DNC protests will be behind fence

[El Supremo]

Source: The Denver Post

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 protestors to be seen and heard by delegates going in and out of the Pepsi Center during the convention.

But the American Civil Liberties Union and several advocacy groups have filed an amended complaint to their lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service and the city and county of Denver that says protestors and demonstrators may have their First Amendment rights violated by security restrictions.

The ACLU has said it wants to avoid the conditions that existed during the 2004 convention in Boston, where protesters were caged, infuriating First Amendment advocates.



Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_9744092

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Weren't the Boston protesters locked in and denied water or something?

[Hydra]

1. Haha

Free speech zones.

Amazing that anyone can mistake this place for a democracy.

[bean fidhleir]

2. Amazing that anyone can believe the Democratic Party is progressive

What have the Dems done for us lately?

[MaineDem]

11. I think you'll find that this was not the Party's decision. n/t

[bean fidhleir]

12. Whose would it be, then? You can't tell me that it wasn't negotiable (nt)

[MaineDem]

13. Notice that the lawsuit is against the "U.S. Secret Service and the city and county of Denver"

I'm pretty confident the Secret Service doesn't really negotiate.

[bean fidhleir]

15. The SS is sensitive to political demands. Do you really think that their boss would say No to the

guy who'll be in a position to fire him in six months?

[awoke_in_2003]

5. The First Amendment died

when they first started requiring permits for public demonstrations.

[CookCountyResident]

9. Somebody should fight that one all the way

... to the Supreme Court.

[High Plains]

3. Put the dissidents in cages.

I don't know who gets the credit for this: Denver cops or the Democratic Party?

[bean fidhleir]

14. It was the Dems - they had the power to dictate the conditions

All they had to do is say "no 'free speech zones' or we go elsewhere".

Hell, they probably could still dictate a change --if they wanted to.

[fascisthunter]

4. yeah... great idea. I'm sure this will impress voters

afterall... you are free as long the government says so. Was this Bush and his right wing's idea or some idiot conservative democrat?! :mad:

[dbonds]

6. At least they are in sight of the convention and not on a pier down by the river.

[Stand and Fight]

7. Has our party learned nothing in the last eight years?

So, we're to continue this god-awful policy of "free speech zones"? Disgusting! :puke:

[Township75]

8. I guess Nader was right on this one...

there is no difference between the Republicans and Democrats.

[Zachstar]

10. If there is one law in the universe it is that the ACLU is neutral.

Was was that big case they had when they actually helped a Nazi group being harassed and denied a chance to protest or something?