Sunday's New York Times article proves what we and other civil rights groups have suspected: the NYPD conducted widespread surveillance and infiltration of groups that planned peaceful, lawful demonstrations in the days leading up to and during the Republican National Convention. With this surveillance, the NYPD may have amassed dossiers on innocent individuals' activities.
Last month, United States District Court Judge Charles S. Haight Jr. ruled that the NYPD must stop its routine practice of videotaping people at public gatherings or protests unless there is “some indication of unlawful activity on the part of the individual or organization to be investigated.” The issue of police spying on lawful protest activities will be back in court April 10.
