There is a mass arrest story. As has been discussed earlier, we have an ongoing arrest case in Washington, D.C., here. In May 2007 police arrested dozens of young people who police alleged were basically rioting through the streets. The students insisted that they were on their way to a funeral for a murdered friend. Now, there has been a settlement of the case with all charges dropped and the payment of damages.
When the mass arrest occurred, a large number of officers accompanied by a helicopter arrested the students aged 13-21. It was heralded by both the police and the media as a example of police work at its finest. The New York Post called the police officers “outright heroes” and called the students whiners.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office claimed that the group of 32 were gang members and terrorizing the neighborhood.
That is a curious backdrop to the news that the city has now agreed to pay 16 members of the “Bushwick 32” a settlement of $257,000 to end a civil lawsuit. Twelve other students have a pending lawsuit of their own.
