Hi all,

The driver lawyer said his client would show up at the police this
afternoon, when he was contacted by the press. According to his
lawyer, he will pledge innocent, alleging that the cyclists hit the
car first, breaking the glass and scaring his 15-year-old son who was
with him.

This is different from the story the cyclists told on the video
footage taken right after the accident. They said they were going
slow, and that the driver had been honking and threatening to
accelerate for a few minutes. They asked him to stay calm, because
there were elder people, and kids, and pets, and it would not be safe
for him to pass through - which, as you saw, he ignored.

The 15-year-old son, when interviewed by the press, said (translation):
- It was wasn't them, the cyclists, who started. My father went a
little first. But then they started hitting the car for real. Then,
after they calmed down, three of them stayed in front of the car,
blocking him, only him.

[from this link, in portuguese:
http://zerohora.clicrbs.com.br/zerohora/jsp/default.jsp?uf=1&local=1&section=Geral&newsID=a3223867.xml]

Etienne, you are right. The police so far acts as if the cyclists were
wrong, for they had not warned the authorities that they would be
riding that night.

I think one of the great help we can have from the international
community is to have this story show up on major newspapers all over
the world. I believe our politicians are very sensitive to the bad PR
that will come if this insane driver is not convicted.

BTW, I am brazilian too, but from another city (Recife). I will follow
the events through the blog of the Critical Mass of Porto Alegre, and
try to keep you updated.

We are also trying to figure out what is the best strategy to raise
awareness of the incident throughout the country. Some cities have
scheduled rides for this week. If anyone has experience on this kind
of thing (I hope not), we are open to suggestions as to what worked
before, and what didn't.

Davi Pires

On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 8:58 AM, Theo Haris <theohariss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> wrote:
> This is very sad news indeed. I hope nobody got killed during this heinous
> act..
>
> Luis Patricio, do you want to keep us informed on what's happening in
> Brazil? I wonder also whether we should organise a critical mass ending on
> the embassy of Brazil in all countries we can, to protest if they still hold
> to the story that he didn't mean murder..
>
> Theo
>
> On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 1:51 PM, Etienne von Bertrab <etiennevon-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org>
> wrote:
>>
>> These are horrible news, Luis Patricio. As far as I understood the police
>> is still not recognising these powerful video testimonies. I wonder if we
>> could show solidarity while contributing with putting pressure on
>> authorities with a letter from WCN. Has it been done in the past? What do
>> you guys think?
>> Étienne
>>
>> On 27 February 2011 21:40, Luis Patricio <lcpatricio-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Last friday on Porto Alegre's Critical Mass, a driver hit dozens of
>>> cyclists:
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRgiIrHRoHM&feature=player_embedded
>>>
>>> We are all still shocked but many groups throughout the country are
>>> already planning something to respond to that hideous crime.
>>>
>>> The Porto Alegre CM blog has more info and videos (in portuguese):
>>> http://massacriticapoa.wordpress.com/
>>>
>>> Luis Patricio
>>> transportehumano.com.br
>>> "Mais importante que o veículo que você usa, é a mensagem que você
>>> veicula"
>>> <at> luis_patricio
>>>
>>> --
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>> Groups "World Carfree Network" group.
>>> To post to this group, send email to carfree_network-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org
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>>> http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=en?hl=en
>>
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>
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Thanks to all for the many messages received on this topic - I would suggest now is the time for a group interested in coordinating a WCN response to get together off-list.

We need to be very clear regarding what we are complaining about. To me, the key issues are (a) the behaviour of the police immediately after the incident, and (b) the broader issue of inexplicable leniency towards motorists who commit crimes behind the wheel. This is not about how the act might have been prevented, which raises the issue of whether a police presence on rides is desirable, for which there is no consensus among CMers...

A number of possible targets for this have been mentioned in a thread on World Streets:

Dal Maluf says:

1 March 2011 at 14:49

I think emails and twitter from around the world would be very good to pressure the City, as it would give visibility to the press… I’m receiving many emails from bicycle activists “bicicletadas” and “massa critica” in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and other places, to organize protests and manifestations these week in solidatity to the bikers in Porto Alegre.

Please help us make a lot of noise…

Twitter of the City Hall – Porto Alegre http://twitter.com/Prefeitura_POA

Municipal Secretaries of Transporte
Secretário Municipal de Obras e Viação
Cássio Trogildo
(51) 3289-8831/3289-8832
cassio <at> smov.prefpoa.com.br

Deputy-Transport
Secretário Adjunto de Obras e Viação
Adriano Borges Gularte
(51) 3289-8850
adrianog <at> smov.prefpoa.com.br

Planning at Transport Secretariat
Coordenador da Assessoria de Planejamento
Antônio Marcos Jeremias
(51) 3289-8837
jeremias <at> smov.prefpoa.com.br

Secretary of Sports
Secretaria Municipal de Esportes, Recreação e Lazer – SME
Av. Borges de Medeiros, 2713 – CEP 90110-150
Parque Marinha do Brasil
(51) 3289-4850 / 3233-6116
Fax: (51) 3289-4855

Secretário: Edgar Meurer
E-mail: edgarmeurer-dn1IeNha0c0+WdJqXLny0F/I71DsQ//L@public.gmane.org

Politics and Local Governance
Secretaria Municipal de Coordenação Política e Governança Local – SMGL
Praça Montevidéo, 10 CEP: 90010-170
(51) 3289-3766 / 3669
Fax: (51) 3289-3614

Secretário: Cezar Busatto
E-mail: busatto-55A+94j9TbYVKSO1ua/2zAh0onu2mTI+@public.gmane.org

Human Rights
Secretaria Municipal dos Direitos Humanos e Segurança Urbana – SMDHSU
Rua João Alfredo, 607 – CEP: 90050-230
(51) 3289-7022 / 7023
Fax: (51) 3289-7022
Secretário: Nereu DÁvila
E-mail: nereudavila-PRFlGshaiWfaif0bCcMOhV8n826c+h2f@public.gmane.org

The Mayor’s name is José Fortunati and his telephone is 55. (51) 3289-3600

Abracos amigo,
Adalberto

-------------------------

Giselle Xavier says:

1 March 2011 at 21:49

Please add to the list of entities to complain:
EPTC – Empresa Pública de Transporte e Circulação http://www.eptc.com.br
Secretário Municipal de Mobilidade Urbana
Diretor-Presidente da EPTC
Vanderlei Luis Cappellari
eptc <at> eptc.prefpoa.com.br

Luis - could you coordinate this?

Simon.

From: Pippa Gallop <pippa.gallop <at> bankwatch.org>
To: etiennevon <at> gmail.com
Cc: lcpatricio-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org; wcn <carfree_network-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org>
Sent: Monday, 28 February, 2011 14:07:09
Subject: Re: [carfree_network] Very sad news from Brazil

Sounds like a perfect mobility justice campaign to me.

We would need a draft letter with clear demands and the right e-mail
addresses to send it to. Fax numbers can also be useful but would
dramatically reduce the number of people taking part.

All the best,

pippa

> On 27 February 2011 21:40, Luis Patricio <lcpatricio <at> gmail.com
> <mailto:lcpatricio-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org>> wrote:
>
>    Hi all,
>
>    Last friday on Porto Alegre's Critical Mass, a driver hit dozens of
>    cyclists:
>    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRgiIrHRoHM&feature=player_embedded
>    <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRgiIrHRoHM&feature=player_embedded>
>
>    We are all still shocked but many groups throughout the country are
>    already planning something to respond to that hideous crime.
>
>    The Porto Alegre CM blog has more info and videos (in portuguese):
>    http://massacriticapoa.wordpress.com/
>
>    Luis Patricio
>    transportehumano.com.br <http://transportehumano.com.br>
>    "Mais importante que o veículo que você usa, é a mensagem que você
>    veicula"
>    <at> luis_patricio

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I just checked--the story has appeared in the major Chinese news media as well:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqpl/zggc/2011-03-01/content_1894044.html
http://news.sohu.com/20110301/n279592695.shtml
http://gb.cri.cn/27824/2011/03/01/5105s3167583.htm
http://video.sina.com.cn/p/news/s/v/2011-03-01/085061269341.html

Jane

From: Justin Hyatt <justin-ZChunI+ZvAk@public.gmane.org>
To: carfree_network <at> googlegroups.com
Cc: inhodpr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org
Sent: Tue, March 1, 2011 10:56:14 PM

Subject: Re: [carfree_network] Very sad news from Brazil

Hi all,

This news appeared in the Hungarian media and was also discussed on the Budapest Critical Mass webpage. In fact, a letter of support was drafted and sent to the Porte Alegre CM group by the Budapest Cm community. In case anyone is interested, it can be read below.

Pippa's suggestion of a mobility justice campaign is also a good one, and I have asked the Brazilians if they could picture doing this, and we'll see if that can happen to coincide also with Friday's monthly news relase.

In Brazilian

Caros ciclistas da Massa Crítica de Porto Alegre!

Há alguns dias ficamos sabendo do evento trágico que aconteceu com vocês na marcha. Em nome de todos os ciclistas e participantes da MC da Hungria queríamos desejar a recuperação mais rápida possível para os feridos e esperamos que nunca mais aconteça tal evento em nenhum lado do mundo.

