ACLU: Denver arrest policy could lead to "catastrophic situation" at DNC

The Post:

Civil-rights activists say a Denver police policy could result in mass arrests and a clogged jail during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and they have filed a claim seeking monetary damages over its use last Columbus Day parade.

Clogged jail? Try Drano!

"We think there is a strong possibility that Denver is headed for a very disastrous and catastrophic situation," said Mark Silverstein, who directs the Colorado American Civil Liberties Union.

Until last year, Denver's policy for minor offenses was to give the accused a summons to appear in court. But before October's Columbus Day parade, the police changed the policy to arrest and detain protesters, even for minor offenses. More than 80 protesters were arrested for trying to block the parade route, leading to the ACLU complaint early last month. . . .

[Denver Deputy Police Chief Michael] Battista said the change followed the mass citations in 2004 during the city's Columbus Day parade, in which 230 people were given a summons after they linked arms and stopped the parade. . . .

The 230 were cleared, and Battista said a review of the matter found that had they been taken in for a formal booking and bonding out, the city's case against them in court would have been stronger. . . .

City Attorney David Fine said the city can't dictate to police how officers handle arrests, which by their nature are unpredictable.

"Let's say someone (protested) with the intention of blocking traffic," Fine said. "If they were cited and released, they would be right back blocking traffic. It's not a minor manner [sic]."

Fine said police were developing plans to process any arrests "as quickly and efficiently as possible."

The new policy created a New York-style situation on a smaller scale during last year's Columbus Day parade, Silverstein said.

Instead of issuing a summons to the 83 charged with blocking the parade route, the protesters were taken to jail. At least 40 of them were held several hours before they were allowed to post bond, and then they were held several more hours before being released.

Pigs!

Paul Bame said he was arrested about 10:30 a.m. on the day of the Columbus Day parade, kept in a cell and not allowed to post bond until midnight. He wasn't released until 3:30 a.m. the next day.

"Some of the marshals in the jail were harassing us, saying, 'Well, you feel pretty smart about what you did now, huh?' That kind of thing," Bame said. "They were communicating to us: 'You've been punished.' "

"You've been punished." It was a bloodbath!

Bame, who faces three minor charges, worries there will be a chilling effect on his ability to protest during the Democratic convention since some of his peers have received year-long suspended sentences for their Columbus Day activities.

"You can pretty much count on going to jail if there is another instance," Bame said.

Hee.

Update: Check out the goomer standing behind the peace-signing woman in the Post's pic from the 2004 Columbus Day protests. What a freak.