"This is America, not Afghanistan." - The little guy finally wins.
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
United States
July 3, 2007 8:53pm CST
I've been following this case since I live close to where this occurred in Philadelphia.
Anthony Riley was acquitted Tuesday after being arrested for refusing to heed a police officer's command he stop singing in a public park.
A judge found Anthony Riley not guilty of disorderly conduct, saying "This is America, not Afghanistan."
Riley, 20, had faced a three month sentence after loudly singing "A Change is Gonna Come" in Rittenhouse Square in downtown Philadelphia in March. Rittenhouse Square is in the so-called "nice part of town." (You get my drift?)
Greg Wilkinson, the arresting officer, testified Riley was singing too loud.
"All he had to do was lower his voice and this never would have happened," prosecutor William James said.
Witnesses testified that Riley had asked Wilkinson what law was restricting him from singing in the park.
Wilkinson responded that he was the law. (Man, this officer is arrogant.)
When Riley asked Wilkinson whether he was still in America, Wilkinson replied "this is Afghanistan," according to witnesses.
Defense attorney Evan Shingles said Riley had every right to ignore the officer's unlawful command.
Isn't it nice to see the little guy win once in a while? I can't believe they wanted to waste taxpaper's money and jail this guy for 3 months.
What do you think?
Lloyd
8 people like this
24 responses
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
5 Jul 07
Glad to see the constitution and our personal rights do have meaning somewhere. I think the police officer and the prosecutor need a swift kick out of office. Three months for singing louldy in the park what a crock of BS.
2 people like this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
5 Jul 07
I agree totally with your post. I couldn't have said it any better.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@xfallenxlostx (2074)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Oh, crap...are you serious about this? That officer was ACTUALLY going to put this mane in jail for 3 months for SINGING?????? Is he out of his mind? And then to say we are in Afghanistan...what is his problem? Doesn't Philly have one of the highest crime rates in Pennsylvania? Wasn't there some BIGGER case this officer SHOULD have been on?
i am so glad to hear the little man won this time. It's nice to know that sometimes...just sometimes...there is still some justice in this God-forsaken world.
2 people like this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
There are a lot of BIGGER cases this office could have been working on. Here are some stats.
As detailed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s latest report, Philadelphia is the worst of the nation’s top-ten cities when it comes to violent crime.
Philadelphia boasted 1,476 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2005 — more than twice New York City’s rate of only 673 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
Nationally, 2005 data showed that the violent-crime rate inched up by 1.3 percent, while in Philadelphia, violent crime was up by 3.4 percent, including a 15-percent increase in homicides.
Clearly some other places are doing a better job fighting crime than Philadelphia.
Lloyd
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Woo-hoo! About time we saw some real justice for a change.
All too many times cops get away with crap like that. Good for Anthony Riley! Way to stand up for that first amendment right!
Thanks for sharing, Lloyd, this is one I hadn't heard about.
2 people like this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Anthony Riley did stand up for his first amemdment rights. Isn't it amazing that a 20 year old young man had to stand up to the police to protect all of our rights.
All the guy wanted to do was sing. What's wrong with that?
Lloyd
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
4 Jul 07
This is indeed good news since next we won't be able to hold hands anymore or something just as silly. Singing is a good thing and if someone is happy doing something like this then there should be no harm no foul. Yeah for the regular guy and gal. We need this reported on all the new stations.
2 people like this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
You are so right. Philadelphia has it's share of problems. It has the highest murder rate in America. So there is plenty of other things a officer could be doing other than arresting someone singing in park.
Lloyd
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
4 Jul 07
its about time we are slowly but surly losing all our rights id rtather some one sing than be driving a car bomb however we must excuse the terrorist and deny a citisen the right to sing??what the he** is happening in this country
2 people like this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
We do seem to be loosing our rights one by one. The authorities need to put things in perspective.
It's like the kids who skateboard. They treat them like terrorists. It's like they don't want them to be anywhere around. And I don't understand it.
Anyway, I glad this 20 year old guy was able to plead his case and come out victorius.
It's a good day for the little guy.
Lloyd
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I am glad the judge used his power to give the correct verdict. The police officer obviously thought he he had the power to make up his own laws and didn't get away with it. Afghanistan, indeed!!
