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Press Releases R2K LEGAL COLLECTIVE PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2001 CONTACT: Kris Hermes, R2K Legal Collective 215.925.6791 or William Beckler, RNC defendant 267.474.8655 ACTIVIST SUES CITY TO DISCLOSE RNC INSURANCE POLICY AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS ABUSES The City of Philadelphia had insurance coverage to shield itself from liability for civil rights abuses during the Republican National Convention. The policy is being kept secret (Philadelphia, PA) Philadelphia activist William Beckler filed suit today in Common Pleas Court to compel the city to disclose an insurance policy designed to shield the city from civil rights claims arising out of the Republican National Convention (RNC) protests last August. The insurance policy is a public document that should be available under the state Right-To-Know law, yet the city's law department has continually refused to disclose it. The insurance policy was traced to former deputy mayor David L. Cohen-then head of Philadelphia 2000, the committee that brought the RNC to Philadelphia-in a February 15 Daily News article by Ron Goldwyn. The policy, paid for by Philadelphia 2000, cost $777,411. According to Cohen, it included "coverage for civil-rights claims against the city and the state." Existence of such a policy could help explain the city's overzealous attempts to silence demonstrators during the Republican Convention protests. Beckler, a graduate of Columbia Law School and a member of the legal team working on behalf of demonstrators during the protests, is filing the lawsuit today on behalf of himself. He was arrested on August 1, along with 420 demonstrators and bystanders, and later was acquitted of any wrongdoing at an April 9 trial. "The city had insurance so they could beat me up!" says Beckler. "That insurance policy was an opportunity for the city to put the constitution on hold." City Solicitor Ken Trujillo failed to produce the policy despite a request by City Councilperson Angel Ortiz, Philadelphia's Public Safety Chair. Philadelphia has been under fire lately for refusing to disclose several public documents. A June 14 City Paper article exposed the city's refusal to hand over key demographic electoral data to the good-government web site Hallwatch.org. In another case, the city lost its appeal of a ruling compelling disclosure of health care audits of Philadelphia jails. The city has not yet decided whether it will hand over the audits or appeal the August 2 ruling. (Gwen Shaffer, City Paper 8/16/2001). NOTE: The Philadelphia 2000 purchase of insurance coverage was funded in part by donations from Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. and other local businesses. Election commission filings reveal that Philadelphia Newspapers contributed at least $288,000 to Philadelphia 2000. --030-- |
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