Esperamos também que esse horrível atropelamento não desencoraje vocês e que continuem pedalando por um mundo não só mais respirável, mas também mais amigo para com os ciclistas! Mais uma vez uma recuperação rápida!

A Massa Crítica da Hungria 

In Hungarian:

Kedves porto alegre-i CM-esek!

A napokban eljutott hozzánk Magyarországra annak a tragikus eseménynek a híre, ami veletek a felvonuláson történt. Minden magyarországi CM-es és kerékpáros nevében szeretnénk minden sérültnek mihamarabbi gyógyulást kívánni, és reméljük, hogy ilyen esemény soha nem fog sehol a világban megismétlődni. 

Reméljük, hogy ez a szörnyűség nem veszi kedvetek, és tovább tekertek egy kerékpárosbarát világért!
Mihamarabbi gyógyulást kívánnak a magyarországi kerékpárosok!

In English:

Dear Critical Mass riders in Porto Alegre!

In these days we in Hungary have come to know the tragical news about what happened to you at a Critical Mass ride in Porto Allegre. In the name of all Hungarian Critical Mass riders, we would like to wish for the quickest recovery to everyone injured in this incident, and we hope that such a thing will never happen again, anywhere in the world.

We hope that this horrible thing doesn't spoil your mood, and that you will be able to continue cycling for a more bicycle-friendly world!
We as Hungarian cyclists wish you all a quick recovery!

www.criticalmass.hu

On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 9:07 PM, Davi Pires <inhodpr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> wrote:

Hi all,

The driver lawyer said his client would show up at the police this
afternoon, when he was contacted by the press. According to his
lawyer, he will pledge innocent, alleging that the cyclists hit the
car first, breaking the glass and scaring his 15-year-old son who was
with him.

This is different from the story the cyclists told on the video
footage taken right after the accident. They said they were going
slow, and that the driver had been honking and threatening to
accelerate for a few minutes. They asked him to stay calm, because
there were elder people, and kids, and pets, and it would not be safe
for him to pass through - which, as you saw, he ignored.

The 15-year-old son, when interviewed by the press, said (translation):
- It was wasn't them, the cyclists, who started. My father went a
little first. But then they started hitting the car for real. Then,
after they calmed down, three of them stayed in front of the car,
blocking him, only him.

[from this link, in portuguese:
http://zerohora.clicrbs.com.br/zerohora/jsp/default.jsp?uf=1&local=1&section=Geral&newsID=a3223867.xml]

Etienne, you are right. The police so far acts as if the cyclists were
wrong, for they had not warned the authorities that they would be
riding that night.

I think one of the great help we can have from the international
community is to have this story show up on major newspapers all over
the world. I believe our politicians are very sensitive to the bad PR
that will come if this insane driver is not convicted.

BTW, I am brazilian too, but from another city (Recife). I will follow
the events through the blog of the Critical Mass of Porto Alegre, and
try to keep you updated.

We are also trying to figure out what is the best strategy to raise
awareness of the incident throughout the country. Some cities have
scheduled rides for this week. If anyone has experience on this kind
of thing (I hope not), we are open to suggestions as to what worked
before, and what didn't.

Davi Pires

On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 8:58 AM, Theo Haris <theohariss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> wrote:
> This is very sad news indeed. I hope nobody got killed during this heinous
> act..
>
> Luis Patricio, do you want to keep us informed on what's happening in
> Brazil? I wonder also whether we should organise a critical mass ending on
> the embassy of Brazil in all countries we can, to protest if they still hold
> to the story that he didn't mean murder..
>
> Theo
>
> On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 1:51 PM, Etienne von Bertrab <etiennevon <at> gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> These are horrible news, Luis Patricio. As far as I understood the police
>> is still not recognising these powerful video testimonies. I wonder if we
>> could show solidarity while contributing with putting pressure on
>> authorities with a letter from WCN. Has it been done in the past? What do
>> you guys think?
>> Étienne
>>

>> On 27 February 2011 21:40, Luis Patricio <lcpatricio-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Last friday on Porto Alegre's Critical Mass, a driver hit dozens of
>>> cyclists:
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRgiIrHRoHM&feature=player_embedded
>>>

>>> We are all still shocked but many groups throughout the country are
>>> already planning something to respond to that hideous crime.
>>>
>>> The Porto Alegre CM blog has more info and videos (in portuguese):
>>> http://massacriticapoa.wordpress.com/
>>>
>>> Luis Patricio
>>> transportehumano.com.br

>>> "Mais importante que o veículo que você usa, é a mensagem que você
>>> veicula"
>>> <at> luis_patricio
>>>
>>> --
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>> Groups "World Carfree Network" group.
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>>
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