October 3, 2009
CAPS active at First Fridays?
Via the Rumors Botique twitter:
CAPS team ruins first friday by shutting down Gallery Five fire spinners and enforcing a limit of 15 people at a time in galleries on broad.
Also on the Rumors blog:
Earlier in the day Casey heard that the CAPS team would be harrasing the galleries on broad street so I was not shocked when I saw the police officers shutting down the fire spinners infront of Gallery Five. The fire spinners have been active on first fridays for over 5 years.
Earlier this year Rumors had a run in with CAPS over the city’s 7% admissions tax.
This declaration of “war” was posted in the comments sections of Buttermilk & Molasses.
For almost five years, this voluntary lane closing has been safe, effective, and fully supported by the police officers who attend and watch over the event each month. That “common sense†approach came to a crashing end last night when more than a half-dozen of Richmond’s Finest, led by a portly Sergeant on a two-wheeled Segway (go figure), mounted their assault.
See entire comment
Boycott Center Stage
To clarify, there were NO CAPS program representatives at First Fridays Art Walk on October 2. The Police officers support is donated by the City of Richmond to assist in safety and hospitality. Police found that the street closure had not been appropriately permitted, hence the activities were suspended. It should be noted that the gallery was due to close not long after the police disbanded the activity allowing them to perform for most of the event.
Christina – Thanks for the update & clarification.