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Denver police talk to protesters ahead of DNC
PREVIOUS VERSION OF THIS STORYRelated Topics: DENVER
DENVER (Map, News) - Despite allegations of stonewalling and secrecy surrounding their security plans for the streets during the Democratic National Convention, police have quietly been meeting with groups planning protests, including an anti-Iraq war group whose leaders' commitment to nonviolence has been questioned.
Denver police on Thursday confirmed they're talking to Recreate68, a group that once promised to make the 1968 clashes with police in Chicago during the Democratic convention "look like a small get-together," as well as with several other groups.
"It's just smart business to make sure everybody is on the same page to clear up any misunderstandings and rumors that are out there," said Sonny Jackson, spokesman for Denver police, which along with the Secret Service is in charge of security during the Aug. 25-28 event. "Instead of a bullhorn (on the streets) you're having a conversation across the table."
Glenn Spagnuolo, head of Recreate68 and a veteran of several Columbus Day Parade protests in Denver where hundreds have been arrested since 2000, said the meetings have allowed the group to talk civilly with police.
"There are certain issues that we both feel comfortable with and we can drop our guard and talk through the issues," Spagnuolo said. "We can't do that on everything, but there are things were we can."
Police have refused to release estimates of the number of protesters expected to descend on the city for the convention. The number of dignitaries, delegates and staff alone is estimated at about 50,000.
Spagnuolo said Recreate68 also is working with the Department of Justice's Community Relations Service to ease tensions. The service was created as part of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to mediate conflicts between racial groups.
Spagnuolo said the service told him there will be nine "facilitators" in the streets of Denver during the convention to help diffuse any confrontation between protesters and police.
"Our experience has been that police can quickly overreact to situations where it could take five minutes to negotiate and help calm the street," Spagnuolo said.
The service was involved in negotiations between the American Indian Movement and an Italian-American group that revived Denver's Columbus Day Parade in 2000. The annual event had been canceled in 1992 after threats of violence. Some Native Americans said Christopher Columbus was a killer and slave trader whose discovery of America shouldn't be celebrated.
At the 2000 parade, about 150 people were arrested peacefully. Protesters who had sat down on the street were asked if they wanted to leave or to be arrested before being led away.
Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman announced this week that similar tactics will be used during the convention and that there is no "mandatory arrest" order.
Bryan Breitenbach, a spokesman for the Community Relations Service, said the service is not permitted to talk about its involvement but that its training includes making sure protest march routes are clear of cars and newspaper racks and other objects that can be thrown through windows.
"We work to help law enforcement understand the march, understand the dynamics of the march," Breitenbach said, adding that confidentiality is important to ensure those working with the department speak freely.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., police this week announced that they were working with the Justice Department to open communication lines with activist leaders at the Republican National Convention, which will be Sept. 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. About 10 so-called "dialogue officers" or "free speech liaison officers" are trying to open dialogue and exchange cell phone numbers with demonstrators at the RNC.
Denver has been less open about its efforts.
"We don't want to play this out in the press, but we're not going to hide the fact that we're having this dialogue with several groups," Jackson said.
City officials point out that they have experience maintaining security for large events, including last year's World Series, the NBA All Star Game, the G-8 Summit in 1997 and a papal visit in 1993.
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