Crash the Conventions

Recreate 68 Alliance along with the American Indian Movement of Colorado, Escuela Tlatelolco, Code Pink, Troops Out Now Coalition, Tent State University, and others filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court with cooperating attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union.  The suit is asking that the City of Denver and the United States Secret Service publicly announce their security plans and issue permits for marches pertaining to the Democratic National Convention in August.

Recreate 68 had initiated discussions over a year ago with representatives of the city in hopes of sparing the citizens of Denver the expense of legal action.  But the city has been unwilling to engage in negotiations. It has refused, in violation of its own regulations, to even accept applications for march permits, and has refused to even disclose when it will accept applications. Thus the R68 Alliance is unable to engage in the planning necessary for effective marches and demonstrations.

As a result of the city’s apparent contempt for free speech rights, the very basis of a democratic society, R68 had no choice but to initiate legal action to ensure that demonstrators will be able to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights to bring their concerns to the attention of DNC delegates.

“As a judge said four years ago about the DNC in Boston,” said R68 member Mark Cohen, “demonstrators are as integral a part of the political process as the convention itself. For demonstrators to participate, they need to have permits and information about proposed `free speech zones’ far enough in advance of the DNC to  plan effectively for the thousands of people who will come to Denver.”

Less than four months now remain till the start of the DNC. The city has expressed its wish for a peaceful, orderly experience this August. R68 shares the same goal. The best way to achieve it will be for the city now to accept applications and issue permits for marches, and to announce its plans for allowing demonstrators to be within sight and sound of convention delegates.