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FEATUREPRESSSERVICE AmERICaN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, 170 FIFTH AVEnUE, NEW YORK 10, NY. ROGER N. BALOWIN ERNEST ANGELL Arthur garfield hays .: : Chmo.., Nat'l Comm. Chma. B'd of Directors PATRICK MURPHY MALIN MORRIS L ERNST. Executive Dlrector Counsel ORegon 5-5990 Alan Reitman. Pubiic Relatlons Dlrecte Weekly Bulletin #1583 March 2,1953 ACLU ASKS PROBE OF POLICE BRUTALITY PACT IN NEW YORK CITY ACLu has asked for an investigation into the alleged secret pact between~ Justice Dept. and the New York City police whereby the'FBI would observe a hands-of policy when charges of brutality against New York policemen were raised. According to the New York World-Telegram and Sun, which disclosed the alleged agreement, investigation of such cases was to have been undertaken by the' city police themselves. The paper charged that the arrangement had been made by Police Commis. sioner George Menaghan and the former chief of the Justice Department's criminal division, James P. McInerney. When it was made known to former Attorney General JamesP.McGrannery_in-January,--said-the-newspaper,--the-agreement-was-abrogated. In a letter to Attorney General Herbert Brownell, ACLu's executive director,? of these reports, but the source is so well respected that it seems to us that this% soon to probe the brutality charge against thc Ncw York police, to investigate. also. whether or not this agrcement was in fact cntered into and if so, whether it was'a? violation of federal law.". Malin's statemcnt, joincd in by the New York Civil Liberties Union, continue. libertics problem in our city - police brutality. In 1950 the NYCLU investigated 40 different complaints; this total was doubled in l95l; thc past year has scen nu. marked reduction in the numbcr of cases coming to our attention. It is difficult obtain data relating to pending civil damage actions against the city resulting fro police brutality, false arrest, or other abuscs of police authority; but a conscry tive cstimate is that thcy amount to more than $3,00o,o00." ACLU is only one of many civil groups that has demanded an investigation llcged pact. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is. another organization secking a federal investigation. Meanwhile, a federal grand jury in New York has becn reviewing brutality against New York police.. ACLU has now gone into Cook County circuit'court.to gct clearancg,for In a suit filcd against Mayor Martin i. Konnelly and Timothy'J.o'Conno acting, commissioner. of policc, thc Chicago division of Aclu askcd the court to unconstitutional the ccnsorship provisions of the city's municipal codc. Thc Union ACLU contends that parts of thc municipal code violate both the' state constitu- tion and thc First and Fourtoonth Amcndments to the U.3. Constitution. The codo make. it unlawful to'show any movie without a permit. And it says it is.thc duty of the. police commissioncr to rcfusc a pcrmit for any picture that is "imnoral or obscenc,. portrays depravity, criminality, or lack of virtuc of a class of citizens.... exposes thcm to contempt.....or tends to produce a breach of thc peace-:t:.. This, AcLu maintains, is contrary to thc law of the land. Itsays constitutional provisions. F 4 SGA URTHER