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Some issues over DNC get resolved, ACLU says

Daniel J. Chacon and Sara Burnett

Published May 23, 2008 at 11:33 a.m.

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Some of the complaints lodged by the ACLU of Colorado in a federal lawsuit to ensure that First Amendment rights are protected during the Democratic National Convention have been resolved.

Attorneys for the city of Denver, the Secret Service and the ACLU filed documents in federal court late Thursday "indicating that they had reached agreement on some of the issues," the ACLU announced Friday.

Still, the ACLU said "a number" of other issues remain unresolved, including any restrictions that would be imposed on activity within a "public demonstration zone."

The city and the Secret Service argued in court documents filed Friday that the ACLU lawsuit - which seeks more detail on security plans - is premature.

"The Secret Service and the (Denver Police Department) cannot articulate a definitive 'security plan' three months before the convention because, at this time, none exists," attorneys for the Secret Service wrote.

They also said some details of the plan, such as the location of the public demonstration zone, must remain confidential until closer to the convention.

That area, which is the closest the public will get to the delegates at the Pepsi Center, is "one of the most vulnerable security points in the DNC security plan," the court filing states.

Denver City Attorney David Fine agreed.

"There are a lot of other security-related details that, at this point, either are not finalized or can't be disclosed," he said.

Among the areas of agreement, according to the ACLU:

* Denver will announce the designated parade route by June 12.

* Denver will begin processing pending requests for parade permits June 12 and will complete that processing by June 19. Fine said the city was getting ready to disclose that information and issue permits anyway.

"The timing is not driven by the lawsuit, but by our own internal processes and our ability to make that announcement," he said.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

Comments

  • May 23, 2008

    12:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    Any bets that down at the Denver ACLU offices they are singing:

    Sing to the Fatherland, home of the free,
    Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong.
    O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people,
    To Communism's triumph lead us on!

    About right now I'm hearing the libs stroke out! ;-)

    Scott

  • May 23, 2008

    12:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nicktaste writes:

    scott you must be confused, communism is a fascist end, not a socialist one

    scott is another example of an american so indoctrinated and full of fear

    he equates free speach with communism

    sorry buddy not even close

    for an example, look at china, hmm thats a fascist communist regime, free speech allowed? nope

    on the other end of the spectrum we have the welfare socialist scandanavian countries such as denmark, norway, sweden etc

    Scott would u rather the government of the usa be more like china or more like denmark?

    You should look at the actually methods of governance in countries around the world, you might find the truth to be enlightening

    it is not to late to change your ignorant path, you sir are the opposite of a patriot

    I am not hurling insults here, think about it

  • May 23, 2008

    1:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nicktaste writes:

    they also have free education, free health care

    and trade SURPLUS

    sounds like the opposite of america

  • May 23, 2008

    2:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MGD writes:

    Nothing is free unless you don't work. If you work in a socialist country, you pay very well for your education and health care.

  • May 23, 2008

    3:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nicktaste writes:

    If you work in a Amerika, you pay more than any other country in the world for your education and health care.

  • May 23, 2008

    3:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nicktaste writes:

    "Health care in the United States is provided by many separate legal entities. The U.S. spends more on health care, both as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) and on a per-capita basis, than any other nation in the world"
    - http://www.who.int/whosis/database/co...