Protesters at DNC
In your DNC: Countdown to Denver feature, under Security, you list “Find a suitable spot that can be set aside for protesters.” There’s no need to find a spot, or to set anything aside. A very suitable spot already exists. It’s called Auraria Parkway. Outside what should be a very small security zone around the Pepsi Center, protesters have a right to exercise their First Amendment rights to petition their elected officials within sight and sound of the DNC delegates.
Anything less—any “protest pens,” any fencing in or caging of protesters, or keeping protesters at a significant distance from the Pepsi Center—is a violation of the most basic of Constitutional principles, the right of the people to participate fully in the political process.
This letter has not been edited.
Front row baby front row
Posted by on August 29, 2007 02:02 PMMr. Cohen,
I have a question for you. Where in the Constitution does it guarantee the right to protest within sight and sound of convention delegates?
Maybe you are referring to the first amendment guaranteeing the right to PEACEABLY assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Since the DNC is not the government, by any stretch of the imagination, petitioning for a redress of grievances does not apply. And the city will still need to issue a permit to assure a peaceable assembly of these protesters.
And, just what is there to protest about in the determination of one party's leader for presidential election? It is, more than anything else, a party. In every literal meaning of the word.
Maybe instead of protesting or worrying about where the protesters will hopefully be caged, you could spend some time reviewing court decisions on this very topic. I would suggest starting with:
Black Tea Society, et al v. City of Boston
Edwards v. South Carolina
Brown v. Louisiana
Cox v. Louisiana
Adderley v. Florida
ACORN v. Secret Service
ACORN v. Philadelphia
Good luck!
Posted by Dan2 on August 29, 2007 02:39 PMMr Cohen, go to youtube and input for fema camps indiana, there you will see the governments idea of free speech zone
Posted by on August 29, 2007 02:51 PMMr. Cohen, your right of free speech and free assembly, etc., ends when it interferes with my rights. Where do you propose to draw the line; or, are your rights to block public access more important than my right to use that access?
Are you guys taking a page or two out of "Animal Farm" to justify that you folks are just a little more equal than the rest of us farm animals?
Have your demonstration, circus or whatever you prefer to call it. I don't care if you are granted floor space in the Pepsi Center - in the heart of the 'beast' you're protesting. But don't be so arrogant as to assume that your virtuous cries for justice supersedes the rights of others to go about their daily life in a peaceful and lawful manner. Things in this city are going to be tough enough to deal with through the addition of all of the people expected to attend the convention; don't add to it.
Posted by darfor on August 29, 2007 03:18 PMso, i take it that there will be a protest pen for Native Americans at the next Columbus Day Parade (also a "party"), a pen for protesters at campuses when military recruiters are present, etc.
a little consistency would be great across the board, please
blahblahblah
Nobody is insisting on protest pens; only that they refrain -- or, be refrained -- from interfering with other people's rights and commuting. Sort of a mutual respect type of concept.
Just like in your example of the Columbus Day Parade, the Native Americans who do want to protest have every right to move about freely so long as they don't interfere with the rights of the parade participants. Neither group has the right to deny the other's their rights.
Another example, I have the right to swing my fist about. But my right to swing my first stops at your nose because then it becomes a violation of your rights. With all rights come responsibilities.
Now was that so hard to understand?
Posted by on August 29, 2007 04:47 PMblahblahblahblah...
As someone who is both Native American - born in the United States, and American Indian - of the Ojibwe / Chippewa Nation, I ask you, what is your point?
Those two instances that you cite are protesting a SPECIFIC issue. For, in your words, Native American's, it is the protestation of Columbus' treatment of the indigenous peoples of the America's (which is silly, considering that it is more of an "Italian - American Pride day" as Columbus, one didn't "discover" American, and two, never set a foot on the land that is now the United States of America). For on campus recruitment, it is an issue of some people not wanting that type of recruitment (which in my opinion is silly, if corporate or nonprofit recruitment is allowed, all recruitment should be).
Posted by Dan2 on August 29, 2007 05:00 PMThey will have trouble getting protesters because of Bush everybody who wants a job has one.So they will be at work.
