Give Metro's Buskers a Break

Annie Ervin
Arlington

I witnessed the arrest of the “Metro Trio” on the evening of May 5. The “Metro Trio” is the name I lovingly give the three men who frequent the Metro Center station singing barbershop-style arrangements. Their arrest enrages me for two reasons.

First, these men provide a needed pick-me-up at the end of a long D.C. workday, as many patrons of the Metrorail system would attest to. I’ve seen tired, sad individuals perk up and begin swaying to the trio’s rendition of “Under the Boardwalk.”

Second, shouldn’t the Metro Transit Police focus their energy on real crimes instead of arresting peaceful, beloved entertainers? There were over 1,500 reported cases of aggravated assault, robbery, burglary and larceny on the Metrorail system last year, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Web site. Metro’s police officers should focus their resources on preventing these serious crimes instead of sending four police officers and a German shepherd to arrest entertainers.

I urge the Metro Transit Police to reevaluate their treatment of these men and their policy toward performers at Metro stations in general.