When US Vice-President Dick Cheney popped into Sydney last month, he was greeted by protesters. Among them were two Tranny Cops. Not known for having a particularly good sense of humour, terrified NSW police promptly arrested them. The two “were each charged with impersonating a police officer and for not being a police officer and wearing a police uniform”. Normally, this would be cause for congratulations — you’ve passed! — but it appears that police are actually serious, and according to AAP in today’s edition of The Age (‘The Tranny Cops’ duo face Sydney court, March 16, 2007):
Two Sydney women who satirise police as part of a street theatre act have appeared in court charged with impersonating a police officer.
Sarah Michelle Harrison, 27, of Balmain East, and Anika Vinson, 24, of Marrickville, were arrested at a rally against the Sydney visit of US Vice-President Dick Cheney on February 23.
The pair, who were wearing fake moustaches and police-style blue overalls, are part of a street theatre act known as The Tranny Cops, rally organisers The Stop the War Coalition said.
The women faced Downing Centre Local Court charged with impersonating a police officer, exercising powers and wearing a police uniform while not being a police officer.
The Stop The War Coalition, who organised a small protest outside the court calling for charges to be dropped against the women, said the performance was a protest stunt.
“They satirise the continued presence of riot police at peaceful protest actions,” coalition spokesman Paddy Gibson said outside court.
“They might run around behind them (police) for the crowd, to lighten the mood of the crowd, which increasingly feels intimidated (by police).”
Mr Gibson said the women had been intimidated by the charges and had not performed since their arrest.
The matter was adjourned to the same court on April 5.
Their charges bring to mind a similarly ridiculous police stunt against another transgressive performer, Starpower, who got arrested by police in 1998 (I think?) for carrying a toy gun home from a rave. The police searched their records to find that the said gun was unregistered and that Starpower had no license to carry it: he was fined $50 (but a conviction was not recorded).
Remember folks: the police are all that stands between us and sheer anarchy.
