TELL THE DENVER CITY COUNCIL: ‘WE DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST AT THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION’

June 20, 2007--The Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) is outraged at the Denver City Council’s June 11th decision not to hear arguments for a proclamation to assure that protesters’ First Amendment rights would be protected during the Democratic National Convention in Denver in late August 2008.

The Re-create 68 Alliance, along with Council person Kathleen MacKenzie, submitted the proclamation to ensure that there be no reaction from local police, in conjunction with various state and federal agencies, against the thousands of activists who will converge on the city, so that they can do so without threat or perceived threat of harm.

The violence that has occurred in the past has been initiated by police agencies against protesters. History is testament to the necessity of having an official acknowledgment from the city that rights guaranteed by the Constitution be protected.

TONC supports everything called for in the proclamation, which partly reads: (a) there is reasonable and prompt action on permit applications for public demonstrations, marches and rallies; (b) use of force, including the use of horses, pepper spray or other aggressive means to police public demonstrations, is restricted except to the minimal extent required by legitimate law-enforcement purposes; (c) demonstrations may occur in close proximity to and within sight and sound of the Convention delegates, consistent with reasonable security concerns; (d) restricted use of four-sided enclosures or barricades to confine the movement of people at public demonstrations except in limited circumstances based on legitimate and reasonable security concerns, and in such circumstances ensure that such enclosures have sufficient openings to allow people to exit, return and move freely around the demonstration site.

We are against any protest pens or protesters being forced into any enclosures and, along with R-68, call for unfettered access to the entire city, right up to the front entrance of the Pepsi Center, the site of the DNC. In addition, we are against any plans to forcibly remove the homeless from the streets in order to “sanitize” the city of Denver, and there should be no restriction of movement of any person, be they citizens of Denver or protesters.

Lastly, we support the organizers and condemn any and all threats made against them and attempts to violence-bait them for the important work that they are doing to provide a platform for thousands of people who see the complicity of the Democratic Party in the continuing wars waged abroad and the constant war waged against people of color, workers and the poor in this country.

We call on all activists and supporters of TONC to contact the Denver City Council people mentioned below and demand they reconsider hearing the proclamation and that it be passed. Also, we demand that council person Charlie Brown be reprimanded for stating that the organizers of R-68 are “cruising for a bruising.”

We also want to thank Kathleen MacKenzie for her correct stance. Let the other city council members know that activists around the country are watching and that their decision sets a dangerous precedent, preparing the stage for police reaction and therefore violence against protesters.

Contact the following:   

Kathleen MacKenzie, District 7
720-865-8900
Kathleen.Mackenzie@ci.denver.co.us
 
Rick Garcia, District 1
303-458-4792
rick.garcia@ci.denver.co.us
 
Jeanne Faatz, District 2
303-763-8562
Jeanne.faatz@ci.denver.co.us
 
Peggy Lehman, District 4
303-504-5781
peggy.lehmann@ci.denver.co.us
 
Marcia Johnson, District 5
303-355-4615
Marcia.johnson@ci.denver.co.us
 
Charlie Brown, District 6
303-871-0601
Charlie.brown@ci.denver.co.us
 
Judy Montero, District 9
303-458-8960
judyh.montero@ci.denver.co.us
 
Jeanne Robb, District 10
303-377-1807
Jeanne.robb@ci.denver.co.us
 
Michael Hancock, District 11
303-331-3872
Michael.hancock@ci.denver.co.us
 
Carol Boigon, At Large
720-865-8100
carol.boigon@ci.denver.co.us
 
Doug Linkhart
720-865-8000
doug.linkhart@ci.denver.co.us