Judge orders IMMEDIATE release of 500 protesters, fines NYC!!!!

[Bluebear]

NEW YORK - A judge ordered the immediate release of nearly 500 protesters just hours before President Bush's speech at the Republican convention, then fined the city for refusing to comply with his order.

State Supreme Court Justice John Cataldo fined the city $1,000 for every protester held past a 5 p.m. deadline that he had set for their release. It was unclear how many detainees were still in custody, but Cataldo had ordered the release of 470 people.

"These people have already been the victims of a process," Cataldo told the city's top lawyer. "I can no longer accept your statement that you are trying to comply."

There were accusations that the city was deliberately holding the protesters longer so they would not be in the streets during President Bush's speech Thursday evening.Police have been preparing for heavy protests in the city directed at Bush, and hundreds of demonstrators were already gathered at Union Square Park, about 15 blocks south of the convention site, Madison Square Garden.

"The evidence shows that the city told defendants that they would not be released until George Bush went home," said Dan Alterman of the National Lawyers Guild.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040903/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_protests_13

[whistle]

1. That is great news, do any of these protesters run the risk...

...of loosing the registration status to vote in November? That would be a real civil rights issue I would think. Hopefully these arrested protesters will say something if they were or are harassed in any way.

[Bluzmann57]

2. What do the people of NYC, you know, the taxpayers, think of this?

Because if I lived there, I'd be an unhappy camper having my hard earned $ going toward paying a fine that doesn't need to be. It seems that the $470,000 would be better spent to catch real criminals, such as murderers and rapists. But, if the NYPD, or whomever, wants to spend the money to keep their boy away from harassment, then maybe there will be one or two more people getting harmed tonight because of it. Hope not, but one cannot tell.

[bkcc]

3. As a New Yorker...

I'll say this: we're already fucked by the loss of business and the bill we're footing for this convention. What's a few more bucks?

Just another bill we have to pay because of the Republicans.

[countmyvote4real]

4. I agree. I live in NYC, too.

The RNC should never have come here to begin with. Let Bloomie be responsible for all the expenses, miscalculations and injustices. After all, he's the mayor. It's all on his watch. In a democracy (if we still have one) everyone should be fucked equally.

[bkcc]

5. And how full of shit is Bloomberg?

If I have to hear him say "the entire convention was privately funded" one more time, I'm going to vomit.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

6. Think this needs a kick

:toast: