NewsMine — security — criminalizing-dissent — dnc-protest-2004 — Viewing Item

Activists shun the protest pen { July 25 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.bostonherald.com/dncConvention/view.bg?articleid=37086 http://news.bostonherald.com/dncConvention/view.bg?articleid=37086 Don't fence us in: Activists shun `protest pen' By Dave Wedge Sunday, July 25, 2004 The city has permitted more than 100 rallies and protests during the Democratic National Convention, but just 10 are slated for the so-called ``free speech zones.'' Rallies by groups ranging from Vietnam Veterans Against Kerry to the Billionaires for Bush to the Bl(A)ck Tea Society have secured permits for various locations around the city, including Copley Square, Boston Common, Holocaust Memorial Park and City Hall. The Boston police union also has been permitted for pickets. The revelation that most of the major protesting will not take place in the ``protest pen'' comes after a federal judge ruled that the demonstration zone was legal. The fenced-in area, which is adjacent to the FleetCenter and shrouded in netting and barbed wire, initially was built to hold 4,000 people, but the judge reduced the capacity to 1,000. Protesters have vowed not to use it and are posting messages online to stay out of the ``protest pens'' ``The caging of protesters at the DNC is outrageous,'' said Bill Dobbs of United for Peace and Justice. Activists have posted a scathing report by a Gloucester security expert who claims the protest pen is a deathtrap - and security overall at the DNC is ``absolutely appalling'' in its weaknesses. Security consultant Jim Atkinson says he's documented lapses ranging from unlocked gates around the FleetCenter to unprotected ventilation systems in the media pavilion. Perhaps most troubling is his claim that more than 400 manhole covers in the area are unsecured and appear not to have been swept for explosives. But Boston police spokesman David Estrada said security is tight. ``It's something we've been preparing for since the day we got word that the DNC was coming to Boston,'' he said. ``We're working with several federal and state agencies to be prepared for the worst.''

Activists shun the protest pen { July 25 2004 } Anti war protesters fight with anti abortion protesters { July 25 2004 } Automatic weapons for security Burning bush kerry effigy [jpg] Cage7 [jpg] Chemical weapons [jpg] Confusion reigns as security rules { July 25 2004 } Convention protest is dark shadowy place { July 24 2004 } Crowd desper weapon [jpg] Groups challenge curbs on protests { July 22 2004 } Judge inspects protest zone { July 22 2004 } Machine gun dnc 2004 [jpg] Pens4animals [jpg] Post 911 model of unprecedented security { July 26 2004 } Protester subdued [jpg] Protesters police skirmish outside convention Protesters surrounded by barbed wire Security [jpg] Soldiers dnc 2004 [jpg] Strom trooper line [jpg] Unprecendented security prowls boston Unprecendented security [jpg] Files Listed: 22

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.