The New York Civil Liberties Union today spoke out against the proposed new police public assembly rules:

The New York Civil Liberties Union today called on the New York City Police Department to abandon new rules the Department has proposed that would require small protest groups lawfully using public streets to obtain police permits. The NYCLU objections came in written comments filed today with the Police Department in anticipation of a public hearing scheduled for November 27.

"The last thing we need is for small protest groups lawfully using public streets to have to get a police permit or face arrest," said Donna Lieberman, NYCLU Executive Director. "This proposal illustrates why the City Council and others must now consider fundamental reform of the parade-permit process."

The NYCLU, which regularly represents groups seeking parade permits, noted in its comments that it can be very difficult to obtain a parade permit from the Police Department... the newly proposed permit requirement would be an unjustifiable burden on free speech.

The comments also noted the NYCLU's concern that the proposal allowing the arrest of groups of ten or more when some individuals in those groups commit traffic infractions will mean that law-abiding and well-intended individuals may face arrest.

Full NYCLU Press Release is available HERE

You can read the NYCLU's letter to the NYPD HERE