New York, 16 April 2004 - In a move widely regarded as an anti-dissent crackdown on behalf of the imminent Republican National Convention, the NYC District Attorney has defined protest speech as “criminal”, urging jail time for activists who have a history of dissent. The DA’s office made the statement in a letter outlining sentencing recommendations for 16 activists recently convicted for non-violent civil disobedience. The activists are to be sentenced on Monday. Read more about NYC D.A. calls political protest "a crime," urges jail for organizers