The Denver Police Are Going to get their City Sued. A Lot.
Via atrios, Time reports that the Denver police are setting their city up for some lawsuits:
The Denver Police Department “is asking all police, ambulance and fire personal to be on the lookout for stock piles and caches of supplies that could be used by violent demonstrators at the up coming Democratic National Convention [sic],” according to an official release that has been obtained by the Colorado ACLU.
[snip]
Maps: “Maps are frequently used by violent protesters to plan direct actions against conventioneers.”Bicycles: “Bicycles are used to blockade sidewalks, streets and can be used to slow down responding emergency vehicles.”
Helmets: “Football, baseball, motorcycle and bicycle helmets are all used by violent protesters.”
The document does not list other “supplies” that I have witnessed violent protesters use in the past, stuff like cell phones, shoes, pants, beards, peace sign patches, woolen beanies, ponytails, etc. etc. etc. The Denver ACLU has scheduled a press conference tomorrow to discuss the document. Also speaking at the press conference: a Denver activist and homeowner who was recently questioned by the police about bricks being unloaded at her house. Says the ACLU, “Although the bricks were acquired for masonry repairs, Denver police accused the activist of ’stockpiling’ the bricks for the DNC.”
According to the writer Denver cops have caught grief about this before, but let me add my 2 cents as a Philadelphia resident, and as someone who’s participated in his share of marches and protests. People who are abused by cops have a tendency to sue. They also have a tendency to win, and that can be an issue when your budget clearly shows your expenditures are greater than your revenue, no?.
$2 million from New York City:
New York City has agreed to pay a $2 million settlement to protesters arrested during a 2003 rally against the Iraq war who said their civil rights had been violated, lawyers for both sides said on Tuesday.
The 52 plaintiffs in the lawsuit were among 94 protesters arrested on April 7, 2003, during a demonstration at the midtown Manhattan offices of the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm with holdings in the defense sector.
“The New York Police Department violated core constitutional rights when it arrested a group of peaceful demonstrators who were lawfully protesting against the commencement of the Iraq war and those who stood to profit from it,” said Sarah Netburn, a lawyer for the protesters.
Philadelphia was sued for violating people’s rights during the RNC and lost.
DC, sued by the ANSWER people (I have no idea as to the outcome).
When Boston tried to deny protest rights to ANSWER in 2004, ANSWER sued, and won.
The lesson here is that peaceful protesters have a right to do their thing: it’s guaranteed by the First Amendment. Now, I’ve been to Denver, and it’s a nice place: very bicycle friendly, although you do need a map to get around. If the Denver police are going after people on the basis of bikes, helmets, and maps, they are going to get their city sued.
It’s never a safe bet when you wager on the intelligence of a cop or a councilman: the former is brute with a badge, the latter a stuffed shirt with an ego problem. And when you’ve already been caught building secret prisons to cage and taser protesters, it’s a good idea to re-evaluate your strategy.
But if I know cops and I know city goverment (any city government), that’s not gonna happen. So enjoy your lawsuits and bad publicity, Denver. And if some unlucky Coloradan happens to read this, don’t say I didn’t warn you!
One Response to “The Denver Police Are Going to get their City Sued. A Lot.”
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August 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
This is exactly what I told my husband last night. Denver better watch out, because it doesn’t take much to imagine a riot scene at the detention/kennel warehouse, and lots of people getting hurt. Hell, people could even sue for the mental anguish from the shear terror of being trapped in the cages. What in hell are they thinking?