September 20, 2011

The NYPD plays a central role in helping secure the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting, including working closely with the Secret Service and policing dozens of protests sponsored by a myriad of groups all looking to make their case in the court of international public opinion...Donna Lieberman, executive director with the New York Civil Liberties Union, said there is an international expectation that the city will accommodate freedom of expression, even on controversial issues. "Being able to protest at the U.N. is a critical piece of our democracy at least in the eyes of the rest of the world," Lieberman said. She added having the protests be within the clear view of the U.N. is important.