ACLU Will Assist FBI Probe into NYPD's Arrests of Convention Protestors...

[Peter Frank]

(5/17/2006)

NYCLU Will Assist with FBI Investigation into NYPD's Arrests of Convention Protesters


NEW YORK - The FBI has asked the New York Civil Liberties Union to assist in a criminal civil rights investigation into the New York City Police Department's arrest of protesters during the Republican National Convention.

The NYCLU, which has agreed to assist in the investigation; has filed numerous federal lawsuits challenging mass arrests during the Convention, the prolonged detention of protesters charged with minor of offenses and the fingerprinting of all protesters.

The FBI disclosed that it is conducting a criminal investigation just one week after the Civilian Complaint Review Board, an official agency of the City of New York, reported that hundreds of Convention protesters may have been unnecessarily and unlawfully arrested because NYPD officials failed to give adequate orders to disperse and failed to afford protesters a reasonable opportunity to disperse. Police Commissioner Kelly has rejected that report.

"Commissioner Kelly may have thought he could ignore complaints from the civil rights community and even the Civilian Complaint Review Board about Convention arrests, but we doubt he can ignore the FBI," said NYCLU Associate Legal Director Christopher Dunn. "We have clear evidence that hundreds of protesters were unlawfully arrested during the Convention, and we look forward to assisting the FBI with its criminal investigation."

The most dramatic example of potentially criminal misconduct arose from the mass arrest of nearly 400 people during a demonstration near Union Square. Criminal court complaints filed by a high-level NYPD official claimed that group was arrested only after being given an order to disperse and refusing to disperse, but that official admitted recently in sworn testimony that no one gave such an order. The NYCLU, which has sued over this mass arrest, will ask the FBI to include this incident and other incidents in its criminal investigation.

The FBI's letter to the NYCLU is available at: www.nyclu.org/pdfs/rnc_fbi_fbi_to_nyclu_letter_051706.pdf

The NYCLU's letter to Commisioner Kelly is available at: www.nyclu.org/pdfs/rnc_fbi_nyclu_to_kelly_letter_051706.pdf

Commissioner Kelly's letter to teh CCRB is available at: www.nyclu.org/pdfs/rnc_fbi_kelly_to_ccrb_letter_051706.pdf

The CCRB's letter to Commissioer Kelly is available at: www.nyclu.org/pdfs/rnc_fbi_ccrb_to_kelly_letter_051706.pdf

http://aclu.org/safefree/dissent/25593prs20060517.html

[niallmac]

1. This is the most encouraging thing I've read in weeks.n/t

[KoKo]

2. You might want to correct your subject line, it says ACLU but article says

NYCLU. You still have time to edit... Article doesn't say what the NYCLU is, though. Maybe it's at one of the links you gave.

thanks...interesting.

[SeattleGirl]

3. It's the New York Civil Liberties Union

Which is an affiliate of the ACLU.

[Peter Frank]

8. Not going to play that silly game...

Read the original link I provided & get back with me -- http://aclu.org/safefree/dissent/25593prs20060517.html

[annabanana]

14. It IS ACLU, NY branch. . . . . eom

[SeattleGirl]

4. Wow, that's wonderful that someone is actually taking this stuff

seriously, and is investigating it, AND asking the ACLU to help in the investigation. I had to read the post twice to make sure I was reading what I thought I was reading.

[crizzo5137]

5. wrong

[Peter Frank]

7. You may be right - Please explain your point n/t...

[SeattleGirl]

11. Thanks Peter. That was my question too.

I don't mind people disagreeing, but it would be nice if they said WHY. Sometimes I learn something from what they post. No so here, though.

[Peter Frank]

12. I detest being wrong, but I abhor being ignorant...

I know many things I don't want to accecpt.

[SeattleGirl]

13. Oh me too.

I don't want to think that the prez or his cohorts, or members of Congress can be so reprehensible. I'd rather keep my head in the sand, but that is not an option at this point in time.

[Peter Frank]

16. ...

Yeah, I used to take democracy for granted. For the longest time, my government outwardly expressed my inner feelings (however, I wasn't so naive as to be unaware that clandestine ops were going on).

Welcome to the aftermath of the new Pearl Harbor.

"Lack of freedom"'s just another phrase for "everything to gain."

[NYC]

6. ...admitted recently in sworn testimony that no one gave such an order...

...that official admitted recently in sworn testimony that no one gave such an order...

Significant.

[Peter Frank]

9. Link?... n/t

[Peter Frank]

17. My Bad...

You quoted from the OP. It was late & I was very tired.

Still, I'm not quite clear on you point though. Please 'splain.

[NYC]

19. Sorry for the delay.

The NYPD admitted they don't have a leg to stand on. They were dead wrong.

[Peter Frank]

10. Reality Demands...

eom

[Hekate]

15. Wonders never cease....

:-)

Hekate

[Peter Frank]

18. It never occurred to me that the ACLU & FBI would colaberate...

...on anything, let alone investigating cops (I am a little suspicious of some possible motives here).