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NYC Officials Sue Police over Response to Protests

Four New York City lawmakers are suing the city over its treatment of the Occupy Wall Street protests. WAMC’s Dave Lucas reports

The civil rights suit was filed Monday in a Manhattan federal court. It says police conduct is so problematic that the force needs an outside monitor.

The city Law Department had no immediate comment Monday. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has defended police handling of the protests.

Occupy demonstrators have gone to court before over particular episodes. The new lawsuit is a compendium of complaints.

It says the city and police violated demonstrators' free speech and other rights, used excessive force and interfered with journalists' and council members' efforts to observe.

City Council members Letitia James, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Ydanis Rodriguez and Jumaane Williams are among the plaintiffs.

Dave Lucas, WAMC News. 

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.