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Artist’s 37th False Arrest Dismissed at Arraignment /Giuliani
6/30/99
Robert Lederman, President of A.R.T.I.S.T. (Artists’ Response To Illegal State
Tactics) was in Criminal Court today to be arraigned on charges of Disorderly
Conduct stemming from a 5/26/99 arrest outside the Federal Civil Rights Commission
hearing on Police Brutality. Lederman was handcuffed and had his portrait of
Mayor Giuliani as Hitler confiscated as a grinning Giuliani exited the hearing
and watched the arrest. A few moments before the arrest Lederman was approached
by an NYPD Captain (Heegan) and asked his name. A few moments later Heegan ordered
his arrest and personally tore the Giuliani painting from Lederman’s hands.
The arraignment took place at the #346 Broadway Criminal Court in room 152.
Virtually all defendants sent to room 152 have their cases immediately dismissed
for facial insufficiency, usually due to the arresting officer failing to make
out a complaint that sufficiently alleges the defendant violated a law. Two
police captains, two police officers, and a detective from the NYPD Intelligence
Division conferred with attorneys from the NYPD legal division by phone for
two hours while writing out the complaint.
Despite the virtual guarantee that his case would be dismissed the attorney
assigned by the court to represent Lederman attempted to get him to plead guilty
and accept an ACD (Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal) which carries
with it a 6 months probation. When Lederman refused the plea the judge immediately
dismissed the case but not before giving Lederman a stern warning. “Don’t ever
let me see you in this court again wearing that shirt”, the judge told the defendant.
Lederman was wearing one of his now infamous tee-shirts boldly painted on the
front and back, “Giuliani = Police State”.
Robert Lederman, President of A.R.T.I.S.T.
(Artists’ Response To Illegal State Tactics)
255 13th Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215
(718) 369-2111
e mail ARTISTpres@aol.com
http://www.openair.org/alerts/artist/nyc.html
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