Judge okays protestors at Bloomie's house

NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal judge has ruled that a protest against the expansion of charter schools can occur outside Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Manhattan residence.

Friday's ruling by Judge Alvin Hellerstein came after a lawsuit was filed by the protesters saying they were being kept across the street from the mayor's 79th Street townhouse.

The Manhattan judge's ruling requires the city to let the demonstrators walk in the pavement along the curb on both sides of the street. Lawyer Norman Siegel said it was a First Amendment victory.

City lawyer Diana Murray said the city will appeal the ruling, though she added that the judge was correct to prevent the protesters from assembling on the sidewalk in front of Bloomberg's residence because of special security concerns.