NEW ORLEANS
A federal jury is hearing testimony about allegations that New Orleans police officers have engaged in a pattern of unlawfully arresting or harassing journalists and bystanders who tape or photograph them in public.
Seven jurors heard opening statements Monday in the trial for a lawsuit, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, that claims police officers violated the constitutional rights of Greg Griffith and Noah Learned, who were arrested at a 2007 Carnival parade.
Griffith is a student at Kent State University in Ohio.
The lawsuit cites 11 other incidents since 2005 in which people were arrested or allegedly threatened while videotaping, photographing or observing police officers.
Some of the alleged victims, including Times-Picayune city editor Gordon Russell, are expected to testify this week.
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