Dem seeks probe of police at NYC Occupy protests

 NEW YORK -- A congressman is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate allegations of police misconduct in connection with the treatment of Occupy Wall Street protesters and journalists covering the demonstrations in New York City.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler says in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder there were "troubling reports" of possible misconduct by police.

He says there were reports of "possible unlawful surveillance" of protesters' constitutionally protected activities and excessive use of force by New York Police Department officers. He says he was "especially troubled" the NYPD "aggressively blocked journalists" from reporting the Nov. 15 eviction of protesters from a Manhattan park they were occupying.

The Department of Justice said Tuesday it will review the congressman's letter.

Police haven't responded to a request for comment.

Elsewhere across the country Tuesday:

For more on Tuesday's Occupy action, click here.

Discuss this post

Good. The NYPD have overstepped their authority on many instances when dealing with the protesters. Their clear attempt to oppress these people's voices have not only failed, but have also raised questions as to the tactics they will use against unarmed people.

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Dec 6, 2011 5:48 PM EST

What a misnomer with Holder in charge.....The JUSTICE Department........just take out Justice until Holder is thrown out, resigns or after next years elections.

  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Tue Dec 6, 2011 6:04 PM EST

My belief about todays police is nolonger the one I was given as a child ,tody they are : not mine or your 's, but the heads of cities most broberly starting with the Mayosr on down. they dress in "riot" fashion to break up a peaceful deminsataion. Who was looking for the "fight" The occupiers, or the establishment like the writings in books, dictators wearing the skins of a sheep. The sadest thing is ; I can remember gong up to a policeman,to ask any simple question and getting a smilel and an answer,but in 1975 going up to ask directions to a relay riding a motersycle ;I am a girl, and in a blink there was a rifle aimed at me. So in that spread of time to now they are now freeky looking thing that move slowly amd cary large gun power or high doses of pepper spray. In other wordsI must have eaten some thing rotten now I thing it is goming back up.

  • 1 vote
Reply#3 - Tue Dec 6, 2011 6:16 PM EST

Earler comment was sent befor spelcheck

    Reply#4 - Tue Dec 6, 2011 6:24 PM EST

    Don't worry about the spelling as long as you were able to express your feelings.

      #4.1 - Tue Dec 6, 2011 6:30 PM EST
      Reply

      After World War II when the social scientists, politicians, and moralists were disecting the factors in the rise of Nazism and the Holocaust, they determined that it couldn't happen in the United States. Just as good Germans were brainwashed by Himmler's propaganda, good Americans are being brainwashed by the corporate elite (fascists) who want to control every aspect of American life. Occupy Wall Street is their enemy. Hence "overreacion" by the police against them. TSA humiliating elderly women and children. They are putting the word out that the police state is here. Hitler and the Nazi party's perceived enemies were Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, and homosexuals. The Koch brothers and the Tea Party's perceived enemies are Jews, Mexicans, Progressives, the educated and homosexuals. The Nazis were aided and abetted by the bankers who created an economic crisis in Germany. The Tea Partiers are aided and abetted by the bankers who created an economic crisis in the United States as well as Europe. Need I go on with parallels? If OWS doesn't take back America (which is the Tea Party's big lie), democracy, as primitive as it has been, is doomed.

      Who do you think has taken over education and dumbed down America? Who do you think is making sure the drug traffic continues to flow northward? Who is behind the politicians and legislators of "No!"? Who is working diligently to neutralize labor unions? Free thought? America as the land of the free? It's not al Quaeda.

      • 1 vote
      Reply#5 - Tue Dec 6, 2011 7:27 PM EST

      Are these the same police that rushed to the WTC on 9/11? Who are paid not large amounts of money to risk their lives to protect us. Who were sent to enforce the laws that the Protesters broke? The same protesters that today have broken into multiple houses and stole them for squatters. The same protesters who have trespassed, defecated in public, blocked people from going to work, blocked businesses, destroyed public property?

      Yes I believe in free speech. Yes I know there are enormous economic problems. But these protesters are hurting the economy, protesting black Friday and capitalism, the very things that will create jobs. Oh maybe they don't want to create jobs, maybe they like their handouts.

      OWS needs to be removed. If the police do it forcefully, but safely, I am all for it.

        Reply#6 - Tue Dec 6, 2011 7:48 PM EST

        Police misconduct? In USA? Iam shocked. As a minority , I am used to being the target of police with no consequence.

          Reply#7 - Tue Dec 6, 2011 11:10 PM EST
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