Here are readings, mainly news articles, on several relatively recent episodes when the issue of use of public space for protest came into sharp focus. To some degree, this discussion will inevitably overlap with questions that we’ve discussed about proper use of police power.
Let’s begin with a basic, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads:
‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.’
A key moment in recent history was in 2004, when the Republican Party held its national convention here in New York. Hundreds upon hundreds of protesters were rounded up — unlawfully, as it turned out. Here are several articles on it, including one from two years ago, on how the city had to pay $18 million in damages to settle lawsuits brought by those who were arrested:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/nyregion/city-to-pay-18-million-over-convention-arrests.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/nyregion/29about.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/nyregion/25infiltrate.html (this is on police infiltration of protest groups)
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/nyregion/22police.html (more on surveillance)
Years ago, Central Park was a frequent protest site. That has changed in recent years as Central Park has become hugely popular for recreation and also so cleaned up that many people don’t want to see it used for protest. Here are relevant articles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/style/is-keep-off-the-grass-elitist.html (a debate on allowable use of the park)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/24/nyregion/preparing-for-convention-protests-judge-rejects-one-bid-for-central-park-protest.html (central park and protest)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/31/nyregion/31protest.html (more on that topic)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/07/nyregion/the-war-over-central-park-is-turning-cultural.html (is it OK to use the park for cultural events but not for protests?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/27/nyregion/27park.html (more on this)
And then there was Zuccotti Park, which we’ve already discussed as having been the home of the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011. The park is private space turned over for public use. But what kind of use should that be? It’s a compelling debate, and here is the New York Times piece on the authorities clearing out Zuccotti Park after weeks of encampment there:
Finally, more for your amusement than anything else, I happened upon this 4- or 5-minute film showing scenes where Central Park was captured in movies. This goes back to the earliest days of Hollywood to the present. It’s not entirely accurate, I should add. The scene from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” took place outside the New York Public Library, and the one from “You’ve Got Mail” was Riverside Park, not Central Park. Ditto, I think for “Kramer v. Kramer.” Still, have fun:
