Some progress has been made. Provincetown recently decided against hiring Acting Police Chief Warren Tobias, the man in charge when so many of these questionable police actions took place, as the town’s permanent chief of police. That is a commendable start. Now the town should do what it can to see that Scott’s case is dismissed and to investigate why such a blatant over-reaction took place.
Some of Scott’s supporters have called for a boycott of Provincetown. I think that’s shortsighted and unfairly punishes this community’s friends and supporters in the town. I’m going back this year despite misgivings. But, as with many others, I’ll be watching closely to see how the town resolves the Barry Scott incident - and what it’s doing to prevent it from happening again.
Supporters of Scott will be having a fundraiser to help him defray legal expenses. The event will be held April 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the home of Steven Ralston, 158 West Concord St., in the South End. For more information call 781.838.2704 or visit this column on the web at baywindows.com to link to the Evite.
Please visit Bay Windows to read the full version of this editorial. I would say that the people of Provincetown have a responsibility to their guests to make sure they are free from harm and they are treated fairly. The lack of public outrage over how the Barry Scott Attack has been handled calls for an action that delivers the consequences their inaction brings. Someone who can stand by while a neighbor is beaten, arrested, then made to appear like a lawbreaker does not deserve my hard earned dollar. If and when the people of Provincetown come to their senses and free Barry Scott of these ridiculous charges, there will still be a real and measurable threat the safety of GLBT people while visiting. Both these issues should be addressed head on by the citizens who have a vested interest. It's not just good for business, it's the right thing to do.
7 comments:
Actually - the smart thing to do was done.
Scott deserved to be arrested and hopefully he will shut up when told to shut down.
Police have a hard enough time without some loudmouth asshole inciting a riot
While I don't agree with what you have to say about Barry I do agree with your disdain for loudmouthed assholes... ;)
Paul, what facts in this case cause you to believe what you do?
I trust law enforcement
And if the cops say shut it down, you shut it down
you don't keep going
case closed
Its nothing more than that Hosty - you can try to make it something more, but its really just simple
Here John - Run and find out if this is a hate crime!!!!!
Hurry!!!!!! I think I see some foreign names in the article!!!!!
and maybe one of them was gay!!!!!!!!
Salem police use pepper spray to break up party
By Mike Stucka
Staff writer
SALEM — While trying to close down a noisy late-night party, police fired pepper spray at a man in his bedroom, then arrested him, two of his roommates and three female partygoers.
Three police officers arriving at the apartment at 3:06 a.m. yesterday found 15 to 20 people leaving through a side door. Patrolman Ryan Davis reported that he asked one of the residents, Keon M. Savory, 22, to get everyone left into one room so they could be identified. Patrolman Michael Dunn found another resident, Christopher Carr, 23, in a bedroom, which he refused to leave. Davis reported that Carr wouldn't show any identification and became belligerent, leading the officers to say they were arresting him for disturbing the peace.
Police said Carr then struggled with two officers, leading Dunn to use his pepper spray on him.
The six people remaining in the apartment on the third floor of 127 Canal St. then got more belligerent, police said, and the women refused to leave. Davis said he asked Savory to have everyone leave the apartment but they wouldn't. Three more officers arrived to arrest the six people in the apartment.
Carr was charged with disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. Savory was charged with disturbing the peace and a violation of the city's noise ordinance for hosting a loud party. Also arrested and charged with disturbing the peace were Spencer Summers, 23, also of 127 Canal St. Apt. 3, Salem; Ruth Gamboa, 22, of 40 McCusker Drive Apt. 1, Braintree; Alexa Jacques, 21, of 15 Valencia Road Apt. 15, Hyde Park; and Gisselah Makarutsa, 21, of 18 Meadowcroft St., Lowell.
I'm glad you brought up a point to compare Barry Scott's attack to.
These people who refused to listen to the police should have been arrested. Barry Scott on the other hand was complying with the police, he simply chose to voice his opinion of how unfair he thought they were being.
Should people be arrested for exercising their right to free speech?
Even still, when a man is placed under arrest he is asked to comply by putting himself in a submissive position. The don't simply tackle you unless you are already showing resistance to them, like running away.
It is very clear that the police overreacted to Barry's comment, that's why we need to continue bringing this issue to light until something is done about it.
"Barry Scott on the other hand was complying with the police"
uh, no he wasn't
If I remember correectly, it was the third time the police visited
and then he sarcastically grabbed the microphone and told the crowd he hated the police
Cmon Hosty
Sorry Paul, but you don't remember correctly. All three times police came on the request of that woman who runs the P-Town trolley and signed the anti-gay marriage petition, and they spoke to the home owner. Barry saw them only on their last visit.
The trouble for the police's side of this story is the sheer number of witnesses that can recall how willing everyone was to try and identify a sound level that was appropriate for 10:00PM on a Saturday night in P-Town.
Barry has a right to speak his mind without fear of being attacked by the police; that is simply not within their powers. The freedom of speech is more powerful than their badge. If you want an example of this just look at The Hal Turner Show where Turner all but incites a riot by saying people should dawn ski masks and knock the shit out of the Lexington school superintendant in his own home. You want to talk about intimidation?! What do you call that?!
His speech is protected but Barry's is not?
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