The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Occupy Wall Street protesters arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge in 2011 can pursuit their lawsuit against the police. A New York police department lawyer objected to the ruling and pointed to the opinion of the dissenting judge that police have to make quick decisions in the field to protect public safety and should not be second-guessed. (Huffington Post, August 22, 2014, by Mat Sledge)
The executive director for the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund who brought the class action lawsuit hailed the decision as a blow for the right of assembly and protest, “The decision by the NYPD high command to illegally trap and arrest 700 peaceful protestors was a disgrace. It is one of the largest mass arrests and mass violations of civil liberties in U.S. history. This is a critical victory for justice and the right to dissent in America.” (The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, August 21, 2014)