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Lawyers May Sue Sacramento City Over 'Occupy Sacramento' Arrests

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Civil rights lawyers are taking steps to sue the city of Sacramento over the arrest of demonstrators taking part in the Occupy Sacramento movement which is now in its 19th day.

Lawyers have sent a letter to the City Manager, City Attorney and City Hall arguing the city has violated the demonstrators' First Amendment rights.

Protestors say they should be allowed to stay in Cesar Chavez Park overnight despite a city ordinance makes that illegal.

The Sacramento City Council has refused to make an exemption for the protestors.

Police have arrested seventy-five demonstrators who refused to leave the park since the movement began.

They face unlawful assembly misdemeanor counts.

An attorney working on behalf of the movement says the city's use of scarce resources to arrest peaceful demonstrators is "senseless".

"We have the right to assemble peacefully, to discuss among ourselves, to educate each other, to learn, to speak freely. That does not cut off at 11:00 o'clock or 7:00 o'clock or whatever," said Mark Merin, Attorney For Occupy Sacramento.

The letter sent to the city asks for a compromise saying perhaps the city could limit the number of people allowed in the park overnight.

But the attorneys are asking for a "quick decision" and if they don't get a quick resolution they could take their case to Federal Court.

What happens next remains unclear, but one thing you should not expect is to see the end of the 'Occupy Sacramento' anytime soon.

As of noon Monday, the city had not yet returned calls from CBS13 for comment.

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