Suit Over Protests in Central Park Ends

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The city settled a lawsuit brought by anti-war groups who were barred from staging a big rally in Central Park during the 2004 Republican National Convention

Lawyers for the National Council of Arab Americans and the Act Now to Stop War & End Racism Coalition said the settlement, announced Tuesday, raised the possibility that the park's Great Lawn could again be used for large public demonstrations.

While the city denied any wrongdoing, saying it was only trying to preserve the lawn when it barred the demonstration, the deal also requires it to pay $25,000 in damages to each of the groups and the costs of bringing the lawsuit.

"It's a hands-down total and complete victory," said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice, a Washington-based public interest law firm that brought the lawsuit.

"The lawsuit is not merely about the use of the Great Lawn of Central Park," she said. "It serves as an historic challenge to the privatization of public space."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080109/ap_on_re_us/central_park_lawn_rally_1