I arrived at centro plaza needing to use the restroom, and then wanting to catch the number 76 bus westward. I headed for the restroom, and a group of about 4 or 5 transit police and security were standing directly in front of the restrooms. I had my ear buds in. As i arrived at the door, someone, i believe one of the cops, said the bathroom is closed. There was a cardboard sign on the left glass saying it was closed, but otherwise, it didn’t look closed. I either tried opening the door, or more likely continued to approach the open door. I also removed my ear buds. The person inside was a via employee. If i remember right, he said it was closed, and then he extended the yellow partition that they usually use to block it off. I asked how long it would be closed. Someone, i believe the employee, said about 10 minutes. The cop said it would be closed until they were done, in a tone of voice i percieved as hostile. So i started walking off in the direction of the number 76 bus stop, muttering “fuck that and fuck you all”. One of them asked what i said, so i stopped and said that i had said “fuck you”. They said profanity is prohibited, and that this was private property. I argued with them for a minute or 2, saying that it was free speech under the first amendment. They told me to leave and not come back for 24 hours. They asked if i was taking a bus, and i said yes. One of the security said if i hit back while being arrested, it would be a felony. He pushed me several times, and grabbed my wrist once, but i twisted free. Eventually i walked off in the direction of martin street and leona, toward a different stop for number 76 upstream of the plaza. As i was walking off, one of them said to not take a bus, and one yelled to not come back for 24 hours. I continued to flip them off and yell “fuck you” as i left. I caught the number 3 westbound at martin and leona, which becomes the 76. I was on the bus when it stopped at centro, and i flipped them off from my seat, but i don’t think they saw me. https://youtu.be/XLnnDUkZPW0
No, it is not private property. It is a public bus station, operated by via, which is funded by sales tax, and is run by a board of trustees appointed by the city and the county.
Disorderly conduct is not an exception to free speech. Fighting words are an exception, according to “Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire”. But that atrocious decision has been significantly limited since, as summerized on wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_words
No, that isn’t criminal.