Posted by Keith on August 29, 2007 05:19 PMYou guys should take a look at the Presidential Advance Manual, which details how to deal with protestors at presidential functions (http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/freespeech/presidential_advance_manual.pdf).
I'll highlight some areas for you:
"There are several ways the advance person can prepare a site to minimize demonstrators. First, as always, work with the Secret Service and have them ask the local police department to designate a protest area where demonstrators can be placed, preferably not in view of the event site or motorcade route ...
"The formation of 'rally squads' is a common way to prepare for demonstrators by countering their message. This tactic involves utilizing small groups of volunteers to spread favorable messages using large hand-held signs, placards or perhaps a long sheet banner, and placing them in strategic areas around the site. These squads should be instructed always to look for demonstrators. The rally squads' task is to use their signs and banners as shields between the demonstrators and the main press platform. If the demonstrators are yelling, rally squads can begin and lead supportive chants to drawn out protestors (USA!, USA!, USA!). As a last resort, security should remove demonstrators from the event site. The rally squads can include, but are not limited to, college/young Republican organizations, local athletic teams and fraternities/sororities ...
"Once a group of demonstrators has been identified, the advance person must decide what action to take. If it is determined that the media will not see or hear them and they pose no potential disruption to the event, they can be ignored. On the other hand, if the group is carrying signs, trying to shout down the president, or has potential to cause some greater disruption to the event, action needs to be taken immediately to minimize the demonstrators' effect."
I would imagine the DNC can probably find something that would fit in nicely with the plan Bush has already laid out.
I wouldn't imagine that any of you who are thinking of protesting are smart enough to realize the horrible position your president has put you in and the horrible precedent he has established in this area.
I encourage all of you to read this manual for yourselves to find out how Bush is able to smile so much in public.
Posted by Grog on August 29, 2007 05:31 PMYeah, right Keith, especially the illegal immigrants and HB-1 visas that replaced American workers. Of course, since the unemployment benefits have run out for many of them (can't get a new job in their field due to the illegals holding them), they're no longer considered in the rolls of the unemployed -- walla, low unemployment statistics neatly massaged to show essential full employment. You're a peach for pointing that out to everyone.
Posted by on August 29, 2007 05:33 PMOnce again I feel obligated to visually give you people some perspective of what is coming to Denver and what the liberal media will conveniently ignore;
The new "Progressive" face of the Dem Party'.
http://zombietime.com/hall_of_shame/
Please take the time to explore this link and honestly ask yourself if you would want to walk by these delusional , hateful freaks with your kids?
I mean, come on, Scrotal Inflation Man?
Also expect , as Diane Carman harmlessly coined, "playful acts of civil disobedience" that translates to an increase in personal assaults , property damage,public nudity and whatever else these professional protesters can come up with.
Posted by Get Real on August 29, 2007 07:33 PMDarfor and Dan2 well said. It is amazing how ones rights out wiegh those of another come to a political adgenda. Those who want to protest always think thier rights are superior to those who just want to do thier daily activities.
As for where can these protestors go. I sugest that all those who support the protestors allow them to stand in thier yards and driveways so that they do not interfere with the rest of us.
Posted by on August 29, 2007 07:43 PMBush is the gratest prsident evr, he shuld.be king forevr. This way everything will alwas.be good and we wil always heve jobs and n pay no taxs and hav no terorsts. Gos bles Gw. BUSh
Posted by Keef on August 29, 2007 08:32 PMGet Real, That is an eye opener. I had no idea.Thank goodness for the internet because the regular news wont show this side of the democrats. How can these people be so misguided? I dont want them coming here.
Francis
05:53 p.m.,It's a documented fact the the dems. made Denver a sanctuary city.So shut up and go down to protest the people who are screwing up this country.Quit blaming the people who are trying to help us.You would know this if you weren't so damn lazy to find out the facts.
Posted by Keith on August 29, 2007 09:03 PMKeith
You can't possibly be as mentally incapacitated as you try to present yourself. There is a base line of brain function required to support involuntary life support functions.
