Re-create 68 gets DNC permits at Capitol, park
David Montero and Sue Lindsay
Published May 19, 2008 at 9 p.m.
Photo by Rocky Mountain News
Protesters with the group Re-create 68, still smarting over not getting a permit to gather at Civic Center on the eve of the Democratic National Convention, have managed to secure permits at the state Capitol and nearby Lincoln Park.
Glenn Spagnuolo, a Re-create 68 organizer, said Monday the state was "easy to work with" in getting the permits for Aug. 24.
However, he didn't have kind words for the city.
"The state of Colorado has stepped in where the city has refused to and acted in a responsible manner," Spagnuolo said. "If you remember at the end of the lottery process, they promised to work closely with anybody who did not obtain a park to assure their voices were heard. That was a complete lie and fabrication by the city."
Sue Cobb, spokeswoman for Mayor John Hickenlooper, said she was "perplexed" by the group's claims - noting they and other affiliated protest groups got access to eight of 12 city parks and two of the four days Civic Center was available.
Re-create 68 has promised demonstrations that will rival those at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, which saw street battles between police and anti-Vietnam War demonstrators.
When the convention host committee won a permit for Civic Center on the eve of the convention, Spagnuolo said Denver could face a "dangerous situation."
The Democratic National Convention, scheduled Aug. 25-28, is expected to draw 50,000 people to the city and - depending on who is talking - protesters could number in the hundreds or in the thousands.
Because of that, the American Civil Liberties Union said Monday that policies at the Denver jail need to be examined to make sure people arrested during the convention will have adequate access to food, toilets, medical care and lawyers.
The ACLU sued the city and safety manager Al LaCabe over the city's refusal to turn over a copy of its policies at the city jail.
ACLU attorney Taylor Pendergrass said he has serious concerns about complaints and problems concerning operation of the jail, including the death of Emily Rice, who bled to death at the jail from internal injuries after she was arrested for DUI following a traffic accident.
LaCabe said the city has turned over as much as it can without compromising security.
Last summer, in view of the many expected arrests of demonstrators at the convention, Pendergrass said the ACLU asked Denver police to handle minor violations with a summons or notice to appear in court.
But he said police refused, saying that current policy requires officers to make full arrests, including detention in the city jail, for even minor violations connected with protests.
"It is difficult to comment on this other than to say that it's important that we fully identify and process all people that we arrest," LaCabe said.
"Many of these people may be from out of town and we don't know about their identify, so all those things pose issues that make it necessary to stay with our normal procedures. There are many other reasons that I cannot comment any further on."
Eighty protesters arrested at last year's Columbus Day overwhelmed the jail, Pendergrass said. Dozens of them had to wait for hours before their bond money was accepted and posted. Even after that, they remained locked up for up to 12 hours before they were released.
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May 20, 2008
7:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
warrengfunk7 writes:
Damn police want to lock everyone up, even for minor violations! That seems more like what China or Soviet Russia would do, than the USA.
May 20, 2008
7:31 a.m.
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NWDengal writes:
recreate 68? give me a break. Can't they find anything more productive to do with their time?
May 20, 2008
7:45 a.m.
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Oh_Wise_One writes:
Froward96- take your meds and stop smoking crack. The only troublemakers at your gala affair will be of your own making, it is the Left that desires a Facist State.
May 20, 2008
7:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
Mike_In_Hartsel writes:
Sure, issue a summons that will be ignored so the "protester" (read socialist thug) can go back to the riots? Rioters should be shot, not arrested.
May 20, 2008
8:12 a.m.
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anteup writes:
I'm surprised the ACLU hasn't found murder to be within one's legal rights. HEY, if you don't like conditions at the jail, don't get arrested! Hey Colorado, in stead of kissing butt, let them re-create 68 and give the cops extra bullets to handle the ""dangerous situation." Works for me.
May 20, 2008
10:56 a.m.
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blu_boi writes:
If the Denver Police issue a summons instead of arresting and processing protesters they won't be able to add all the names to the Homeland Security terrorists watch list.
May 20, 2008
12:36 p.m.
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missmilehi writes:
HEY! We just solved the homeless problem! Instead of shipping the homeless out to Commerce City or whatever the city is going to do with them in August, let's turn them into "protesters" and get them arrested! There, the homeless will have access to food, toilets, medical care, and lawyers!!! OH HAPPY DAY!
The ACLU makes me weep openly...
May 21, 2008
9:45 a.m.
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Glenn writes:
Below is an accurate account of our press conference.
DENVER, May 19, 2008—Representatives of the Recreate 68 Alliance, which is coordinating demonstrations around the Democratic National Convention, announced today that it had to obtain permits from the State of Colorado for the west steps of the State Capitol Building and Lincoln Park for Sunday, August 24, the day before the DNC, as a venue to stage a massive antiwar protest. This action became necessary because the city of Denver allowed a party organizer for the DNC Host Committee—a private, well-funded organization—to apply for and obtain a permit for Civic Center Park for that date, shutting the public out of the largest public park in downtown Denver. In addition, the City had refused to engage in dialogue with R68 to resolve the issue as promised.
As Glenn Spagnuolo of R68 explained, despite reports to the contrary, R68 has never threatened conflict with the Host Committee. “We only pointed out, based on past experience,” Spagnuolo said, “that the city, by denying us a place to put the thousands of people expected for this event, was creating the potential for conflict. The City promised to work with groups who did not obtain permits to assure their voices are heard during the convention, this did not occur.” R68 asked the city to discuss this situation with them, after being rebuffed, R68 worked with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to try to arrange a meeting. The city refused the requests not only of R68 but of the DOJ as well.
“Our goal from the beginning,” said R68 spokesperson Mark Cohen, “has been to create a safe space for people to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights. Civic Center Park would have been the most appropriate space—public parks are for the public. Since the city has denied its use to the public, R68 has obtained permits from the State of Colorado in order to avoid unnecessary conflict.”
Therefore, to avert conflict and assure that people will be able to safely and peacefully gather to express their concerns about the war, R68 obtained the state permits. R68 members Larry Hales and Carlo Garcia, both of whom have family members serving in Iraq, said that people have not only a right but a responsibility to bring their concerns about the ongoing war to the attention of convention delegates and elected officials. “We have been negotiating with the city in good faith for a year and a half,” Hales said. “We wish we could say the same for them. But we are doing everything in our power to assure people that they can exercise their Constitutional rights.”
May 21, 2008
3:15 p.m.
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Glenn writes:
Try, Don't like war that kills in your name, organize and stop it! As far as the cops? Not sure what you are remarking about since we have made it clear numerous times that we are not violent and will not riot. Apparently you do not like freedoms in the Constitution since that is what we will be exercising.