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Trial to set rules for DNC protests

Trial likely to settle how demonstrators will be regulated

By Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 25, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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A flurry of briefs was filed late Thursday in federal court as protest groups prepared to square off with the city of Denver and the Secret Service over the rules that will govern demonstrators at the Democratic National Convention.

Thursday was the deadline for filing briefs in advance of a Tuesday trial that is expected to formally settle the question of restrictions that will be placed on demonstrators at the convention, scheduled Aug. 25-28.

The ACLU filed suit in May on behalf of more than a dozen groups and individuals, seeking information about the plans of the city and the Secret Service for everything from the protest area to the route for parades.

Some of the questions were answered when the city designated 50,000 square feet in Lot A at the Pepsi Center for demonstrators and outlined much of its parade route publicly.

However, the decision to move the final night of the convention from the Pepsi Center to Invesco Field at Mile High opened a host of new questions about what accommodations will be made for protesters at the football stadium.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Marcia Krieger told lawyers for the city and the Secret Service that they did not have an infinite timetable for settling the issues.

"It's not good enough . . . to just say, 'We're working on it,' " she said.

Krieger has indicated that she will address the ACLU's challenges to the protest plans at both sites during Tuesday's trial.

Comments

  • July 25, 2008

    7:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    sheepherder writes:

    Say no to R68!

  • July 25, 2008

    8:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SickNTired writes:

    Let the games begin!

  • July 25, 2008

    8:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LingLingfor_prez writes:

    Declare the convention unconstitutional like they do with everything else.

  • July 25, 2008

    9:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    danirobi writes:

    I'm protesting the DNC for making me pay for their gas during convention!!!

  • July 25, 2008

    10:22 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    bthye writes:

    Paying for their gas? You must be the only one. If you're referring to the committee buying gas from the City and not paying taxes on it, that little scheme died as soon as it hit the press:

    http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...

  • July 25, 2008

    10:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    danirobi writes:

    I know it died, but they still want it...

  • July 25, 2008

    10:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dummas writes:

    why not use all this tax payer money ( court costs, lawyer fees, quirks for the host committee, clean up costs, and the myriad of other costs this dog and pony show is costing the city) and put it toward the over budgeted fast tracks. this would shut up the caldara's of the world AND give our metro area a much nicer, greener, and cleaner look. this might not cover the 2-4 billion dollars needed but, it's a start. this convention and all the ugliness that goes along with it will be beamed into every single american home for 4-5 days straight. this will or will not put denver in a positive light. a viable transit system will every time.