Mayor Manuel A. Diaz City Hall Miami, FL 33133
Dear Mayor Diaz:
The
actions of the Miami Police Department this week have violated the
fundamental due process and First Amendment rights of thousands of
peaceful protesters gathering to voice their opposition to the Free
Trade Area of the Americas summit. We call on you and City Attorney
Alejandro Vilarello to respect the Constitutional rights of these
defendants. We also demand a full-scale, independent investigation into
the police officers’ alarming behavior, with the results to be made
public.
The
National Lawyers Guild is on site observing numerous illegal practices
that Miami City leadership has referred to as a “blueprint for Homeland
Security,” including:
-
Indiscriminate, excessive force against hundreds of nonviolent protesters with weapons
including pepper spray, tear gas and concussion grenades, and rubber
bullets;
-
Singling out of NLG Legal Observers wearing highly visible neon green caps. We
have confirmed reports that five Legal Observers were arrested, and four
of those assaulted by police officers;
-
Police stopping and snatching protesters, seemingly at random, into unmarked vehicles;
-
Police shooting protestors with rubber bullets and trapping them by police
lines, resulting in major injuries. Police repeatedly refused to allow
Medics into these areas to treat the injured.
Such
paramilitary tactics are ill-conceived and self-defeating and have no
place in a democratic society. Such tactics are not only in direct
violation of the constitutional rights of protesters, but also make young and inexperienced police officers more nervous, increasing the likelihood of serious bodily injury to many.
The
National Lawyers Guild, founded in 1937, comprises over 6,000 members
and activists committed to fighting social injustice in this country and
the rest of the world. We are dedicated to defending the First
Amendment.
We urge you to immediately put an end to unconstitutional police practices and policies.
Sincerely,
Michael Avery President
cc: Chief of Police John F. Timoney City Attorney Alejandro Vilarello
National Lawyers Guild, National Office 143 Madison Ave 4th Fl., New York NY 10016 212 679-5100 FAX 212 679-2811 nlgno@nlg.org © 2003 National Lawyers. Guild All Rights Reserved. |