The New York City Flour Riot of February 1837 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 459

186 years ago, with the US economy starting to melt down, New Yorkers rioted against alleged grain and flour hoarding. But discontent was much more widespread, as Locofocos and armed “Patriot” paramilitaries soon made clear. Bill and Rachel.

Links and notes for ep. 459 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AFD-Ep-459-Links-and-Notes-NYC-Flour-Riot-of-1837.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

June 26, 2022 – Modern Elevators – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 431

Bill and Rachel look at the development of the modern elevator from the 1850s onward and debate its effects on the American city in comparison to streetcars, electrification, and automobiles.

Links and notes for ep. 431 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AFD-Ep-431-Links-and-Notes-Modern-Elevators.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Aug 8, 2021 – Horse Power – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 392

Description: Life in the big American city of the 19th century included an endless sea of horses, and it was not a very pleasant situation for anyone, including the horses. Bill, Rachel, and Kelley explore.

Notes and links for Ep. 392 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AFD-Ep-392-Links-and-Notes-Horse-Power.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Oct 18, 2020 – The New York Conspiracy of 1741 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 329

Description: In 1741, New York City brutally suppressed an alleged conspiracy of Black slaves and White indentured servants to ensure no one would cooperate across racial lines. Bill and Kelley discuss.

Links and notes for Ep. 329 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AFD-Ep-329-Links-and-Notes-New-York-Conspiracy-of-1741.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Oct 4, 2020 – Boston Revolt and Leisler’s Rebellion – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 327

Description: Bill and Nate discuss the Boston Revolt of 1689 and Leisler’s Rebellion of 1689-91 in New York and their significance to later American history.

Links and notes for Ep. 327 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AFD-Ep-327-Links-and-Notes-Boston-Revolt-and-Leislers-Rebellion.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

A lot of NYPD computers are editing Wikipedia often

Excerpt from an investigation by Capital New York into rampant editing of Wikipedia by NYPD-based computers:

Computer users identified by Capital as working on the NYPD headquarters’ network have edited and attempted to delete Wikipedia entries for several well-known victims of police altercations, including entries for Eric Garner, Sean Bell, and Amadou Diallo. Capital identified 85 NYPD addresses that have edited Wikipedia, although it is unclear how many users were involved, as computers on the NYPD network can operate on the department’s range of IP addresses.

NYPD IP addresses have also been used to edit entries on stop-and-frisk, NYPD scandals, and prominent figures in the city’s political and police leadership.

 
The full article has some clearer statistics and figures on the edits. Unsurprisingly, some police computers were also simply being used to edit articles of personal and non-police interest to members of the NYPD, such as things related to hobbies and pop culture.

But a heck of a lot of the edits were focused on airbrushing or contesting articles related to controversial killings by the NYPD. And the fact the changes were being made right from computers owned by the NYPD and used at NYPD IP addresses is pretty bold.

It’s hard to know if the changes were essentially “vigilante” actions by frustrated cops/staffers or whether there was some kind of official policy urging them to make such changes on their down time at the office.

The pattern of edits is reminiscent of the notorious editing efforts from computers in the offices of the U.S. Congress toward pages related to members and their rivals or opponents.

Flag of the New York City Police Department

Flag of the New York City Police Department

January 21, 2015 – Arsenal For Democracy 114

AFD-logo-470

Topics: Republican State Attorneys General, the NYPD mutiny, US-Russian relations. People: Bill, Nate, Sasha. Produced: January 19th, 2015.

Discussion Points:

– How are Republican Attorneys General helping corporations fight common sense regulation?
– Is the NYPD beyond the control of the people of New York City and Mayor De Blasio?
– The end of nuclear partnership: When should the US view Russian actions as threatening versus posturing?

Episode 114 (52 min)
AFD 114

Related links
Segment 1

AFD, by Sasha: State Attorneys General are ruining the Earth. Literally.
NYT: Energy Firms in Secretive Alliance With Attorneys General

Segment 2

AFD: NYC: Overwhelming opposition to the NYPD mutiny
The Globalist, by Bill: New York: De Blasio Vs. a Renegade Police Department
AFD: The NYPD: America’s Secret Police
AFD, by De Ana: #BlackLivesMatter means just that, not that police lives don’t
Reuters: Off duty, black cops in New York feel threat from fellow police

Segment 3

Boston Globe: Russia ends US nuclear security alliance
The Globalist: Kaliningrad: Achilles’ Heel for the West

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