NYCLU, Congressional Members, City Leaders And Advocates Call For Protection Of First Amendment Rights At The RNC  | | Councilman William Perkins, Speaker Gifford Miller, NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman and Congressman Jerrold Nadler. Photo credit: Matt Ipcar |
June 6, 2004 -- Members of Congress, city leaders and advocates for free speech today announced a series of actions to be taken this summer to ensure that First Amendment rights are protected at the forthcoming Republican National Convention (RNC). The Protecting Protest Campaign will include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between New York City‘s Congressional leaders and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It will also include a City Council resolution sponsored by Speaker Gifford Miller along with hearings in the City Council on NYPD tactics at the RNC. “New York City has a long tradition of championing First Amendment rights,” said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “Today, we’re announcing an action plan that will ensure that demonstrators at the RNC are treated with the same respect and hospitality as conventioneers.”  | Tim Bailey of the NY Bill of Rights Defense Campaign; Councilman William Perkins, Speaker Gifford Miller, Congressman Major Owens and NYCLU’s Donna Lieberman.
Photo credit: Matt Ipcar |
Congressman Major Owens of Brooklyn announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by himself and members of the New York City Congressional delegation, including: Representatives Elliot Engel, Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Edolphus Towns.The MOU will be presented to Mayor Bloomberg for his review and signature. The MOU is intended to facilitate a dialogue between City officials and individuals and groups regarding the regulation of expressive activities at the RNC. “I am concerned that my constituents will be prevented from expressing their First Amendment rights at the Convention while demonstrating either in support or opposition to the Administration’s policies,” said Rep. Owens (D-11CD) who led the effort behind the MOU. “We expect demonstrators to follow the law and to act peacefully at the Convention. In the same manner, we expect the City to enforce First Amendment rights guaranteeing freedom of speech and association.” Speaker Miller announced a resolution to be introduced in the New York City Council tomorrow which will call on government officials to protect and uphold First Amendment rights. The resolution calls for prompt action on permit applications; peaceful protests without unreasonable constraints and minimal use of barricades to confine the movement of people at public demonstrations. “The City Council is committed to working with the administration to ensure that demonstrators in New York City are allowed to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, association and expression,” said Speaker Miller. Say Deputy Majority Leader William Perkins, “The Government Operations Committee will hold hearings on police practices for protesters. The police did not respect the rights of protesters during the February 15, 2003 anti-war demonstration. These hearings will ensure that the rights of protesters are protected during the Republican National Convention.” Among the other actions called for by the MOU and the proposed Council Resolution: - Allow demonstrators within sight and sound and in close proximity to the object of their protests.
- Refrain from engaging in investigation of individuals based solely on their participation in activities protected by the First Amendment.
- Train police officers on the First Amendment rights of protesters.
The signed MOU will be presented to Mayor Bloomberg, calling on him to support the free exercise of First Amendment rights at the 2004 Republican National Convention.The New York City Bill of Rights Campaign, a nonpartisan, grassroots project of the NYCLU is spearheading the resolution effort, along with a coalition of 95 organizations. | 