It truly was a waste of taxpayer's money. This officer needs to apprehend the real criminals. I wonder how many other arrogant things this guy has done.
PEACE
2 people like this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I'm sure this isn't the first time he abused his power as a police officer. According to him, "he was the law".
I hope he has changed his ways and has become more professional.
Lloyd
@vkbllm (474)
• India
4 Jul 07
Hi to youlloysanthony111....Hows life?
Well I never heard about that case. But I only came to know it through urs posting here.
This Was indeed a justice made.
America is very rational country.
If You go through american declaration of Indeoendence you will come to know that it besizes the values like libert and fraterniy.
So how on earth can u impose restrictios like that????
Hence it is rightly said that America is not Afganistan that you go on imposing those stupid laws!
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
5 Jul 07
America used to be more rational than it is today, but we still value our constitutional rights.
America isn't Afganistan, so these type of restrictions should be ignored.
Thanks.
Lloyd
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
5 Jul 07
Yes, I was very glad he got off. I lived in center city Philadelphia for a long time and busking was always an honored tradition in Rittenhouse Square. It would be a shame to lose that tradition because of the fragile sensibilities of the nouveau riche in the new high rise condos. The old Philadelphians never seemed to be bothered by the music in the square. Hell, their children and grandchildren were sometimes the singers. The problem is that the new people have no connection to the city at all and they needed to to assert their "rights". Having a cop in their corner must have seemed quite a coup. I'm glad it backfired in the long run. Rittenhouse Square is a nice place with some nice traditions that the entire city can participate in.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Hi Jerryn. We've just coined a new phrase. It's called "Freedom of Song" due to the attack upon this young man's right to sing in public.
It is good to see the little guy win once in a while.
Yesterday was my birthday, so I'll be celebrating it today July 4th at a couple of BBQs.
You have a great day also.
Lloyd
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Hi Jerryn. I just checked my messeges here at myLot. I saw you link for
http://www.e4l.biz/money.htm?jerryn
I bookedmarked it and will look further into it.
I need to check my messeges here at myLot a little more often. I had a lot that I didn't even know about.
Glad you like the concept of "Freedom of Song".
Lloyd
@jerryn (819)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I like Freedom Of Song, it has a nice ring to it.
Well I hope you enjoy your BBQ's. My hubby is doing the BBQ right now and my Mom is cooking homemade cornbread, collard greens and baked beans. I hope it all gets done before it rains this afternoon. I hope you have pleasant weather for your BBQ. Lloyd, I sent you a private message recently about a venture known as Entertainment 4 less. Did you get it? You didn't respond to it and I know it's unlike you not to respond. Check your messages and let me know what you think. Are you going to share your BBQ with your animal friends? (smile)
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Jul 07
For goodness sake...how bloody riduiculous. I'm surprised it even got to court. Hasn't this officer anything better to do...like arrest REAL law breakers? Or better still, taking a course in police public relations. I hope the officer was fined for misconduct....heheheheh.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
8 Jul 07
Hi MsTickle.
I'm watching Fox 29 news out of Philadelphia right now and believe me there are more pressing issues.
Philadelphia has the highest murder rate in the United States.
Nothing was done to the officer or the prosecutor.
Lloyd.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Jul 07
This is refreshing, lloydanthony. I feel that they should take it a step further and reimburse the guy for time served. I smell a lawsuit coming.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I don't know if there will be a lawsuit, but Anthony Riley has received so much attention that he'll probably get a recording contract.
He has a great voice. Natation Public Radio had a interview with him and he sang the song he was arrested for.
Lloyd
@asawako48162 (3321)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I have neighbors who live two houses down and they always have a lot of people..late at night ..playing music..smoking? and drinking..but since it don't bother me..as I am partly deaf and I keep my windows shut with a/c but some neighbors call the coops as the time is after midnight and their young kids are running up and down the streets screaming..but this would be a case of noise abuse..
not in a Park..singing in the daytime...as long as it was not in the middle of the night..as our parks close at 1030 p.m. ..this police man gives the cops a bad name..i am glad to see justice win..for big or little...go America..you rock
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
5 Jul 07
I'm also glad to see the justice prevail for the little guy.
