Saturday, January 26, 2013

It's not like they were carrying tommy guns, how about a little perspective here...

So back in 2011, a very dangerous pair of criminals were arrested in the New York subway.  What were they doing, you ask?  Mugging people?  Threatening to hurt them?  Oh no, they were doing something much, much worse.

They were doing The Charleston.

Oh yeah, you heard right.  A couple were actually arrested for doing a 1920's era dance in public.  The cops forced the guy to the ground and everything!  Apparently when they were told that dancing in the subway is illegal and they'd have to go to the police station, the dapper gentleman dancer started recording what was happening.

That was when he took an involuntary face plant in the cement.

Oh Mr Policeman, surely you realise by now that it's never a good idea to up the violence when the video recording equipment comes out!  Don't you remember  Rodney King?

And sure, doing The Charleston in public might be a bit dorky, but it's hardly the stuff of hardened criminals.  Hell, if I got arrested for every silly thing I did in public, I'd have a rap sheet as long as my arm!  In fact, I'm pretty sure I've done The Charleston myself in a public place or two.  Should I expect the SWAT team to come crashing through my windows any minute now?

It's a travesty of course.  You can't arrest people for dancing!  What is this, Footloose?  Come on people, Kevin Bacon died for our sins so we could dance in whatever way we wanted ... at least I think that's how it went.  I saw that film at a sleepover and I was painting my nails while it was on so I didn't really pay it as much attention as I probably should have.

The court seems to agree with me though, considering the dancing duo were awarded seventy five thousand in compensation ... but is it wrong that I kind of wish I'd been there in that subway to see it?  I mean, how many times in your life will you get the chance to see a couple dancing like Bonnie and Clyde, only to be tackled to the ground by the police?

I'm never around for the good stuff.

71 comments:

  1. I'm visiting Manhattan in February.

    I'm going to do "The Lindy" on the subway platform and take pictures just for you. :)

    Great story.

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    1. Ooh, please do! I'm assuming you'll be wearing era appropriate clothing? May I recommend black and white spats and a felt fedora?

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  2. Probably only see it 2 or 3 times a week in NYC. Suprising the cops did anything, street and subway performers are very common in NYC. Some make a decent living...if they have any talent...and many do.

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    1. That's the funny thing, they weren't even busking, they were just dancing for the joy of it! If they had been, the cops probably would have had more of a case.

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  3. They arrested them?!?!? What? That would have been adorable and much more cheerful than everything else - LITERALLY everything else - I have ever seen on an NYC subway!

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    1. I can't think of a single situation that WOULDN'T be improved by a couple doing the Charleston!

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  4. This is just too much! Unbelievable.

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    1. Damn cops, stifling our joy. Well they can take away our dancing, but they can't take the music from our hearts!!!

      I kind of feel like Braveheart right now :D

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  5. seriously!? that's half the reason to ride the subway when you visit NYC. all the fun little acts peddling for change!

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    1. And they weren't even busking, just dancing. I imagine they were just filled with the joy of the human spirit ... only to have the joy smushed into the concrete.

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  6. That is just amazing... So it was just two people goofing off? And they needed to be tackled to the ground..? I can understand if they were violently ninja moshing or something... but The Charleston?

    Madison
    atthedogparkblog.blogspot.com

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    1. It really is scary if you can't even be slightly silly in public without fear of attack.

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  7. hahahaha Kellie! Loved this post. Any time policeman are idiots I have to laugh. A Keystone Cops moment. You had me at: "Kevin Bacon died for our sins" - hahahahaha.

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    1. I consider it both an honour and a privilege to bring you all stories like this. People need to be educated about the dangers of doing Depression Era dance steps in public places!

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  9. That is wild!!!! Seriously, why would there be rules about dancing on subways? What's the harm compared to all the other things that a person could do on public transportation.

    I, also, am never around when interesting things are happening. I would make a great voyeur if given the opportunity.

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    1. If they were doing it right on the edge of the platform I could see a logic to it, but I'm sure they were well behind the line.

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  10. While I thoroughly enjoyed the "Kevin Bacon died for our sins", don't be jumping to conclusions. No one said they were doing the Charleston well. They could have been putting other folks in serious danger, with all the swinging and kicking going on, if they were terrible dancers. (Is there swinging and kicking going on in the Charleston? I don't watch Dancing with the Stars, so I really have no idea.)

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    1. Ooh, I hadn't thought of that! Maybe the cops were doing it as a favour to all the other people in the Subway. Saving them from having to watch two people "attempt" to do The Charleston.

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  11. I think it would be great seeing people dance in the subway. Just standing there waiting for a train can be boring.

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    1. Maybe we should petition for public transport providers to hire dancers! After all, I'm sure those poles in the trains could be put to good use.

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  12. I saw it's a good thing they were stopped before they became hardened criminals! I mean, can you just imagine if they were doing the Watusi?? Hundreds could have been killed. Oh, the horror!!

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  13. Apparently there is a girl posting on YouTube "Dance like nobody is watching". Girl busts some serious moves in strange places. Laundromats, department stores and dare I say, she is quite good.

