Posted on 05/02/2008 12:01:35 PM PDT by MtnClimber
The ACLU of Colorado has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service and the city of Denver to ensure that protesters are within "sight and sound" of delegates attending the Democratic National Convention this August.
"Ultimately, it's the federal courts that are sort of the last resort protectors of constitutional rights," Mark Silverstein, the ACLU's legal director, said today.
"It's been the federal courts that are the ones to say law enforcement has not struck the proper balance here between security concerns and citizens' fundamental First Amendment rights," he said.
Silverstein said the city is dragging its feet on processing applications for parade and park permits, affecting protesters' planning efforts, and that it has yet to reveal where the so-called free speech zone will be located.
The city says it's waiting for the Secret Service to determine the boundaries of a security perimeter, and the Secret Service says that decision may not happen until July, he said.
No one has been denied a parade permit. No one has been denied the right to protest," City Attorney David Fine said today in statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...
I’m with you.
Let the Riots begin.
It is like the perfect storm is brewing. ACLU, Democrats, Democrat radical protesters, Florida and Michigan Democrat congress critters and unseated delegates threatening to shut down the convention, Clinton and Obama in a self-destructive fight to the end.
Let me understand this one. ACLU is suing IN ADVANCE of anything actually happening??
Sounds like Denver (and any future convention city) is faced with the equivalent of “Have you stopped beating your wife, yet?”.
If they take the prudent step of protecting its citizens, they will face law suits. If they allow every crazy to express his “freedom of speech”, anarchy rules and the residents have every reason to sue the city for damages.
The 1st Amendment’s free speech clause is NOT absolute, as the courts have repeatedly ruled. It does NOT give you the right to yell “Fire” in a crowd; it does NOT give you the right to make threats, or yell “Hi Jack” in an airport, etc.
Given that it is NOT an absolute right and nothing untoward has YET occured, where is the crime? Or have we reached the point that we can sue for what MIGHT happen?
Sorry, as usual, ACLU is on the wrong side of the tracks.
Denver had a lottery for different groups to occupy different parks. The permits are 1-day permits and many parks are not close to the Pepsi Center where the delegates will be. The groups are not all radicals. One group is a pro-life group and one group is the DNC welcoming committee. The radical group Recreate-68 wanted the park right next to the Pepsi Center, especially for the 1st day of the convention. In the Denver lottery the R-68 did not win the drawing for the park next to the Pepsi Center, thus the law suit. I hope they win. It would be great to see the Democrats meeting their left-wing base on national TV.
They want to be able to riot within full view of the TV Cameras, instead being hidden MILES AWAY inside of the Civic Center, with police guarding the exits...
What happened at the Washington state capitol yesterday is just a taste of whats in store for Denver and the DNC.
So the ACLU believes there is a right to be heard. That’s a new on on me. BUT...in this case, more power to social retards.
Employment at popcorn counters *alone* accounts for most of this recovery.
Unemployment rate falls to 5% (CNN Ticker)
CNNMoney | May 2, 2008 | Staff
Posted on 05/02/2008 5:35:46 AM PDT by abb
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010174/posts
Hot Dogs! Peanuts! Prostate Exams! Get Your Prostate Exam Right Here!
JSOnline | April 29, 2008 | Jim Stingl
Posted on 04/30/2008 7:21:00 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2009492/posts
To All: If you want to get sick, look at the Recreate 68 website. The Rats deserve the very best.
Hell with that, Let em' inside!
Let’s hope some of the anarchists from Evergreen state college in Washington state show up. The ones in hoods and black bandanas covering their faces.
Then the party really gets started in Denver.
The RAT convention is going to be the ultimate cage-match!
Operation Chaos exceeding ALL expectations...
That is an absolutely brilliant idea! I like it!
Almost.
But I'd definitely watch!
“I hope the ACLU wins this one. Never thought I would find myself saying that!”
Thx saved me from typing .
We need to start a legal bulwork that finds a way to sue the ACLU directly (i.e. go on the offensive, initiate fact-finding missions, keep them tied up fighting lawsuits that never end, etc). Sort of a new twist on “Operation Chaos.”
“If they let them in, I’d almost pay to watch”
Somebody needs to have some LSD handy as they go in.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.