Legal Commentary

DNC Protesters to be Caged In

By Jeralyn

Shades of Boston in 2004...

In federal court in Denver today, the City and County of Denver and U.S. Secret Service made it clear protesters at the Pepsi Center for the August Democratic National Convention would be behind chain link fences.

The fence around the public demonstration zone outside the Democratic National Convention will be chicken wire or chain link, authorities revealed in U.S. District Court today. That may allow protesters to be seen and heard by delegates going in and out of the Pepsi Center during the convention.

More...

The ACLU has now filed an Amended complaint against the city and county of Denver and the Secret Service seeking to prevent security restrictions from resulting in First Amendment violations of the rights of protesters and demonstrators.

Here are the changes being sought by the ACLU and 13 other advocacy groups involved in the lawsuit:

An increase in the size and location of the public demonstration zone in Lot A of the Pepsi Center so that people in the zone can access delegates through sight and sound and an electrically-powered sound amplification system.

Change the parameters of the zone to accommodate more people marching to the Pepsi Center during the convention.

Stop searches of people or possessions where such searches are based on a person's entry into the zone rather than "probable cause" or "reasonable suspicion."

Allow for the distribution of leaflets and pamphlets to the delgates.

Allow for parades that pass by the Pepsi Center along the south side of Chopper Circle and the adjoining east side of Ninth Street during times when the delegates are present.

Allow alternative parades requested by Recreate 68 to the federal courthouse on Aug. 25 and by Escuela Tlatelolco to Sunken Gardens Park on Aug. 26.

An all day hearing will be held July 29 and U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Krieger will visit the Pepsi Center site the night before.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on June 30, 2008 (boomark / email).