Activists in Berkeley, Calif., who are planning to confront the Democratic National Convention this month are holding a rally today to protest a fenced-in “free speech zone” that is more than 700 feet away from the Pepsi Center in Denver, where the event will be held.
World Can’t Wait, a national left-leaning group that works to end the Iraq War, is organizing the Berkley protest at noon today in front of the Obama Headquarters at 3225 Adeline St., Berkeley, according to an issued statement:
On Thursday, August 14 at noon, World Can’t Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime and others will hold a dramatic press conference at Barack Obama’s Berkeley Headquarters condemning this suppression of dissent.
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Last week a U.S. District Court ruled that protesters’ free speech rights must give way to "national security," allowing the government to force march permits to end 3 hours before the convention begins. Protesters will be kept away from the convention center and allowed only into chain link fenced cages 700 feet from the center’s door. These "freedom cages" are reminiscent of Guantanamo and will be ringed by police and concrete barriers. Huge media tents are being erected between the cages and the convention.
Notable World Can’t Wait supporters — including historian Howard Zinn, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney — have signed a letter calling for protests in Denver to end the Iraq war.
the Pepsi Center. (Photo/Erin Rosa)
