Read a Pacific Northwest, liberal perspective on world, national, and local politics. From majestic Redmond, Washington - the Northwest Progressive Institute Advocate.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

LIVE from Denver: High security zone

After arriving in Denver early this afternoon and stowing my luggage, I decided to make the most of an opportunity to explore downtown Denver and view the final preparations for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

I was expecting security to be tight, but I was surprised by the extent. Walking around the PepsiCenter felt like strolling around the perimeter of a fortress. The PepsiCenter is blocked off by a combination of concrete barriers, heavy duty chain link fences, and armed checkpoints with metal gates.

The police presence around the PepsiCenter is so huge that it feels like a military base. There is literally a policeman on every corner. Crown Victoria police interceptors are parked on each block. Unmarked government Chevy Suburbans can be seen cruising through the streets regularly, or idling next to sidewalks.

It appears as though every truck, building, or structure inside the perimeter is guarded by a legion of police or private security forces. I could see them standing around or pacing back and forth inside through the fence.

The barriers are not just an impediment to drivers - they're difficult to navigate on foot or on a bike, too, because of the way they've been deployed. The PepsiCenter can only be approached from a few certain directions, and the patchwork road closures have turned the security perimeter into a maze of sorts.

The police know it, too.

As I was walking not far from one of the roadblocks, the driver of a Jeep slowed down to ask two policemen a question. I overheard one of the policemen laugh seconds later and say something along the lines of, "Having trouble finding your way through our obstacle course?" The driver's response was inaudible but I felt for whoever it was. It really is possible to get stuck in there - there's more than one street that looks like an exit but is barricaded, making it a dead end.

I appreciate the concern that's gone into the convention planning, but I can't help but wish that the security wasn't so dominant and rigid. It's overshadowing what should be a festive gathering of American patriots and an exercise of our First Amendment rights to free assembly, free speech, and free press.

We should be able to strike a balance between safety and openness. Right now we're paranoid about the former and not giving much thought to the latter.

That has got to change.

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