A coalition of New York and national organizations opposed to war in Iraq have gone to court for the right to march past the Untied Nations at an anti-war rally set for Feb. 15.

Yesterday the group, United for Peace and Justice, sued the city of New York after the police denied for denying a march permit claiming the decision violated the group’s First Amendment rights.

United for Peace co-chairperson Leslie Cagan says the suit was filed after the New York police refused to grant the coalition a permit to march anywhere in the city on Feb. 15.

In the federal suit, the group said a march across from the United Nations on First Avenue was an “essential” element of the planned anti-war demonstration, given the UN’s role in the Iraq situation.

The city has allowed huge marches to pass by the UN before. In 1994 a rally marked the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion and two anti-nuclear rallies were held in 1982 and 1988.

Guest:

• Leslie Cagan, co-chair of the United for Peace and Justice Coalition.

Related link:

• United for Peace and Justice Coalition