GOP Convention Papers Ordered Opened

GOP convention papers ordered opened
By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press Writer
Sat May 5, 2:27 AM ET



NEW YORK - The city cannot prevent the public from seeing documents describing intelligence that police gathered to help them create policies for arrests at the 2004 Republican National Convention, a judge said Friday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. Francis IV made the ruling regarding documents about information the New York Police Department says it used.

The city had contended that the documents should remain confidential, saying opening them would jeopardize the city's rights to a fair trial. Lawsuits allege that the city violated constitutional rights when it arrested more than 1,800 people at the convention.

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"The decision is a vindication for the public's right to know and a total rebuff of the Police Department's effort to hide behind the cloak of secrecy when it comes to its surveillance activities," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, which sued on behalf of some of those arrested.

more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070505/ap_on_re_us/convention_arrests;_ylt=AnNpyzwEB.ha9y7kDkp0HjjMWM0F