Police Stop Bob Dylan for Being White

Image via Wikipedia

In his 1975 release Hurricane, Bob Dylan sings about New Jersey cops, “If you’re black, you might as well not show up on the street, unless you want to draw the heat.” Well in today’s Jersey police state, anyone can draw the heat for showing up on the wrong street, even a white music legend.

The AP is reporting that on July 23 Bob Dylan was picked up by the police in the Jersey Shore town of Long Branch at 5 p.m. when a resident reported that “a man was wandering around a low-income, predominantly minority neighborhood several blocks from the oceanfront looking at houses.” Apparently in Jersey “wandering” a black neighborhood is a no-no, if you’re white. “So Patty calls the cops and they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin’ in the hot New Jersey night.”

An officer drove up to Dylan and this classic exchange ensued:

“What is your name, sir?”

“Bob Dylan.” Dylan said.

“OK, what are you doing here?” the officer asked.

“I’m on tour,” the singer replied.

The name didn’t ring a bell, so the officers asked for ID. But Dylan explained he didn’t have any because he was just walking around looking at houses trying to pass some time before his show later that evening.

That should have been enough for the police. The skinny 68 year-old was not bothering anyone or doing anything illegal.  He was just a man out for a stroll.  But no!!! The officers asked Dylan to accompany them back to his hotel.  Dylan made the smart move and politely complied.  Only after the police found a tour staff member who vouched for Dylan did they leave the old man alone.

The Long Branch business administrator Howard Woolley praised Dylan for his compliance with the police, “He couldn’t have been any nicer to them.”  No doubt. This summer I’ve recounted for True/Slant several examples of the bad stuff that happens when someone isn’t sweet-as-punch compliant even if the police are bothering you for no legally justifiable reason.  Real glad Bob didn’t join the list.