cycling and wonder why they are in their cars when they too could possibly be on the bike instead.
Dream on.

[OakLeaf]

Just to play devil's advocate.... We don't know if the victim was in fact taunting the police officer... On the other hand, these Critical Mass Rides probably don't do anything to further the cause of responsible cyclists either.

If a cop doesn't have the self-restraint to refrain from attempting to cause serious physical injury to someone who's taunting him, or who's a member of a group that engages in rude behavior, they shouldn't have a badge (and especially a gun).

If a private citizen physically assaults someone who's taunting them, that's a crime, that's not self-defense. Even more so when it's someone who's paid to use self-restraint.