ACLU: Police staged confrontation amid convention
http://www.kwgn.com/pages/news_local_landing/?ACLU-Poli
ce-staged-confrontation-amid-co=1&blockID=128860&feedID
=202
November 7, 2008
DENVER (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union says undercover
police officers posing as protesters staged a violent confrontation
with another officer during the Democratic convention in Denver.
The ACLU said it obtained a police document
showing the undercover officers pretending to struggle with a police
commander so they could be removed from the crowd without blowing
their cover.
The ACLU says another officer thought the commander was being
attacked and pepper-sprayed the undercover officers.
It's not clear how many officers were involved or how they were
affected by the spray.
Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson told The Associated Press
he was unaware of the report and couldn't comment.
The ACLU didn't
immediately return a message.
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Undercover cops were among the unruly at DNC
By Felisa Cardona
The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10920817
PROTEST FOOTAGE
When a Jefferson County deputy deployed pepper spray into a crowd during the first night of the Democratic National Convention, he did not know that his targets were undercover Denver police officers.
During a melee that occurred Aug. 25 between protesters, police and bystanders near Civic Center Park, undercover Denver detectives staged a struggle with a police commander in order to get out of the crowd undetected.
A Jefferson County deputy, unaware of the presence of undercover police, thought that the commander was being attacked and deployed the pepper spray, according to a police use-of-force report obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado.
The report does not say whether the pepper spray used on the undercover police officers was the first deployment or whether the melee already was underway.
About 106 people were arrested during the incident that took place at 15th Street and Court Place.
Denver police have testified during court trials that they deployed officers to the area that night because they had gathered intelligence that anarchists had planned to gather in Civic Center Park, then move toward the 16th Street Mall to wreak havoc at delegate hotels and other businesses during the DNC.
On Thursday, the ACLU of Colorado sent a letter to Denver's Independent Monitor, Richard Rosenthal, asking for the Internal Affairs Bureau to conduct an investigation of the pepper-spraying incident.
"The actions of the undercover detectives on Aug. 25, 2008, may have had the effect of exacerbating an already 'tense situation,' as their feigned struggle led nearby officers and the public to believe that a commanding officer was being attacked by protesters and that the situation necessitated the use of chemical agents," says the letter, written by ACLU staff attorney Taylor Pendergrass.
"Such actions may have escalated the overall situation by causing officers on the scene to fear that the protesters threatened their safety, when in fact, the struggle was only between uniformed officers and undercover officers," he wrote.
Rosenthal said he had received the ACLU's letter about the pepper-spray incident.
The monitor also received a letter from the ACLU last week requesting a probe into possible conflicting or false statements by police and whether the department withheld evidence in some of the protesters' criminal trials.
"The letters have been received, and I am in the process of reviewing and evaluating them," Rosenthal said Thursday.
The ACLU claims videos show that protesters, as well as otherwise uninvolved onlookers, were never ordered or given a chance to disperse before they were surrounded and detained by police.
The city has said it would prosecute as many as 60 accused protesters who declined to accept plea deals. Some cases already have been dismissed after a judge cited a lack of evidence.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
Senator Joe Biden asked about his meeting with head of Pakistani Inteligence and why the wire transfer of 100,000 dollars to Mohamed Atta was not investigated:
The official 9/11 commission report states that it was of no relevance to the investigation...
...True, but that isn't the point of this post....
watch 00:30 - 02:46.
Ask Questions - Demand Answers
What's so crazy about that? The Alaska Troopers Union did.....
The Washington Times reported today that the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee have been “negotiating with Rep. Ron Paul to win his support and acquire the names of his sympathizers among the 4,607 delegates and alternates at the Republican National Convention.”
However, when CNN’s John King asked Paul this morning whether such reports were true, Paul laughed. “I wouldn’t put it in those words,” he said. In fact, he said the RNC seemed to be trying to keep him off the convention floor, even though as a congressman, he should be able to get floor passes without a problem. Watch it:
Paul was barred from speaking at the convention “because the the congressman would not change his position on the war in Iraq, which he opposes.” The Washington Times also reports that Paul “was denied permission to address the Republican Platform Committee last week” after “the McCain forces who controlled the platform proceedings, as well as the Rules Committee and the Credentials Committee, objected.”
