City fills in picture for protests
Among details: Wire mesh fence will mark area
By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published June 24, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
City officials released a few more details Monday for groups that want to protest outside the Pepsi Center during the Democratic National Convention, including the fact a wire mesh fence will mark the protest area.
Other key components - including what portion of the parking lot will be designated for protest groups and how high the fence will be - were not disclosed. However, the city said it didn't plan to top the wire mesh fence.
Then there was the issue of the marching route for protest groups and how far away it would be from the Pepsi Center during the convention, Aug. 25-28.
Apparently, it was far enough to bring howls of protest from some of the protest groups.
"New York City let us march right in front of Madison Square Garden. I could put my foot on the first step," said Glenn Spagnuolo, of the Re-create 68 Alliance. "If New York can let 600,000 people march in front of Madison Square Garden, then they should let 25,000 people march in front of the Pepsi Center."
But city officials assured protest groups that delegates going to and from the Pepsi Center during the convention would be within earshot of protestors and that there would be plenty of other chances for protestors to speak out throughout the city.
Katherine Archuleta, senior policy adviser to Mayor John Hickenlooper, said in a statement that the so-called "public demonstration zone" would allow the views of protest groups to be heard by delegates. She also said the protest area of 50,000 square-feet would accommodate several thousand people.
"Our intention is to maximize opportunities for people to express themselves in a safe manner that also respects the rights of others as well as local, state and federal laws," Archuleta said.
According to Denver City Attorney David Fine, the city won't treat the protest area differently from other public sidewalks and walkways in Denver. The city will not require permits to enter or use the area and will not allow others to obstruct the viewing area.
Fine also said people using the protest area may be subject to search and seizure laws under constitutional standards but would be protected from unreasonable search and seizure.
Spagnuolo said the city's action is designed to "chill free speech" and that it is setting up "freedom cages" in what he viewed as a disregard for First Amendment rights.
"It will make us look like animals in a zoo," he said. "Don't touch the animals behind the cage."
Secret Service and city officials also are trying to keep some other aspects of the protest area under wraps - including the actual height of the fence and how close the demonstration area will be to delegates.
But based on information released by the city, the marching route ends at the entrance of the public demonstration zone in Lot A at Seventh Street and Auraria Parkway - the far southeast corner of the 350,000 square-foot lot.
U.S. District Judge Marcia Krieger has set a June 30 hearing to consider if those details will remain secret.
The federal lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups.
DNC protest area
Details released Monday
* Wire mesh fencing will be used to mark public viewing area.
* Parade route starts at Larimer Street and Speer Boulevard.
* Parade route ends at Seventh Street and Auraria Parkway, which is the entry and exit point for the public demonstration zone in Parking Lot A.
* Permits are not required for entering or using viewing area.
* People using the public viewing area will be protected from unreasonable search and seizure but could be subject to search and seizure under constitutional standards.
* No one will be allowed to obstruct the public viewing area in a way that would prevent free use of the area by others.
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drkenne writes:
So you've got a 50,000 square foot viewing cage, thousands of people, selective search and seizure, and the heat of summer. Sounds like Denver has created or is creating a recipe for disaster. I wonder which constitutional standards will be used...from the real constitution or the one Bush/Cheney, et al have been using these past 8 years.