Cellphones blocked in SF to hinder transit protest

[Tuesday Afternoon]

By PAUL ELIAS - Associated Press | AP – 10 hrs ago

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Transit officials said Friday that they blocked cellphone reception in San Francisco train stations for three hours to disrupt planned demonstrations over a police shooting.

Officials with the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, better known as BART, said they turned off electricity to cellular towers in four stations from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. The move was made after BART learned that protesters planned to use mobile devices to coordinate a demonstration on train platforms.

"A civil disturbance during commute times at busy downtown San Francisco stations could lead to platform overcrowding and unsafe conditions for BART customers, employees and demonstrators," BART officials said in a prepared statement.

The statement noted that it's illegal to demonstrate on the platform or aboard the trains. BART said it has set aside special areas for demonstrations.

more at link:
http://news.yahoo.com/cellphones-blocked-sf-hinder-transit-protest-041114962.html

[elocs]

1. Here's a link to the DU Latest Breaking News story from yesterday about this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4959242

[Avalux]

2. What country is this??? I don't recognize it anymore.

This is ominous - but unfortunately, a sign of things to come. Our "democracy" (hahahaha), what a joke.

Another thought - did they stop to consider that people might actually need to use their phones for emergency purposes during that three hour period?

[snappyturtle]

3. You are so right! Plus if the authorities knew of the planned protests

couldn't they get police to the platforms? (I have never been there and have no idea how many platforms there are.)

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[FreakinDJ]

5. In America ??