The McCain campaign’s stonewalling of Ron Paul may not have the support of his vice presidential pick, Gov. Sarah Palin. In an interview with MTV earlier this year, Palin expressed support for Paul, saying that he was “cool“:
He’s cool. He’s a good guy. He’s a good guy. He’s so independent. He’s independent of like the party machine, I’m like, right on, so am I. The party machinery, on both sides of the party, ya know, Americans are tiring of the incessant partisanship that gets in the way of just doing the right thing for this country.
Paul will at least be welcome at a “counter convention” held in Minneapolis for his supporters, where he is speaking today. Paul said he expected around 18,000 people to attend today’s rally.
http://www.infowars.com/?p=4288
Senator Joe Biden asked about his meeting with head of Pakistani Inteligence and why the wire transfer of 100,000 dollars to Mohamed Atta was not investigated:
The official 9/11 commission report states that it was of no relevance to the investigation...
Bush's Brain flouts subpoena, leaves US without telling Congress.
Karl Rove was scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee yesterday. He didn't show. Not only that, the Committee was told that Rove had left the country on a "long scheduled" trip.
In this video clip, Rep. Linda Sanchez explains that Rove never told them about any trip.
Tagged as: rove, congress
Lindsay Beyerstein a New York writer blogging at Majikthise.
ACLU writes letter to Denver police on behalf of falsely arrested WACC member
June 16, 2008
David Fine
Office of the City Attorney
1437 Bannock, St., Room 353
Denver, CO 80202
VIA EMAIL David.Fine@denvergov.org
Chief Gerald Whitman
Denver Police Department
1331 Cherokee St.
Denver, CO 80204
VIA FACSIMILE 720-913-7029
Re: City Policy on First Amendment Activity on 16th Street Mall; Request
for Training Bulletin in Advance of the Democratic National Convention
Dear David and Chief Whitman:
I write regarding the City and County of Denver’s laws regarding First Amendment
activity on the public areas of the 16th Street Mall, and the misunderstanding
of Denver Police Department officers regarding those laws.
On June 11, 2008, Robert Weiland and other members of the group “WeAreChangeColorado”
were standing on the 16th Street Mall sidewalk. Mr. Weiland’s group believes
in questioning and stimulating public debate regarding the official version
of the events of September 11, 2001. On June 11, 2008, Mr. Weiland and members
of WeAreChangeColorado were distributing free flyers and DVDs with their message
in a peaceful and courteous fashion to persons on the 16th Street Mall who wished
to receive them. Mr. Weiland states that he was not selling any items nor blocking
any pedestrian traffic.
Like any other member of the public, Mr. Weiland and members of WeAreChangeColorado
had the right to engage in free expression on the public sidewalks of the 16th
Street Mall under the First Amendment and Article II Section 10 of the Colorado
constitution.
Nevertheless, Mr. Weiland and the members of WeAreChangeColorado were confronted
by Denver Police Department officers, including DPD Officer Albert St. Peter.
The officers ordered Mr. Weiland to cease distributing the flyers and the DVDs,
on the basis that they were prohibited from doing so unless they had a “peddler’s
license.”
In addition, the officers told Mr. Weiland and others present that the 16th
Street Mall was “private property.” A video1 recording of the incident
documents the officers consistently and uniformly stating, falsely, that that
the 16th Street Mall was “private property” and that a “peddler’s
license” was required to engage in this First Amendment activity on the
16th Street Mall.
Mr. Weiland explained to the officers that he was giving the literature and
DVDs for free to people who wished to received them, and that he was not selling
anything. In the video, the officers in fact acknowledge that Mr. Weiland was
“handing out” free materials, not selling them.
DPD officers, including Officer St. Clair, handcuffed Mr. Weiland and arrested
him. The summons is difficult to read, but it appears Mr. Weiland was cited
for violating D.R.M.C. § 47-35, an ordinance that does not exist. The officer
may have cited, or meant to cite, Mr. Weiland for violating D.R.M.C. §
47-32,2 which requires a license for persons engaged in peddling, which is defined
as selling or bartering goods. See D.M.R.C. § 47-16. The officers knew
Mr. Weiland was not engaged in selling or bartering goods.
