'Free speech zones' to make comeback Denver Democratic Convention
- added July 2, 2008
- 25 responses
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- maasanova
- added this
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And you thought it was just Republicans that wanted to stifle free speech.
"The infamous "free speech zone," set to make a comeback at Denver's upcoming Democratic National Convention, needs to be within earshot of delegates, a coalition of civil liberties advocates backed by the ACLU said Monday.
Chain link fencing or chicken wire at the end of the parade route, about 700 feet away from the Pepsi Center under the current plan, would separate demonstrators and protesters from other convention attendees, the Rocky Mountain News reported. The coalition have amended their pending lawsuit against the United States Secret Service and the City and County of Denver, filed in May, saying that the plan could violate the visitors' First Amendment rights, echoing the corralling and effective silencing of protesters at the 2004 gala in Boston. A judge in that case had ruled the "free speech zones" unconstitutional, but said that the suit was filed too late to order that plans be changed.
"No human voice, or any other sound," ACLU counsel said in Monday's amended complaint, "can ever hope to reach a person at the entrance."
The case will go to trial on July 29.
Preparations for the upcoming convention, for which Denver has been federally granted $50 million, may include military choppers, as seen during a mid-June Department of Justice drill, details of which could not be revealed by the Denver Police Department. Lt. Nathan Potter, a military spokesperson with Special Operations Command, called the exercise "routine preparation for the global war on terrorism."
Denver Sheriff division chief Marie Kielar also told Colorado Confidential in May that her department is preparing for convention-related arrests to top 1,200. The City and County of Denver will not make publicly available detention plans, such as where those arrested will be held, before the convention. In addition to the May suit, the ACLU has demanded that the City and County make publicly available the procedures it plans to follow in processing those arrested at its downtown jail.
The Monday complaint called not only for a protest zone closer to the Pepsi Center, but also that it large enough to host all demonstrators, and for searches to be conducted only when there is probable cause.
"Simply put, we are going to abide by the Constitution," Denver city attorney David Fine said Monday.
"The infamous "free speech zone," set to make a comeback at Denver's upcoming Democratic National Convention, needs to be within earshot of delegates, a coalition of civil liberties advocates backed by the ACLU said Monday.
Chain link fencing or chicken wire at the end of the parade route, about 700 feet away from the Pepsi Center under the current plan, would separate demonstrators and protesters from other convention attendees, the Rocky Mountain News reported. The coalition have amended their pending lawsuit against the United States Secret Service and the City and County of Denver, filed in May, saying that the plan could violate the visitors' First Amendment rights, echoing the corralling and effective silencing of protesters at the 2004 gala in Boston. A judge in that case had ruled the "free speech zones" unconstitutional, but said that the suit was filed too late to order that plans be changed.
"No human voice, or any other sound," ACLU counsel said in Monday's amended complaint, "can ever hope to reach a person at the entrance."
The case will go to trial on July 29.
Preparations for the upcoming convention, for which Denver has been federally granted $50 million, may include military choppers, as seen during a mid-June Department of Justice drill, details of which could not be revealed by the Denver Police Department. Lt. Nathan Potter, a military spokesperson with Special Operations Command, called the exercise "routine preparation for the global war on terrorism."
Denver Sheriff division chief Marie Kielar also told Colorado Confidential in May that her department is preparing for convention-related arrests to top 1,200. The City and County of Denver will not make publicly available detention plans, such as where those arrested will be held, before the convention. In addition to the May suit, the ACLU has demanded that the City and County make publicly available the procedures it plans to follow in processing those arrested at its downtown jail.
The Monday complaint called not only for a protest zone closer to the Pepsi Center, but also that it large enough to host all demonstrators, and for searches to be conducted only when there is probable cause.
"Simply put, we are going to abide by the Constitution," Denver city attorney David Fine said Monday.
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This is a photo I was able to take of a local tv news broadcast here in Denver showing the "soft perimeters" that have been set regarding the DNC.
These may have been reset since the photo....
Either way, I don't see anyone other than "delegates" getting anywhere near the DNC.
The common citizen will be kept far from the "democratic process" taking place.
The police/military have been conducting exercises in downtown Denver during the past few weeks.
Which according to reports, have nothing to do with the DNC.
Be it black military helicopters or building evacuation drills, events are taking place in Denver in preparation for the DNC.
Link to further info regarding topic:
http://current.com/items/89033008_black_military_helico... -
I'm betting that protesters at the GOP convention in Minneapolis will be a bit farther away...like St. Paul.
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The Republican Party welcomed protetesters to NYC. Mayor Bloomberg even gave out coupon booklets, so the protesters from out of town could save money. They did not coup them up like the Dems did in Boston.
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Yes they did mjsmith11, and it's on video. Google "Martial Law, GOP 2004." They even set up detainment centers in a condemmed warhouse full of asbestos and other chemicals.
That Bloomberg was probably just a photo op. -
Anywhere is a free speech zone when you've got a rock in your hand and a gas mask on your face.
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- Dmitri_Molotov
- 3 months ago
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here is an earlier thread on the same topic -
That sounds more like you would be in "jail zone" Dmitri Mototov. How can you speak with a mask on your face or is the rock doing all the speaking for you? I bet you are smarter than that rock.
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No, I didn't think it was republicans.
Since dems have tried for years to make legislation to shut up those that expose them - ie rush limbaugh, sean hannity. As a matter of fact, their still at it with the "fairness doctrine" enjoy ur koolaid-
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- montesooma
- 3 months ago
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Very disappointing. And let's see how many of them come out on July 4th to give their phony speeches about Democracy and the founding fathers. They are rolling in their graves. Shame on them all.
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- JanforGore
- 3 months ago
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and about the free speech image at the top of this page.
Go ahead and put freedom of religion, right to life, right to bear arms in there. Dont just pick and choose what rights you think people should have---that has already been done!-
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- montesooma
- 3 months ago
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What constitution?!?! Good luck to all the street fighting men and women!!
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They don't want to hear what we think - they just want to enjoy a nice weekend getaway to Denver. After all, Colorado is a lovely place.
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- CicatrizJCP
- 3 months ago
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"And you thought it was just Republicans that wanted to stifle free speech. "
maasanova, where do you come up with this lie?
Russ Feingold had a hand in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act which contained provisions later struck down by the Supremes as a First Amendment violation (we can thank John McCain for the other half of this bill). Let us not forget Nancy Pelosi and the other fools campaigning for the so-called Fairness Docterine.
Liberalism, today personified as the Democrat Party is about control. It is about the state over the people. There are Republicans who share this philosophy with Dems. It is really a struggle between conservatism and liberalism. I don't expect better from the Republican convention but the problem transends parties. -
Democracy or Oligarchy? They decide!
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- Frier_peppino
- 3 months ago
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It's not surprising. I have finally understand how free speech works here in America: as long as what you're saying is compatible with thier ideology, you can be ''free'' to say it under the guise of free speech, but if t is not compatible then your speech is ''hate speech''.
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- ctrl_alt_del
- 3 months ago
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Hate Speech??!! Them's fightin' words!
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"'Simply put, we are going to abide by the Constitution,' Denver city attorney David Fine said Monday. "
Yes, but obviously not the United States Constitution.-
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- sonnydenbow
- 2 months ago
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