America has it's problems, but sometimes the system works.
Lloyd
@tikensoup (227)
• Mauritius
16 Jul 07
Hello there lloydanthony, your story made my day. I am definitely rating you positively for this one. It is so good to hear that for once the little guy won. However it is very sad that some people use their position to oppress the small ones. How stupid of that cop to act like this. The little guy won but the real injustice is that he had to be humiliated and arrested for singing without the right to say anything for fear of getting into worse trouble. These kind of cops are the ones that give police force a bed name and deteriorates their relationships with people.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
16 Jul 07
I'm glad I was able to bring a little sunshine into your day . Thanks for the positive rating. It's about time the little guy was able to prevail.
Some officers believe they are above the law. This officer learned that he wasn't.
Hopefully other officers will learn from this case and not bring petty charges up against people who aren't really breaking the law.
Lloyd
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
13 Jul 07
Glad that he won. If they wanted no noise they should have a no noise ordinance. They have one in Ohio in certain places you canoot even honk your horn or you get arrested I seen that in one of the ohio papers when I was visiting family a woman jailed for honking her horn at her sisters house in a no noise ordinance. I wouldn't know why they have rules like that unless it is a judge who sleeps there or someone high up who doesn't like to be disturbed.. Glad though that Anthony Riley was aquitted he done nothing wrong and some cops can get to big for their britches in thinking they are the law onto themselves and they can either make or break the law without conquences.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
26 Jul 07
There are some strange laws out there.. here are some strange ones even one about getting jailed if you honk your horn in ohio.. but it isn't the same woman I was speaking about. I have thought I might make a post out of some of these strange laws.. wouldn't some people think them crazy..
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu_GtRKhGdbAAH0dXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExcDQ1bmxqBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=11tt0e1pg/EXP=1185519149/**http%3a//gizardboy1990.tripod.com/id48.html
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I can't believe they would jail a woman for honking her horn. That's just rediculous. I wouldn't want to visit that town or live in it.
I'm also glad that Anthony Riley was acquitted. Sometimes officers over react to simple things such as singing.
Lloyd
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I say bravo to the judge...for a change! and hope the policeman got a reprimand!
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
He should have been made to pay all the costs associated with prosecuting this frivilous case.
Lloyd
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
4 Jul 07
I think it is about a cop exceeding his authority. Those are the sort of police officers who give a bad name to the whole police force. You give them a badge and they think they are God.
There is no doubt that the police officer was provoking Riley with his answers... in the hope that Riley would get angry so that he could arrest him on other charges. This is typical with cops. It has happenned to me when a cop did put his hands on my shoulders and pushed me to the ground in the hope that I would resist him.
While I respect most cops... I don't thrust those which patrol the streets. Those are usually young cops who are far too cocky.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I never even thought about it from that perspective. He might just have been trying to provoke him into another action that could have been far worse that the singing in public charge.
You are right. These police officers give a bad name to other officers.
Lloyd
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Yea, this is one officer I would never want to confront. He seems as if he is very arrogant.
Police departments all over the United States should be more careful when recruiting officers.
Did you hear about the Ohio policeman who recently killed his 9 month pregnant girlfriend?
He should have known better.
Lloyd
@ChangingLivesForever (145)
• United States
4 Jul 07
This is another example of someone in authority letting power go to their head. An unbelievable waste of taxpayer's money and jail time for something as obtuse as singing. I love to sing. Simon Cowell would tell me that I am the worse singer he had ever heard but my heart would be in it!
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
It just goes to show you how rediculous and petty some people can be, especially if the are in a position of power.
I like to hear people sing in public places like a park.
Maybe the officer was having a bad day.
Lloyd
@bambi_doe (566)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I think that if I wanted to sing and I don't care what or how loud I sang I have a personal right too. Even if know one won'ts me to it is a free country still at least last I looked. Freedom of speech or song. God bless the little guy and hugs
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I like the phrase "Freedom of Song". Maybe we will have to amend the constitution to add "Freedom of Song" to it because of this overaggressive arrogant officers.
Lloyd
