Review: Go Skate Day 2009
Reported by AlliciaIn this edition of “Skate or Die”, we witnessed seven Park officers arresting a skater at Freedom Plaza during national “Go Skate Day”. If Tony Hawk can skate in the White House, why can’t skaters do the same across the street at Freedom Plaza?
The crew from Elite Boardshop and Palace 5ive have been gearing up for the second installment of “Palace to Pulaski” for weeks.
The sound of skate wheels grinding on the street echoed from U Street to Freedom Plaza after 300 blue shirts were given to the crowd outside of the skate shop (located on 14th and W St, NW). DC’s metropolitan police were kind enough to escort the skaters along 14th Street yesterday. We decided to follow the crowd to take photos, check out the videos below.
Video Source from Max Cook on Vimeo
After the skaters arrived at Freedom Plaza, another form of law enforcement decided to “stop in”. The area was closely monitored by Park officers, who chased skaters away on foot, bicycles and vehicles… From our perspective, the park police were prepared and ready to crash the event that was specially held for the city’s youth, which was estimated to be around 400. It was unfortunate to learn that two kids were arrested for the simple act of “skateboarding in public” yesterday.
Crime or Skateboarding? Its tough being a skater in the District these days!
Another video of cops chasing skaters away:
Thanks to Palace 5ive/Elite Boardshop for holding down the event, see you next year!
Comments & Trackbacks
I saw tons of skaters going up and down 14th yesterday and was wondering what was going on. Cool event…too bad the cops had to take such a hard line against a bunch of kids trying to have some fun.
Chris L said at 4:11 PM on June 22nd, 2009
[...] for the crappy video. It was a cell phone camera. More coverage of Go Skateboarding Day from Ready Set DC. Share and [...]
The Couch Sessions » Blog Archive » VIDEO: Go Skateboarding Day – Paris to Pulaski said at 8:42 PM on June 22nd, 2009
[...] Want more? http://www.goskateboardingday.org Ready Set DC Review [...]
Go Skate Day 2009 « Little’s Shop said at 3:34 PM on June 23rd, 2009
Dude that’s why I hate DC. Always trying to come down on everything unless you are a political figure or mainstream tool.
jonfreeze said at 11:28 AM on June 24th, 2009
This is why I love DC: The city police were willing to close vehicle traffic on W Street for our safety. Then they escorted us all the way downtown on 14th, so we could fly through red lights. This is why I hate the NPS/National Park Police! They take control of the majority OUR city’s public spaces, and do a very poor job maintaing and programming them. Then they chokeslam a kid on the ground..
That’s the true story of DC, getting screwed over by the federal goverment and yet the nation views us as one in the same. The good news is that’s changing…
justin said at 1:21 PM on June 24th, 2009
They were not arrested for skateboarding. They assaulted two police officers in front of two thousand people!
Mike said at 9:02 AM on June 27th, 2009
no they did not escort us down they chased us they took are boards shit they even arrested us. The event had turned from skateboarders heaven to skateboarders nightmare. And no there was no assulting of police were are u gettin that from. I was there i was chased by a k-9 and i almost got my board taken away the cops were chasing us all around dc just so we could not skate on this day or any federal or private property
And there is no law about not skating in dc
they buildd no skate parks around dc and no shaw is shitty it is not for skateboarding it is for bmx
simon gervais said at 3:30 PM on September 22nd, 2009