POLICE ABUSE ALLEGED IN THE ARREST OF A ROLLERBLADING POLITICAL ACTIVIST Bandana protection from Code Red smog in D.C. becomes an excuse for a brutal arrest and violation of rights WASHINGTON, D.C. -- D.C. Statehood Green Party member and community activist Chris Otten will represent himself in court on Thursday, September 5, when he faces charges after an incident in which D.C. police reportedly violated his privacy and used needless force. On July 25, Otten was rollerblading on U Street NW, wearing a bandana over his nose and mouth due to Code Red smog. A sergeant of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) approached Otten near the U Street Metro Station, wielding his baton and demanding identification. Otten refused, citing privacy rights, upon which police backup was summoned and Otten was tackled to the ground by several MPD officers. He was arrested on the charges of "failure to show identification" and "disorderly conduct," denied medical attention for eight hours, and spent 20 hours in jail. Otten called his arrest and brutal treatment typical of a larger assault on American civil liberties. "Everyday citizens need to concern themselves when the police show up to harass their fellow neighbors. I encourage all people to read up on our rights and watch the police carefully when the situation calls so to witness and testify against any police brutality that may, and in D.C., most likely will occur." "What happened to me is nothing new in DC," Otten added. "I met lots of people during my experience in the D.C. criminal justice system who are subjected to police abuse regularly -- to the point where this system has become a culture, a way of life for many D.C. residents." "As a candidate Ward One member of City Council, I am outraged that [incumbent candidate] Jim Graham and his campaign staff would stand by idly while a young man who was trying to protect himself from the smog found himself attacked and abused by police," said Edward Chico Troy, noting that the incident took place in Ward One. "The police should be held accountable to standards of professional law enforcemet behavior. We should never allow or condone the abuse of law-abidng citizens." Chris Otten will appear in D.C. Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, courtroom 120 on September 5 at 9 a.m., after an 8 a.m. rally in his defense in front of the courthouse. For periodic updates during the day, call Mintwood Media at (202) 986-6186. "We must take a stand against police abuse of power and the criminal injustice system," said Otten. "This is especially true when U.S. government cronies like John Ashcroft have pounced on people's true fears stemming from 9-11 and he has used them to attack Americans' civil liberties through the USA PATRIOT Act and the Homeland Defense Department, both of which are reminiscent of McCarthy era policies from the 1950s." MORE INFORMATION The D.C. Statehood Green Party http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org 1314 18th Street, NW, lower level, Washington, DC 20036, 202-296-1301 - END -