No toilets or water stations are available at the protest zone near the Pepsi Center, a possible violation of the terms of setup a federal judge relied on when approving Denver’s security plans for the Democratic National Convention.
U.S. District Judge Marcia Krieger referenced the city’s plans to provide “water stations and sanitary facilities inside the zone” when she upheld the city’s security measures. The judge ruled alterations weren’t necessary to accommodate the protesters, who wanted greater access to delegates and less restrictions.
Mark Silverstein, the legal director of the ACLU of Colorado, said the lack of those facilities may explain why attendance has been sparse at the protest zone through much of the convention.
“It’s inhospitable to free expression,” Silverstein said in an interview today.
City officials did not immediately respond to request for interviews but said they were looking into the matter.
Silverstein said the both toilets and water fountains aren’t even visible from the protest zone, which protesters have dubbed the freedom cage. Signs also aren’t up that would direct people where to find such facilities.
He added that the zone is too remote to become an adequate venue for free expression.
“Nobody even knows it’s there,” Silverstein said. “To get to the place you have to navigate quite a meandering route on foot or by bike.”
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
