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Mort de Amadou Diallo à New York City


Charges May Be Pulled in Diallo Protest

New York Times — April 3, 1999


The Manhattan District Attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, said Friday that he would probably ask for the dismissal of charges against the 1,200 people who were arrested for civil disobedience last month during the daily protests over the police killing of Amadou Diallo.

Morgenthau said that was the usual practice for minor offenses when « there is no significant inconvenience to the public. »

« It wasn't like they went out and blocked the Brooklyn Bridge, » he added.

In systematic and well-publicized demonstrations at Police Headquarters that ended only this week with the arraignment of four New York City police officers, hundreds of people a day were charged with disorderly conduct for refusing to leave 1 Police Plaza.

Morgenthau said that because the protests were not violent, the detention of the protesters for five to seven hours on the days of their arrests was enough punishment. « I just think it's the right thing to do, » he said.