NYC Cops accused of unfair treatment at GOP Convention

As the city scooped up protesters during the Republican convention, it also managed to snatch away their civil liberties by holding many longer than 24 hours, City Council members and legal advocates said yesterday. Councilwoman Margarita Lopez (D-Manhattan) accused the Police Department of intentionally holding protesters longer than the legally allowed 24 hours in order to keep them off the streets during the Republican National Convention. A judge is expected to announce how much he will fine the city for failing to comply with his order to release hundreds of protesters who were detained for more than a day. Scores of those arrested have complained of lengthy detentions under repugnant conditions at a Hudson River pier. Dozens of lawsuits seem all but inevitable, and the City Council plans to hold a hearing to examine the treatment of protesters. Councilwoman Margarita Lopez, a Democrat from Manhattan, said she asked the Civilian Complaint Review Board to review the case, and the Health Department to investigate the conditions at the pier.[more ] and [more ]

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