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Denver Prepares For Democrats

Posted by: Larry Schooler

20 August 2008 - 7:00am

Denver is generally ready for the Democratic National Convention, but city officials have taken heat for security preparations.

"Security has been a major focus for convention planners.

Protesters have sought inspiration from the violent clashes between demonstrators and police at the Democratic Convention in Chicago 40 years ago. One group even calls itself Recreate '68.

Both Denver and Minneapolis received $50 million in federal money to pay for security. In Denver, some of the $50 million was used to construct a temporary jail to fingerprint protesters.

Capt. Frank Gale of the Denver Sheriff Department says the city's existing jail can process only about 30 arrestees an hour. The new facility will allow deputies to process three times as many.

Protest groups were upset that the city didn't tell them that the temporary jail was under construction. The facility already has become a focus of demonstrations. Organizers have dubbed the sparse cement and chain-link facility near the Platte River 'Gitmo on the Platte.'"

Full Story: Denver Hits Some Snags In Runup To Convention
Source: NPR, August 18, 2008
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