Democrats' Plan for Protesters Challenged

[zbdent]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040220_604.html

Attorneys are challenging a preliminary security plan for this summer's Democratic National Convention that would limit protesters to a small patch of land virtually out of sight of the convention hall.

<snip>

If protesters are restricted only to the small pen without fear of arrest or harassment, attorneys will take their challenge to court, said Carol Rose, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. The ACLU has joined with the lawyers guild to ask police to change the plan so delegates will have to walk past protesters.

Convention organizers are asking groups that want to demonstrate to use a proposed "free speech zone" at designated times, with limited protests allowed outside the zone.

[DenverDem]

1. Chicago II

Pretty stupid to set up a confrontational situation sure to backfire from a PR standpoint.

Even though NYC for the repukes will be a battle ground, a Boston massacre will have already done the damage to the party.

[arissa]

2. THIS is why people are going to want to vote 3rd party in November

Here are the Democrats adopting a Republican tactic to do nothing less than stifle dissent and piss on the first amendment.

[Greyskye]

3. Beautiful!

So if they challenge and win, does that set precedent that can be used against the Chimp in Chief? :evilgrin:

Wait... I just went and read the linked article. Turns out that "Free Speach Zones" have already been ruled unconstitutional!


A similar situation arose during the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, where protesters were initially restricted to an area blocks from delegates. A federal judge ruled the protest area was unconstitutional and ordered that protesters be allowed to demonstrate in a parking lot across the street from the convention's entrance.


So why hasn't this been used to challange this mis-administrations use of so-called "Free Speach Zones"?

[mike_c]

4. this is another example of how the Democratic Party has...

...moved too far to the right. The last time I checked, the Constitution made the entire U.S. a free speech zone!

[Frances]

5. The same people who went to Florida

to stop the recount will be sent to the Democratic convention.

The Republicans know that they will be in hostile territory in New York, but if the media is still talking about the protestors in Boston, no one will take genuine dissent in New York seriously.

[Florida_Geek]

6. Not total what was written up today

Mariellen Burns, a spokeswoman for the Boston Police Department, said convention organizers will place protesters within sight and sound of delegates, but that the dense urban setting around the FleetCenter makes that task difficult. There are few large open areas near the building, which is in the middle of a busy business district and transportation hub, she said.

"Our first priority is public safety, but people have a right to come and be heard, and we totally understand that, and we're supportive of that," Burns said.


http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/02/20/convention_plan_puts_protesters_blocks_away/

[bluestateguy]

7. Democratic National Convention: Practice for the GOP Convention

This will literally be a warm-up drill. They won't so much be protesting the Democrats as they will be drilling and doing dry runs for the Gooper Convention.

[dawn]

8. That's ridiculous.

If my candidate gets enough votes, I'll be one of those delegates. I don't want them to hide the protestors. I want to hear what they have to say! Just as long as they don't try to hurt me. :)

Let's hope the DNC does not follow Bush*'s lead and have a "free speech zone" at the convention. It would look very bad for the party.