NYC Subway Musician Exonerated, Publicly Supported, and Arrested in Violation of Law
In this video NYC subway busker Andrew Kalleen was arrested for performing on a subway platform after a police officer harassed Kalleen to leave despite the Metropolitan Transport Authority's rule under Section 1050.6c of the "Rule of Conducts" expressly allowing people to play music.
Kalleen managed to recite the specific rule that exonerated himself. The officer continue to harass Kalleen and calling back up despite reading back to Kalleen the explicit rule that allowed him to perform on the subway platform.
After reasoning with the officer, Kalleen resumed playing and singing to Neil Young's "Ohio" and Pink Flord's "Wish You Were Here" with public support. When reinforcement came, the first officer full-on arrested Kalleen, forcibly removing his guitar and slamming it into his face in the process.
The Busk NY organization held a rally today at 4:30 p.m. at the Metropolitan Ave mezzanine. Kalleen was charged with loitering. The musician stated he's tired of NYPD usually muscling buskers and street performers, not knowing their rights, and using small-time offences as excuses to forcibly remove, ticket, and arrest buskers despite the laws.
