Central Park Lawsuit scheduled for Emergency Hearing

[Hawkeye-X]

This came via e-mail.

Mods: if this is the wrong place to put it, please move it. Thanks!

Dear VoteNoWar Member,

The lawsuit filed to overturn Mayor Bloomberg and the City of New York's illegal denial of free speech rights in Central Park for opponents of Bush's domestic and foreign policies during the Republican National Convention has been scheduled for an emergency hearing in Federal District Court in Manhattan. The hearing will be held at the Southern District of New York Courthouse this Friday, August 20 at 2:30 p.m. in the Courtroom of Judge William H. Pauley, III.

This constitutional rights litigation is brought in the interest of all those in New York who wish to speak out in Central Park and New York City and to demand that political assembly be allowed on the same terms and conditions as access is afforded others, including corporate or political favorites of the Mayor or the Central Park Conservancy. The Partnership for Civil Justice has made the filings freely available on their website (see below) so that all who are concerned about the situation in New York can have access to the legal challenges and case law underlying the litigation.

There are three things that people can do right away to support this legal challenge and the right to carry out mass demonstration in New York City during the Republican National Convention:

1) Fill the courtroom at the emergency hearing on Friday, August 20.

2) Pledge to attend and bring a friend or family member to the mass demonstrations scheduled for August 28th, 29th and throughout the week.

3) Make a financial contribution. Funds are urgently needed to support the legal challenge and organizing efforts. It is only due to the commitment and self-sacrifice of people who believe in free speech that we can mount this all important challenge. You can make an online donation using the secure server by clicking here where you can also get information for writing a check.

Why Bush Tries to Stifle Dissent

There is an organic connection between the Bush administration's domestic policy, including its attempt to stifle dissent, and the war in Iraq, its support for Israel's Apartheid Wall, its overthrow of the democratically elected government of Haiti and other criminal acts. The connection between domestic and foreign policy is crystal clear.

While the Bush White House and Pentagon high command have ordered the massacres taking place in Najaf, Al Kut and other cities in Iraq, the administration recognizes that the people of the United States are disgusted by the high tech slaughter being carried out against the Iraqi people. Hundreds of thousands of people want to protest against the war in Iraq and hold the Bush administration responsible in demonstrations planned before and during the Republican National Convention. The Republican Mayor of New York and the police are attempting to shield the administration from the embarrassing effects of huge mobilizations by antiwar protesters.

It is imperative that we all stand up for our free speech rights by coming to New York and speaking out and not lose sight of the most important issue: our ability and obligation to stand together and demand an end to this government's aggression against the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Haiti and elsewhere, and fight for social justice here at home.

Please help. Funds are urgently needed to help support the legal challenge and other organizing activities in defense of free speech rights at the Republican National Convention. You can make an online donation using the secure server by clicking here where you can also get information for writing a check.

Background Information on the Lawsuit

Attorneys for the National Council of Arab Americans (NCA) and the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition filed a major free speech rights lawsuit on Friday against Major Bloomberg, the City of New York, the New York Police Department (NYPD) and others seeking to overturn the denial of a permit for a mass civil rights rally in the Great Lawn of Central Park on August 28, the 41st anniversary of the historic civil rights March on Washington. The permit application was submitted last January for a demonstration of 75,000 people in Central Park, coinciding with the Republican National Convention, that would affirm support for the civil rights and civil liberties of the Arab American and Muslim community.

The lawsuit charges that the Mayor and other officials are attempting to prevent mass assembly protests and free speech activities in Central Park and the Great Lawn and exclude from its use or access those who oppose the Bush administration's domestic and foreign policy, its assault on civil rights at home, its wars of aggression in Iraq and elsewhere, and who stand in solidarity with Arab, Arab American and Muslim people. The lawsuit emphasizes that those corporations which gave funds for the renovation of the Great Lawn did not acquire ownership or privatize Central Park such that they can selectively exclude from access to the Great Lawn those with whom they disagree or provide the space only to those with corporate sponsorship.

The lawsuit also seeks to enjoin the mayor and the police, who have announced that they will arrest demonstrators should they appear in Central Park and elsewhere in groups of more than 20 during the RNC. If 20 tourists come to Central Park with t-shirts that read "I Love New York" they will not be arrested. If, however, 20 people come together wearing "Bring the Troops Home Now" t-shirts they are liable for arrest. The lawsuit charges that the Mayor, the police and other officials are violating the Constitution by asserting unfettered discretion to deny free speech rights to those who they believe are their political opponents and are trying to create a climate of fear, apprehension and confusion.

The lawsuit was briefed by attorneys Mara Verheyden-Hilliard and Carl Messineo of the Partnership for Civil Justice and attorney Carol Sobel of the Law Offices of Carol Sobel, all attorneys also litigating on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Committee. Jonathan Moore of Moore & Goodman, LLP is also counsel on the matter. You can see a copy of the Complaint and legal Memorandum of Law by going to www.JusticeOnline.org.

[efhmc]

1. Anyway to donate on line. If there ever was a free speech issue, this

is it and it is proof positive that the repukes HATE the constitution (except for the part about having guns to use on people).

[JoFerret]

3. Not so simple

...maintaining and not destroying open green space as a pleasant place in a high density city is also an issue.

[truthspeaker]

5. except they allow other, larger groups on that same green space

Concerts and rallys with over 500,000 people have been held in that exact same space.

[CaptainClark23]

6. "destroying open green space"

There is no data to suggest that Central Park, or any part of it, will be destroyed or even remarkably damaged from being host to a few hundred thousand citizens.

One of the designers of the great lawn itself (the grass itself, not a park designer) has come out and stated that the grass was designed for precisely such wear and tear.

In '82 (before the new lawn was installed, yes) this was an issue. The Parks commish at the time had the same concerns. The City ended up allowing close to a million to rally there.

The next day the Commish surveyed the damage and declared that no damage had been done, and the lawn in fact was stunningly pristine.

This is a bullshit argument. I use Central Park at least once a week, if not more, as an escape from the City. I love the Park with all my heart. But let's have some fucking priorities here. Our very rights as citizens are being threatened, and we're going to worry about some sod? Lawns can be replaced with money. Our rights, once lost, can only be regained by blood. Which would you rather pay?

I think its very simple. For the safety of the protestors, and for the smooth functioning of the City during the RNC...open up the damn park. We're going there anyway.

[Hornito]

2. I want to go to N.Y. to protest, but refuse to be shunted inside

some fascist "free speech zone".

As a Jew, it is highly offensive to me, and should be to others, that Bloomberg (a Jew no less!) and his gang of Republican fascists, want to round us up and put us behind fences! Isn't this what the fascists of Germany did to many of our families?

NEVER AGAIN!

I urge all Jews to write Bloomberg, and tell him how offensive you find his behavior, decisions, and methods, and further, let him know you will do all you can to see he is removed from office if he does not change his stance.

NEVER AGAIN!

Anyway, it's a 2500 mile drive for me to be in N.Y. (and, I am disabled, so it's not easy in the first place), but damned if I'll go and be subjected to a fascist sponsored roundup! I hope this lawsuit succeeds, so I can attend, and be able to utilize my Constitutional rights!

[hang a left]

4. kick n/t

[hang a left]

7. kick

also maybe you should post this in GD. Lots more traffic there.