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No Slime or Goo on Tap for DNC Protesters

By Jeralyn, Section Democratic National Convention 2008
Posted on Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 08:17:00 AM EST
Tags: Democratic National Convention, protesters (all tags)
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The City and County of Denver and the ACLU have reached a partial agreement with respect to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Colorado seeking details of security purchases made by police for the Democratic National Convention. Denver has now provided details of the $18.2 million spent to date and those planning on protesting can rest a little easier:

The city also announced today that none of the equipment purchases include nonlethal weapons that discharge "slime" or "goo" to immobilize persons or vehicles or that use microwaves or sonic waves to induce pain or discomfort in targets.

The ACLU was relieved -- so much so that it agreed to wait until the convention is over to decide whether to return to court and seek more information.

Denver also disclosed that the police have no "mandatory arrest" policy -- meaning there is no list of offenses that will require arrest rather than the issuance of a citation.[More...]

As to details of the extra training police are receiving for the Convention, DPD insists the focus is not on nabbing protesters but on moving crowds safely through the streets:

"The emphasis is not on arresting people but on gaining voluntary compliance with requests that enable everyone to safely exercise their First Amendment rights."

A breakdown of the $18.2 million in security purchases is here (pdf.)

Hopefully this means there will be no Guantanamo of the Rockies similar to the Guantanamo on the Hudson that sprang up at Pier 57 in New York City when more than 1,700 protesters were arrested during the 2004 Republican National Convention.

Nonetheless, I encourage the Denver Police Department and the officers on loan from outlying areas to to review the ACLU's report, Rights and Wrongs at the RNC, Police and Protest at the RNC (pdf). Among their recommendations:

  • Stop the indiscriminate use of m