Politics & Government
Jumaane Williams Joins Lawsuit Against NYPD Handling of OWS Protestors
The suit claims that the NYPD has violated free speech rights and used excessive force; wants to see a independent police monitor.
Councilman Jumaane Williams, D-Brooklyn, has filed a lawsuit against the NYPD for their handling of Occupy Wall Street protestors, says the Associated Press (re-printed on the Huffington Post).
The suit alleges that the city and police violated demonstrators' free speech rights, used excessive force, arrested protesters on false charges and interfered with the work of journalists and council members at the protest, according to the article.
The suit, which Williams filed with Council Members Melissa Mark-Viverito, D-Manhattan, Ydanis Rodriguez, D-Manhattan, and Letitia James, D-Brooklyn, was filed on April 30, the day before a planned “May Day” protest, says the AP.
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According to the article, the elected officials want a court-appointed monitor to oversee the police handling of further Occupy protests, as well as a review of the more than 2,000 protest-related arrests and the closures of Zuccotti Park and other public spaces.
