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ACLU Reacts to Arrest of Journalist at DNCFollowing news reports and a video showing Denver law enforcement agents ordering a reporter off a public sidewalk and pushing him into the street and later arresting him, the ACLU and the ACLU of Colorado called for renewed protection of the First Amendment guarantees of free speech and a free press. Our joint statement is here. Raw Story reported today that protestors detained after mass arrests on Monday were held without access to counsel. The ACLU of Colorado's Taylor Pendergrass says: "The City refused to provide any access to allow these persons to meet with attorneys." The ACLU of Colorado sent a letter (PDF) to William Lovingier, Director of Corrections and Undersheriff for the Denver Sheriff Department and City Attorney David Fine yesterday outlining this week's events and its concerns about possible violations of protestors' constitutional rights. It's an excellent, first-hand account by Pendergrass about what exactly went down earlier this week.
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Aug 28th, 2008 at 3:35pm
It's the same thing every four years at the conventions. The DNC and RNC need to speak out against this law enforcement abuse.
Aug 28th, 2008 at 10:21pm
Why does the American Criminal Liberties Union always take the opposite side of law enforcement? Well for one they hate America. Two, they hate authority, unless it's a liberal activist judge forcing his and the radical left's beliefs on the rest of us patriotic citizens.
Come on, can't we have some order and stability without leftist groups trying to handcuff the police. You cowards would go running to the police if the anarchy you insist on was really implemented. Grow up!
Aug 30th, 2008 at 4:07am
"Leftist groups" like ABC News?
The Chinese were widely criticized for arresting ITV News journalist John Ray at the Olympics for covering a "Free Tibet" protest. How is this any different?
"Two countries, one system"
Aug 30th, 2008 at 10:24pm
When is the ACLU going to be on the scene in Minneapolis, where right now the local police are attempting to intimidate legal protestors? This is exactly what communist China just did during the Olympics. Root out possible protesters and throw them in jail for the duration. Liberal hater: go read your Constitution.
Aug 31st, 2008 at 10:29am
What about the raids yesterday on the homes in St Paul and Minnespolis? These raids are an attempt to terrorize free speech advocates. What is being done to monitor the sheriff's actions?
Aug 31st, 2008 at 11:09pm
Here's Glenn Greenwald on the Minneapolis raids:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/31/raids/ index.html
"So here we have a massive assault led by Federal Government law enforcement agencies on left-wing dissidents and protesters who have committed no acts of violence or illegality whatsoever, preceded by months-long espionage efforts to track what they do. And as extraordinary as that conduct is, more extraordinary is the fact that they have received virtually no attention from the national media and little outcry from anyone."
Sep 5th, 2008 at 2:36am
We have "emergency immigration centers" being made in this country (look it up) with the barbed wire fencing facing INWARDS,for a "crisis" so bad that amnesty was voted on for it! Why do we have people pretending we live in a republic, when outside the convention centers it's 1939 Germany all over again, hypocritical don't you think? Freedom of the press is in the Bill of Rights, so how come I can hear ten stories about Madonna, whether i like it or not, but not hear THIS on the news...FROM THE PRESS?!
This isn't a few bad apples either, this is a test to see just how much YOU, Joe Public, will put up with. Good thing our forefathers didn't put up with it or we'd all be wearing redcoats, now what about their sons?