Nearly all protesters arrested during GOP convention face prosecution

[Khephra]

NEW YORK - (KRT) - All but three of about 1,800 protesters arrested during the Republican National Convention face prosecution, a fact that Mayor Michael Bloomberg said shows the controversial arrests were legitimate.

"We believe that we acted appropriately, and that given the situation, this city did what the law requires," Bloomberg said.

But critics claim many of the arrests were illegal, and a judge who held the city in contempt for detaining hundreds of protesters too long has scheduled a hearing Thursday. The city faces fines of $1,000 for every protester held after 6 p.m. EDT last Thursday.

Bloomberg said the decision by the Manhattan district attorney's office to prosecute nearly all the protesters shows the NYPD acted properly. He said any delays in processing and releasing protesters occurred because the system was overwhelmed.

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/nation/9615755.htm

[bluestateguy]

1. Keep clogging those courts

I'm sure the trials for murderers and rapists can wait a little longer.

[mitchtv]

2. jury trial

challenge every case

[hobbit709]

6. Jury Trial

Yes!! Demand a jury trial. Friend of mine here in Texas demanded one, judge said he couldn't have one. My friend read off the pertinent parts of the U.S. and Texas constitutions and demanded jury trial again. By the time all was said and done, judge got a written reprimand from the judicial review committee and the jury took 10 minutes to find him not guilty.

[praxiz]

3. What a moron!

"Bloomberg said the decision by the Manhattan district attorney's office to prosecute nearly all the protesters shows the NYPD acted properly."

Geez, that's like saying that the concentration camps during WW2 is proof that there was a jewish conspiracy and they all deserved to die.

[neonplaque]

4. What's the ACLU's position? n/t

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. What they really mean is

What they really mean is that they've been hit with so many lawsuits the only way they might have a snowballs's chance in hell of winning is to prosecute everyone and steadfastly claim every arrest was justified.

To allow any large number to go would be tantamount to accepting guilt.

So it's prosecute them all or hemhorrage money. Although I hate to see New Yorkers with less services, the only way you can get the Bloombergs of the world to pay attention is to choke their money supply.

I say every one of these brave protestors needs a jury trial and needs to countersue for kidnapping, false imprisonment, assualt, health damages, pain and suffering.

[rhite5]

7. This was a "cover your a**" move by the city attorney.

The city is obviously trying to use the media to confuse things.

It appears to me this is a counter-suit to a massive combined lawsuit by the protesters who have all been released. At the time of release the judge had harsh words for the NYPD for the conditions in the prison area and a number of flagrant abuses, including neglect of people who needed medical attention. Among the arrestees were innocent people on their way to and from work or just crossing the street. All were held longer than the law allows. In any case, the city has to pay $1000 to anyone held over so many hours without arraignment. That's in the statutes.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. The legality of the arrests can only be determined by the jury. Nuts!