FOR CONVENTION, LA ORDERS NEWSRACK REMOVAL

By: Staff reports Security Concerns Are Cited





City officials in Los Angeles have ordered newspapers to remove
their newsracks near the Staples Center before next week's Democratic
National Convention, according to reports in the Los Angeles Times.



The officials also asked that newsracks be voluntarily removed from
public gathering places where protests are likely to take place.



The city took these steps after receiving recommendations from the Los
Angeles Police Department. The police pointed out that newsracks were
used in acts of vandalism during the violent protests at the World
Trade Organization meeting in Seattle last year.



The L.A. Times reports that most news organizations are complying with
the requests, in contrast with Philadelphia, where newspapers fought
similar moves during the Republican National Convention recently held
there. A compromise was eventually reached.



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Staff Reports













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