Officer St. Clair also cited Mr. Weiland for violating D.R.M.C. § 38-86,
“Obstruction of streets or other public passageways,” and D.M.R.C.
§ 38-115, “Trespass.” Neither Mr. Weiland nor any else distributing
materials blocked or obstructed any pedestrian access. The citation for trespass,
I assume, arises from the officers’ universal and erroneous belief that
the sidewalks of the 16th Street Mall are private property.
During the arrest and citation of Mr. Weiland, the officer asked Mr. Weiland
and other members of the group whether or not they planned on engaging in such
First Amendment activity during the Democratic National Convention. As documented
in the video taken of the incident, the officers stated that Mr. Weiland and
the other members of the group should have “researched the law”
before attempting to engage in their First Amendment activity, and that had
they done so, they would have known they had to first obtain a peddler’s
permit to distribute their free materials.
It is likely that during the Democratic National Convention, many people will
wish to engage in First Amendment activity on Denver’s public areas including,
but not limited to, sidewalks and the 16th Street Mall. As the video makes clear,
of the numerous officers at the scene, all the officers agreed (or if they disagreed,
did not correct the erroneous statements of their fellow DPD officers) that
a “peddler’s license” was needed to distribute free literature
on the mall sidewalks, and that the 16th Street Mall was “private property.”
As a consequence of those misperceptions, DPD officers arrested and cited Mr.
Weiland for engaging in speech protected by the First Amendment and Article
II Section 10 is of even more disconcerting.
In anticipation of the Democratic National Convention, we request that Denver
provide additional instruction and training to its officers regarding the First
Amendment protections afforded to persons demonstrating in public forums including
the 16th Street Mall. In addition, as you know, the D.R.M.C. was recently revised
to permit a broader range of First Amendment activity in Denver. For example:
- The former version of the code purported to require a single person in a
public park expressing their views to obtain a permit to do so. The revised
version of this code makes clear that no permit is required for any group
less than fifty persons. See D.M.R.C. § 39-76(a).
- The revised code also makes clear that no permit at all is required in instances
where it is not “reasonably possible to obtain a permit in advance of a short
notice activity.” See D.M.R.C. § 39-85.
- The former version of the code purported to criminalize “offensive” conduct
or “loud and unusual” noises in public parks. The revised version of the code
restricts the prohibition and criminal sanction only to actions “calculated
to provoke a breach of the peace.” See D.M.R.C. § 39-12.
- The revised code creates new guidelines and procedures for the limited instances
in which public assembly permits can be revoked. See D.M.R.C. § 39-80.
In advance of the Democratic National Convention, we request that the Denver
Police Department issue a training bulletin to all its officers correcting the
misunderstandings that resulted in the arrest of Mr. Weiland, and that makes
clear the protections and time, place and manner limits on First Amendment activity
in Denver’s traditional public fora. Such a training bulletin could help to
minimize, if not eliminate, the possibility that DPD officers will continue
to misinterpret the law and make additional wrongful arrests like that of Mr.
Weiland. If you are agreeable, the ACLU of Colorado would be happy to provide
comments and feedback on drafts of any training bulletin, similar to our cooperative
effort with the revision of the parks and parade permitting ordinances.
Alternatively, if Denver believes that First Amendment activity on the 16th
Street Mall requires a permit, and/or that the mall is private property, please
explain that understanding to us. If we do not hear from you in response to
this letter, we will assume that the officers who arrested Mr. Weiland were
acting pursuant to and consistent with Denver policy, and that if Mr. Weiland
or any other person engages in similar expressive activity on the 16th Street
Mall in the future, they will be arrested and cited.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter. If I can provide any more
information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Very truly yours,
Taylor Pendergrass
Staff Attorney, ACLU of Colorado
Posted in response to the following blog
http://community.myfoxcolorado.com/blogs/911truthCO
/2008/06/17/Freedom_of_Speech_in_Denver_Colorado>
Thats right, the founder of the Weather Channel and 30K scientist sue Al Gore for his lies ! hahahaha
Does this mean you won't buy my carbon credits!!!
global warming or global governance- watch the documentary Al Gore hopes you never watch
..
