Denver Police Issue DNC Protest Flyer

By Jeralyn, Section Democratic National Convention 2008
Posted on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:24:15 PM EST
Tags: Democratic National Convention (all tags)

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The Denver Police Department has issued its final flyer (pdf) with advice for protesters at the Democratic National Convention. Here's a sample:

What should you do if an unlawful assembly is declared and a dispersal order given?

Listen carefully to any police order to disperse. Even if you are not engaged in unlawful activity, you are subject to citation and/or arrest if you do not leave the area defined by the police in their lawful order to disperse. For example, in a situation where some individuals are blocking a street and some individuals are walking on the sidewalk, the police may order everyone to leave the area.

The Denver Post reports that Cindy Sheehan and Public Enemy will be among those coming to protest.

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Denver Police Issue DNC Protest Flyer | 16 comments (16 topical)

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I wish I could be there in Denver (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by myiq2xu on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:34:27 PM EST

I would try for the record in arrests for a single convention.

I happened to be in NYC during the (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by inclusiveheart on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:45:19 PM EST

RNC convention in 2004 - during the evening rush hour - which is a rush primarily on foot in Manhattan - my colleague and I were walking to a restaurant for dinner on Park Ave South when a bunch of cops rushed into the crowds of commuters and into the traffic with guns out - told us all to stay where we were - I asked the cop nearest what was happening - was there a terrorist alert or something and he pointed at some kids who were running up the avenue with Bush masks on and signs protesting the convention. It was extremely scary and given that the cops had their guns drawn, I told the cop that we weren't going to hang around while they waived their guns at us or the people who were clearly doing nothing but exhibiting signs and wearing costumes - and I told him not to shoot us as we were leaving. We cut over to Lex on 29th st.

It was scary and it was stupidly out of control all because someone had an unauthorized sign. That's what our country has come to - and as I lived in NYC for many, many years - the fact that that sort of thing could happen there was a real signal that our democracy was in very big trouble.


: I remember that being a problem (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by nycstray on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 06:01:14 PM EST

people going to or from work getting caught up with the protesters by the police. I was working at home then, so I got to avoid the mess. When I work in the city, it's not uncommon for me to walk as far as I can before hopping on the subway down at 14th street, generally starting around 50th. I certainly don't miss working in the TS area after 9/ll. Every event was a security PIA.

Is the record 1? (none / 0) (#2)
by Steve M on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:41:20 PM EST

My impression is that the sole agenda of the police is to grab as many protestors as they can and lock them up, under whatever pretext, until the convention is over.


I doubt that's true (none / 0) (#6)
by Jeralyn on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:46:04 PM EST

I think the number of arrests will be determined by the conduct of the protesters. The last thing Denver wants is mass arrests.


: Well (none / 0) (#10)
by Steve M on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:53:50 PM EST

I am strictly going by precedent as I understand it. Perhaps Denver will be more civilized about it all.

Get Them Off The Street At All Costs (none / 0) (#8)
by JimWash08 on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:48:07 PM EST

basically, right?

I'm sure all policemen and peace-keeping officials recruited for the convention have been instructed by the DNC and Obama campaign to haul anyone and everyone who steps beyond the boundary even by inch, or for the smallest of incidents.

I don't know, but if I was going there, I'd try at all costs NOT be caught and put into one of those dog pen-like holding-cells Jeralyn reported about recently.


: For style points, (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by ran scot on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:49:41 PM EST

I sure hope Blackwater is part of the convention security.

A few years ago (none / 0) (#3)
by shoephone on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:45:07 PM EST

(it was at one of the first anti-Iraq War rallies) I was given a little green, wallet-sized card by someone in the local ACLU. It has a list of all the things you should or shouldn't do if stopped by the police and/or arrested. I was just looking at it the other day. It was good to refresh my memory of what my civil liberties really are because under some circumstances, the police and the mayor don't know (or care) when they are crossing the line between constitutional and unconstitutional, and turning a possibly tense situation into a powder keg.

A short excerpt from the WA State ACLU's website:

Hemming the crowd into a "pen" creates more tension and potential for physical confrontation between officers and demonstrators. It sends a chilling message that free speech is a public nuisance that needs to be contained.

I'm sincerely hoping we do NOT see loads of people being arrested in Denver. I remember how long it has taken for some of the peaceful WTO protesters to clear their names.

: I remember when I was protesting the lack (none / 0) (#7)
by ran scot on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:47:11 PM EST

of protesters for WEF and WTO. That got me called comrade by the New York Post, a real feather in my cap.
Then Seattle happened, and it seemed everyone wanted in.

walking on the sidewalk? (none / 0) (#4)
by ran scot on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 05:45:15 PM EST

Correct me if I am wrong, but that is a public forum. As long as one does not imped or obstruct traffic on the sidewalk, the Constitution covers all forms of freedom of speech there.

The key is not to block the flow of traffic or commerce in any way, and you are basically untouchable.

But then again, that might be pre-9-11 thinking.

Jeralyn (none / 0) (#12)
by shoephone on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 06:10:02 PM EST

What can you tell us about the group
Recreate 68? Their name, alone, suggests they may be interested in something other than peaceful, non-violent protest.

I already asked my doctor about (none / 0) (#13)
by athyrio on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 06:25:07 PM EST

what a tazer gun would do to my pacemaker and he frowned strongly at me lol....Hopefully this will be peaceful and informational as well....

Dissent is dead in this country (none / 0) (#14)
by Dadler on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 06:29:54 PM EST

The fact that police are so worried about free Americans engaging in the ONLY thing freedom means is indicative of a national mindset that considers freedom nothing more than the "right" to be an apathetic, overfed, underthinking pile of goo.

Does the DPD list what to do if (none / 0) (#15)
by pluege on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 08:01:53 PM EST

they taser you 19 times?

Bring the Noise! (none / 0) (#16)
by Ellie on Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 08:04:47 PM EST

I admire Chuck D more than words can express; a true-blue progressive. He's my kind of activist.

I hope Mr. D runs for office some day. He'd have my support in a heartbeat.