For Immediate Release (1/14/98):
provided through OPENAIR-MARKET NET
A.R.T.I.S.T. (Artist's Response To Illegal State Tactics) President Robert Lederman was arrested in front of City Hall today during the Mayor's State of the City speech. Lederman had used a piece of chalk to write, "GIULIANI =POLICE STATE" on the street near Giuliani's parked white sports utility vehicle. He was immediately surrounded by police, arrested and dragged into the basement of City Hall where he watched the Mayor's speech on a T.V. monitor while surrounded by police officers. Police officials immediately washed the chalk off of the street near Giulaini's vehicle.
Lederman was held for three hours at the First Precinct and charged with Defacement of Property. While in custody he was interrogated by three N.Y.P.D. Intelligence officers and asked if he intended to kill the Mayor. This is Lederman's 17th arrest on speech related charges. He has never been found guilty on any of the charges. The arresting officer is P.O. Meeks.
Photos and a tape recording of the incident are available. First Precinct (212) 334-0611
Mayor Giuliani's press office 212 788-2958
Contact numbers:
A.R.T.I.S.T. PH: (718) 369-2111 or (212) 561-0877; E-mail <ARTISTpres@aol.com>; Web site http://www.openair.org/alerts/artist/nyc.html; Postal address: 255 13th St. Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215