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There is a story that didn't get much attention amid the drama of the Democratic National Convention, and it has nothing to do with the Clintons' reconciliation with the Obamas. It is about the protesters outside the Pepsi Center doors and how they were treated by police. The Republicans are likely to write their own version of this story at their national convention this week.
To their credit, the Denver police showed restraint in managing some peaceful large-scale protests, including an antiwar march on Wednesday in which officers in a golf cart led an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 protesters behind a flashing sign that said, "Welcome to Denver. Follow us."
But that's not the whole story. Earlier in the week, officers in full riot gear, wielding batons, rounded up protesters with the use of pepper spray, taking more than 100 into custody. Police claim the crowd of 300 blocked traffic and rushed a police line. But a number of protesters interviewed said that they themselves were doing nothing provocative and had a permit to gather. Even if some protesters were blocking traffic, they could have been moved along or arrested without a military-like overreaction and indiscriminate arrests.
Another exchange between police and protesters that was caught on video seems to capture excessive police action. In the video, a member of the antiwar group CodePink: Women for Peace is seen being knocked to the ground by a police officer using his baton and screaming "Back up, bitch." She is then arrested.
Some other disturbing episodes:
Denver police went to a house that had been rented by the protest group Unconventional Denver as a convergence center, and despite seeing no illegal activity, two protesters were arrested, with one reportedly slammed on his head during the arrest.
An ABC News producer was arrested when he and his camera crew were outside the Brown Palace Hotel, on a sidewalk, trying to get pictures of corporate lobbyists and other big donors and Democratic senators coming out of a private gathering.
If protests sometimes get a little messy, with lots of people being boisterous and a few misbehaving, that's the price we pay for free speech.
The Democratic Party claims to be the party that upholds the First Amendment, yet it allows tight controls on protesters outside its conventions, as do Republicans. It is a shame that no Democratic leader has publicly raised questions about the mass arrests on Monday, in which dozens of protesters later had the baseless charges against them dismissed.
As China's repressions reminded us during the Olympics, free speech is more valuable than running a tight ship. Much more.
[Last modified: Sep 05, 2008 03:45 PM]
Comments on this article
by glen
Sep 5, 2008 3:45 PM
thank robert dardenne for speaking out about the assault on our rights and abuses on the journalists in st paul minn. he shows much more courage than all the talking heads on t.v. combined
by John
Sep 2, 2008 5:26 PM
If you think it was Bush who trampled rights, you are looking at too small a picture. That monkey could not do this on his own, our own Congress betrayed us. Our preachers and our "noblemen" betrayed us. We betrayed ourselves.
by MILHOUSE
Sep 2, 2008 5:06 PM
APPARENTLY MANY OF OUR GOOD FRIENDS ON THE LEFT HAVE GOT IT IN THEIR LIL' HEADS THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH MEANS A RIGHT TO DENY THOSE WITH OPPOSING VIEWS A VOICE. THEY ARE MORALLY CORRUPT AND INTELLECTUALLY BANKRUPT AND I SAY BONK 'EM AND CAGE 'EM ALL.
by wunderchild
Sep 2, 2008 3:15 PM
Let's see the proof of the Human waste that was hurled at the police and if you think Denver cops overreacted you haven't researched the twin cities GESTAPO and their raids on so called "criminal anarchists: the 1920's revisited or Chicago 68
by Lori
Sep 2, 2008 3:13 PM
You must have been on a deserted island for the last 8 years. Elderly women were arrested and roughed up at pro bush rallies because they had the audacity to stand up and display t-shirts in protest of your fearless leader. Or is that okay with you?
by JT
Sep 2, 2008 2:53 PM
There is a difference between exercising free speech and destroying property, violating others property rights or interfering with the liberty of others. Blocking traffic is a public safety issue not a free speech issue. Speak out don't act out.
by John
Sep 2, 2008 2:50 PM
That cop with the cigar in his mouth arresting the NBC producer was a real tough guy wasn't he. Are police allowed to smoke on the job (while arresting people) in Denver? I can only imagine what the media would say if this happened at the rep. conv.
by Jack
Sep 2, 2008 2:42 PM
This is a yawner. The real story is the ABC producer grabbed the throat and carted off to jail at the behest of those freedom loving Democrats.
by NIXON
Aug 31, 2008 6:15 PM
IF YOU LIBERALS WERE SUBJECT TO "PROTESTS GETTING A LITTLE MESSY", IF A BODY WERE FLINGING PISS AND SHIT ON EMPLOYEES SHOWING AT THE "TIMES", THEN YOU'D HAVE A POINT. BUT NASTINESS IS ALWAYS THROWN BY THE LEFT AT REPUBLICANS WHO DON'T RESPOND INKIND.
by Jim
Aug 31, 2008 6:15 PM
Save me the free speech excuse. These people wanted confrontation, and they wanted the press to cover it. There comes a time when you pull the tail of tiger, it bites you. If the masses acted the same way, no amount of police could protect us.
by Lin
Aug 31, 2008 6:15 PM
Maybe that's why some jaded American voters say that they see no differences between the parties.As a Democrat, I don't feel my party ever does all it could to protect free speech, which may be why Pres. Bush was able to so effectively trample rights
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