INVESTIGATION INTO NYPD CONDUCT WITH OCCUPY WALL STREET

NADLER CALLS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION OF NYPD CONDUCT ON OWS

Jerrold Nadler, congressman and Occupy Wall Street supporter, is asking for a full investigation of law enforcements conduct toward peaceful protestors and media persons at Zuccotti Park and the Brooklyn Bridge march. In a letter to the Attorney General, Nadler insists that on several occasions "recordings and videos were made at the scene that raise sufficient concern warranting a federal investigation of whether there was in fact police misconduct in violation of federal law, and whether these actions were taken to prevent OWS protestors from exercising their First Amendment rights."

Nadler also claims that aggressive actions were taken to "block journalists from reporting on the incident." Nadler writes, "The NYPD forced journalists to leave Zuccotti Park, prevented members of the credentialed press from being present during the eviction, and used intimidation and physical force to prevent reporters and photographers from carrying out their journalistic functions. Many of those arrested were not charged with any offenses," begging the question of why they were arrested in the first place. "Additionally, the City reportedly closed the airspace above the area in order to prevent news helicopters from recording the actions."

Congressman, Nadler, has asked for a timely investigation given the severity of the possibility of infringement on protestor's constitutional rights. The Attorney General is specifically being asked to "determine whether these actions constituted a deprivation of rights under color of law" and if so, to take prompt action.