Why is there a Free Speech Zone in Denver?

[nosmokes]

Why did the DNC find it necessary to follow the example of Bushco and tromp on the Constitutional rights of people to peaceful assembly? And no the that was the City of Denver defense doesn't cut water. Whether you're willing to admit or not, the DNC is in control of Denver this week. And there are ways of keeping protests peaceful w/o jackbooted thugs or limiting them to a cage a mile away from where they(legally) wish to be. It just doesn't seem to fit into the Democratic Party principles as I once knew them.

[orleans]

1. showing the country that we can be tough assholes too?

that way people won't be afraid to vote for a dem???

:shrug:

[tama]

2. Haven't you heard

Free Speech Zones are bad and antidemocratic only when Bush and Republicans make them, Democrats can do no wrong and the anarchists and other "juvenile idiots" who don't submit to the party line and Democratic version of "grown up" police state and corrupt corporate fascism just get what they deserve.

This seems to be the general consensus on DU.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Oh bullshit.

Free Speech Zones are unconstitutional crap. The DNC is not a government organization and has no authority over Denver.

"But the American Civil Liberties Union and several advocacy groups have filed an amended complaint to their lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service and the city and county of Denver that says protestors and demonstrators may have their First Amendment rights violated by security restrictions."
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_9744092

Oddly, the ACLU failed to include the DNC in their court case. Must have been some sort of oversight. As a member in good standing, you should demand an explanation from them.

[nosmokes]

6. I guarantee you if the DNC told Denver *NO* free speech zone

there would be no free zone. Its just that simple, whether ya wanna admit or not.

[tama]

7. "National security events"

"The police and security build-up in the lead-up to the DNC vividly demonstrates the precarious state of basic democratic rights in the US. Because the Department of Homeland Security has declared the nominating conventions “national security events”—a hazy legal status created by executive order under President Bill Clinton—the police of Denver have been transformed into a de facto military force and placed under the direction of the executive branch of the federal government."
http://wsws.org/articles/2008/aug2008/dnc-a27.shtml

The two headed party of corporate fascism is integral part of the US totalitarian state machine, so the "national securite events" makes kind of sense.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. The DNC is not in charge of Denver security. nt,

In fact, the DNC has about as much to do with municipal security processes as the Denver Rotary Club. The DNC is not in control of Denver this week, whether you're willing to admit it or not.

[EFerrari]

8. The DNC brought a lot more business to Denver this week

than the Rotary Club ever has.

I don't blame Howard for this but it would have been nice to see a statement from the DNC on the security arrangements. Did they make one? I haven't seen anything.

[deutsey]

5. Because you are free to say whatever you want, but not everyone is free to hear you. n/t

[Breeze54]

9. Denver planned the cage... not the DNC.