'DEMO'CRATS WIN

By DAN MANGAN

July 20, 2004 -- A judge yesterday handed a victory to protesters at the upcoming Republican National Convention, ruling cops cannot unreasonably restrict access to demonstrations or search bags unless there is "a specific threat to public safety."

Manhattan federal court Judge Robert Sweet also said the police, if they want to conduct mass searches of bags, must show how such a search could reduce the threat to public safety.

Sweet also ordered the NYPD not to close streets and sidewalks at demonstrations without making reasonable efforts to tell people how they can otherwise get to demonstration sites.

The city and the Police Department took the judge's ruling in stride, saying it merely reiterated what the police had planned to do in connection with the protests.

"The decision does not cause the Police Department to change any plans or tactics for safeguarding the Republican National Convention or the demonstrations associated with it," NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said.

But those planning to protest the GOP gathering at Madison Square Garden from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 crowed.

"With this victory, the NYCLU and other groups ought to be able to hold lawful demonstrations at the Republican National Convention and elsewhere without fear of overly restrictive police practice," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, which sought a judicial ruling.

The NYCLU had been particularly concerned about the police use of metal barricades as pens to contain protesters — a tactic Sweet did not prohibit, but which he noted must include reasonable means for demonstrators to enter and exit.

Gail Donoghue, special counsel of the city's Law Department, noted that the judge also did not prohibit the use of magnetometers to screen protesters going to a designated demonstration area.

Sweet's ruling was disclosed as members of the city's police, firefighters and teachers unions picketed workers preparing Madison Square Garden for the convention.

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said, "It's time for the mayor to realistically help the heroes of 9/11 by paying us what is fair."

The union members have been working without a contract for two years, and kicked off their picketing by shouting "scab" at the workers at the Garden.

The protests echoed demonstrations in Boston that halted preparations for the Democratic National Convention in that city for three days.

The New York union members said they would picket for 24 hours a day for the next 10 days, and possibly through the end of the convention.

Mayor Bloomberg blasted the protests, saying they did nothing to help restart negotiations.