ACLU counters police DNC protest alert

Mark Silverstein (Courtesy: ACLU)

Asked if his group would be ready here in the heat of battle next week if protests turn ugly, Colorado American Civil Liberties Union Legal Director Mark Silverstein said “I hope nobody is going to be using the battle metaphor.”

Silverstein spoke shortly before beginnig a news conference today with ACLU Executive Director Cathryn Hazouri to address concerns over a police Democratic National Convention protest bulletin, which mentions officials concerned about anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 protesters.

The Denver Police bulletin—which the Rocky Mountain News reported yesterday — was believed to be sent recently to all police, sheriff, and fire department personnel, asking them to be looking for “stockpiles and caches of supplies” that that could be used by “violent demonstrators” during  the DNC. The suspect items include maps and bicycles, and asks that they be reported to the DPD as well as the Colorado Intelligence Analysis Center (CIAC).

Silverstein says that the People's Law Project will be open 24/7 as the first line of complaints, but the ACLU office will be working expanded hours and with expanded staff (though not, he joked, due to late-night pizza consumption).

“We have lines of communication with top city officials, police” and other leaders, he said, with cellphone contacts of many high-ranking officials..

“If we hear of any incidents, we can discuss it. That requires that we promptly find out and reach someone,” Silverstein said.

Silverstein, who has held his post since 1996, also said he believes that top community leaders  “are also interested in assuring” a peaceful convention week. The press conference was also set to feature a Denver activist and homeowner who claims to have been subjected to police questioning about bricks being unloaded at her house. While she noted they were for house repairs, police reportedly accused the activist of “stockpiling” the bricks for the DNC.