    Wonder how long her rap sheet is?

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    1. I went and had a look at her stuff, she certainly knows how to both get down AND get funky.

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  14. I'd be willing to bet there was some real crime going on in that subway, while the cops were busy busting dancers.

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    1. Yep, pick as many pockets as you'd like, just don't do any fancy footwork while you're at it.

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  15. I for one will never forget Kevin Bacon's brave sacrifice.

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    1. Make sure you light a candle for him every time you bust a move ;D

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  16. Every now and again I have to say 'only in America' and this is one of those moments. 75,000 could come in handy, so I've worked out a really nice dance routine and I'm on my way to that subway right now. I've even packed my toothbrush.

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    1. That sounds like a solid financial plan with absolutely no way of backfiring!

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  17. There's no respect for the Law anymore. Hang 'em, I say.

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    1. Well the law is the law. If they dance, knowing full well that it's a hanging offence, they really only have themselves to blame. The Charleston ... the bloody nerve...

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  18. you really just have to shake your head at some of this stuff...

    take care, slu

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    1. But it does sound like a rather easy way to make seventy five grand, doesn't it :D

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  19. Seriously? That's incredible. I had to look back to your first para twice to assure myself that you were really talking about NYC (where I lived for 10 yrs). There are definitely bigger problems in NYC than dancing, and the police should concern themselves with those.
    Have a wonderful weekend! :-)

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    1. Unfortunately, if the NYC police are anything like the ones here, they don't take too kindly to being told to "go catch some real criminals". Far too many speeding offenders have found themselves in the pokey as a result of that.

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  20. I love your blog, I look forward to seeing more from you. Do you run any other sites? thanks

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    1. Thanks! No, this is my one and only, and with the amount of time it takes that's probably a good thing ;)

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  21. Come spy on me at Speed Dating next week - there'll be good stuff, guaranteed! Sarah xxx

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  22. If it was those annoying "Improv Everywhere" people, I could understand, but some old timey dancing? Misdemeanor at best. I hear that for their community service, they have to go square dancing with old people.

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    1. It could be worse, they could be forced to compete in "So You Think You Can Dance"

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  23. They were clearly a threat to the whole family friendly NYC that they have been trying to establish for years. I mean really all that gyrating. Okay well not really but it's NY and odd things are bound to happen and then be apologized for.

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    1. Well dancing IS the devil's work! Can't have them getting down and getting funky now, can we!

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  24. Yeah, what a stupid law. #1, I can't imagine why it was on the books in the first place, #2, I can't imagine why the cops decided it was worth the effort to confront, subdue, haul the people to jail, and do all the paperwork involved, and #3, why they would do such a thing with cameras rolling. Hell, today cops should know that EVERYTHING they do is probably on tape somewhere. I suspect the cops IQ never quite made it into double digits.

    S

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  25. Just found you via your comment on Misfits Vintage (I agree, Psycho Killer is the dress). I love what I've read in your blog, except nut-case America stuff (I have to live here), and I will completely give up dusting so that I have time to read you!

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  26. It does seem just a little over the top... ;)

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    1. Although it would be kind of awesome to be able to tell people you'd been arrested for doing The Charleston!

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  27. I must admit that I was attracted by the title Delightfully ludicrous (I found you through the blog hop) This is the funniest blog I've read in a long time. perfect title. You've just gained a new follower.
    -Kim
    http://kimwagnerdesigns.blogspot.com/

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  28. Hi! Following you from the blog hop. Love your post! My husband will love it when I tell him....he is from Harlem, NY City!

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    1. Hey, it's a valid financial plan! Seventy five thousand for a bit of Charlestoning and a night in the pokey!

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  29. Kellie, thank you for following Carole's Chatter. I have followed you right back. Cheers

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  30. How ridiculous - they deserve every penny!

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    1. I think so too ... and I may or may not be planning to do a foxtrot at my local train station in an effort to boost my bank account.

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  31. Definitely laughed while reading this post -
    Newest follower from the blog hop - love for you to follow me back so we can get to know each other better!
    Kaylynn
    colbkayandtrae.blogspot.com

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  32. Hahaha it's a weird feeling to hear about someone getting arrested for something and think "I would love to try that out".

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    1. Oh, the number of times I've been reading about someone getting arrested and though, "Huh, I've actually done that", I couldn't even begin to tell you...

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  33. I can't say whether I find this funny or scary! In any case, it's amusing. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Actually, it's probably a little of both. I'm sure it wasn't amusing for them when it happened, but they're laughing now!

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  34. Oh my God. The Kevin Bacon dying for our sins line just caused me to wet myself. Damn coffee. You are on FIRE!

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    1. Maybe I should go door-to-door next Sunday morning asking people if they've accepted Kevin Bacon as their lord and saviour!

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  35. Unbelievable. Well...actually...kinda. Did you hear about the recent situation on a Qantas flight from Australia to New Zealand where a man was wearing a tshirt with a quote from "Princess Bride" on it and they asked him to take his shirt off because his fellow passengers felt threatened by it? What next?

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