A street artist was arrested for the 42nd time on Sunday, this time for allegedly exhibiting his artwork on the High Line.
Touting signs that said “Stop Harassing Artists,” vendor and agitator Robert A. Lederman was arrested on Saturday by parks police.
According to the New York Times, he was handcuffed at approximately 3:30 p.m. near the High Line at West 14th Street.
He was issued five summonses, including disorderly conduct, failure to comply with directions of officers and vending without a park permit.
Lederman told the Times that representatives of Friends of the High Line had threatened him on Saturday before getting the police involved.
“Many activities are prohibited [on the High Line]," said Vickie Karp, a spokesperson for the Department of Parks and Recreation. "These include biking, skateboarding, throwing a baseball or a Frisbee, or walking a dog.”
Friends of the High Line did not comment on the incident.
Lederman is the president of Artists’ Response to Illegal State Tactics, promoting artists' rights to sell in public spaces.
He was arrested 41 times during the Giuliani administration. But this is his first under Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
In a 2001 case brought by Lederman, both state and federal courts ruled that the city could not mandate permits for artists in parks under the First Amendment.
In 1997, Lederman helped established artists’ rights to sell, arguing that street artists should be exempt from permit licensing, like book vendors.
