Groups, City Argue Over Rallies at Dem Convetion [View All]

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Source: Associated Press

Groups, city argue over rallies at Dem convention

JUN 24, 2008 12:25 AM (1 HR 45 MINS AGO) BY IVAN MORENO, AP

DENVER (Map, News) - A spat between groups planning protests during the Democratic National Convention and city and federal officials continues to build as one of the biggest political events of the year rapidly approaches.

At issue is additional information city officials released Monday of an area for protesters during the convention, and whether groups planning demonstrations would be within sight and sound of the delegates. City officials have said they are committed to allowing protesters to express their views and be heard by delegates, and have designated what they call a "public viewing area" in a parking lot next to the Pepsi Center, the site of the convention Aug. 25-28. The area will use 50,000 square feet within a 350,000-square-foot parking lot next to the Pepsi Center. It will be encircled by wire mesh similar to chain link and will not be enclosed at the top, according to details released Monday.

That area, which is where the city's designated parade route ends, and the route itself have become lightning rods for protest groups, who encouraged the American Civil Liberties Union to sue the city and the U.S. Secret Service to release information about the demonstration area and security plans. "I think that there's been a lot of restrictions imposed on free speech," said Zoe Williams, a convention coordinator for Codepink, a national anti-war group. Codepink is one of 12 groups represented by the ACLU in the lawsuit.

Attorneys for the U.S. Secret Service on Monday filed a motion in federal court asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed and saying they have no obligation to release information to protesters.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/a-1455685~Groups__city_argue_over_rallies_at_Dem_convention.html

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