A judge has denied anti-Bush protesters permission to rally in Central Park on the eve of the Republican National Convention.
Jonathan Pines, lead attorney for the city
The decision by New York Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Silbermann yesterday is the latest in a running legal battle between protesters and the city.
She sided with city officials, who say they fear the grass on the park's Great Lawn would be damaged and security could not be ensured for the huge crowd. The lawn was restored seven years ago at a cost of $18 million.
"We fully recognise the vital importance of First Amendment rights," said Jonathan Pines, lead attorney for the city, in a statement following the ruling. "However, when dealing with an event of this magnitude, the city must balance all relevant factors, including the availability of other demonstration areas and the potential damage to Central Park."
Leslie Cagan, national coordinator for organisers United for Peace and Justice, said they would abide by the ruling and not rally in the park but would stage a rally after the march, which is estimated to draw 250,000 demonstrators.
"We will not end at Madison Square Garden," said Cagan. "We are planning to have a rally some place else. We are talking about a location some distance away from the Garden."
The protest group had argued that their constitutional rights of free speech were being violated. The group is a coalition of organisations opposed to the US war in Iraq and Bush administration policies.
They noted that the city has given permission to huge events in Central Park such as the Metropolitan Opera and a concert by the Dave Matthews Band sponsored by AOL last year.
The group has a permit to march under the banner "The World Says No To The Bush Agenda" on Sunday past Madison Square Garden.
Republicans are holding their convention in the famed arena from August 30th to September 2nd under strict security amid a series of government warnings of a possible terrorist attack to nominate President George W. Bush for a second term in the race against Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry.