Report rips police spying on parade group (Santa Cruz)

[struggle4progress]

By KEN MCLAUGHLINSan Jose Mercury NewsSanta Cruz police ''more than likely'' violated the civil rights of organizers of a zany New Year's Eve parade by using undercover officers to monitor their planning meetings, the city's police auditor says.

The auditor, Palo Alto attorney Robert Aaronson, concludes in a 34-page report that police were too quick to send two undercover cops, posing as surfer dudes, to infiltrate three meetings over a two-month period in late 2005.

One such option suggested by Aaronson: telephoning parade planners to see what they were up to.

The controversy began after the city decided it could no longer afford to pay for First Night Santa Cruz, an alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration that for years kept the downtown safe for families. So a small group of artists vowed to stage a ''do-it-yourself'' parade with no official organizers or parade permits. <snip>

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/14166736.htm

D@mn! An alcohol-free New Year's Eve party! Better make sure they're not violent extremists ...

[400Years]

1. this is the raison d’être of cops, to protect the rulers

Law, Justice, Order, that is all just bullshit meant for you and me

[ManiacJoe]

2. It would seem

that this whole thing could have been avoided if the DIY group had gotten a parade permit just like everyone else has to. Or am I misreading something?