You rant and rave about known facts and values that everyone should be aware of -- but never tell us where to find them. When we question you we are defamed and slandered, to never receive an answer.
I think you are a shill to drive people away from the Republican party. In that, you appear to be very successful. Your Democratic Party compadres must be real proud of you in driving a wedge between the Republicans and their party.
I love psych ops...
Posted by mongoose on August 29, 2007 09:15 PMMongoose,
Don't waste yout ime on Keith, just ignore him. I don't believe he is for real...
Posted by Mike D. on August 29, 2007 09:30 PMThere is a rumor that the Republican Convention will be held in an airport men's room..to get greater participation
Posted by Gay Craig on August 30, 2007 07:06 AMMongoose & Mike D,
He's for real all right. Indeed, I have attempted to point out, several times, that he - together with a couple of others who appear regularly - represents the epitome of the current spokes-persons for the Republican Party and the "conservative" point of view; i.e., ugly, incoherent, nasty, illiterate, insulting, ignorant, and generally without purpose or meaning; other than to spew venom at those who don't hold to the cult of Bush as their current tribal idol.
Admittedly, there have been protestations that this is not so. And even a few - VERY FEW - attempts have been made to disuade the blog from this evaluation of the individual's status. To date, however, these have not proved successful - there being no real substance to them - and the evaluation stands.
I stand firm on my position of letting ANYONE have his/her say, with NO CENSORSHIP. I have remarked that it is nice that the Editor has discouraged the multiple postings - up to 10 or more at a time - that the individual used to make. But, I stand firm on the basic right he/she has to post.
Indeed, the Republican party, and the "conservative" point of view would be deprived of one of its pre-eminent spokes-persons were the idnividual to be put off the blog. And that would defeat the whole purpose of an open forum.
Besides which, we would all be deprived of the fun and entertainment the individual's excellent exposition of his/her Party and position's views now give us.
Posted by Old Grouch on August 30, 2007 07:18 AMSee that mike d.,another fact and you are told to ignore me.And that came from another village idiot.
Posted by Keith on August 30, 2007 08:59 AMI expect another "Chicago '68" a year from now with widespread riots and mayhem. When Teddy, Howard and Bill come to town and are mixed in with Soros' socialist moveon.org crowd, pray for the best but expect the worst.
Burn baby burn, deja vu!
Posted by Hank on August 30, 2007 11:47 AMKeef , judging by your typing skills, you are a poster-child for the GOP!
Posted by Terry on August 30, 2007 03:27 PMSincere people will come here to protest. Some of my conservative Republican friends have said that the protests will give the Democratic candidate a black eye. Any real trouble will split the voters and cause desertion from the voting booth. Others think that the Democrats will try to show how "free" they are and end up with a lot of quiet protests but the media will only show the noisiest and the most radical.
I am sorry that those here to protest will be lumped together with those whose main objective is to be seen and to make trouble.
I hope that those here to demonstrate are treated with courtesy but that security for the convention will be good enough to keep them apart from the delegates. Individuals should be able to address the "dissidents." Those with a message should be able to express it and get a polite response.
Simply put there will be security requirements that limit the persons allowed into the various areas with the "ring effect" causing security to tighten in stages depending on the distance from the convention center and hotels.
Anyone breaking the law should be punished but I would advocate independent filming of all protests so that there is evidence to support or refute any "official" reports of activities. Perhaps the Rocky could create a special convention web zone to allow communication between candidates, their staffs and all who wish to speak to them.
Recreate 68 sounds like a bunch of leftover 60's radicals who want to recreate their youth. So long as they obey the laws let them come and be happy.
If they try to make trouble, make sure the rules are limits are made clear in advance.
Posted by momma y on August 30, 2007 08:47 PMAt least Keith, Uno, Hank and An American wil not be among the protesters. Seeing how they refuse to enlist & fight in the War they believe in, I assume they will make a similar effort and protest the DNC ...from the opinion page of the Rocky
Posted by the Anti-Keith on August 31, 2007 06:52 AM