Bob Hennelly
WNYC's Bob Hennelly is an award-winning investigative journalist. While at WNYC he has reported on a wide gamut of major public policy questions ranging from immigration and homeland security to power outages and utility mergers.
NY Congressman Calls for DOJ Probe into NYPD Actions Against Protesters
Tuesday, December 06, 2011 - 09:27 PM
Officers at Zuccotti Park.
(Stephen Nessen/WNYC)
The ranking member of the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution is asking for an investigation into allegations of excessive force against Occupy Wall Street protestors by the NYPD and other police forces across the country.
In a two-page letter, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who represents lower Manhattan, is asking Attorney General Eric Holder to probe allegations that the police interfered with the Constitutionally protected rights of members of the media to report on the Occupy protests.
Nadler wrote there were "troubling reports" of possible misconduct by police. He said there were reports of "possible unlawful surveillance" of protesters' constitutionally-protected activities and excessive use of force by NYPD officers.
The NYPD did take disciplinary action against one supervisor for improper use of pepper spray but has defended its media restrictions as necessary for reporters' own safety.
A spokeswoman for the DOJ said Tuesday it would review the letter.
With the Associate Press
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.