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Security being planned for Obama speech at Invesco

Catherine Tsai
The Associated Press
Aspen, CO Colorado

DENVER ” The late decision for Barack Obama to accept Democrats’ nomination for president in a different spot from the rest of the party’s national convention is affecting not only convention organizers but also those planning protests.

Even the Secret Service may not have its final plans for security during Obama’s acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High until a few weeks before the convention Aug. 25-28, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Rocque said Monday in U.S. District Court.

She had no estimate of when the Secret Service would complete its plans but said the plans may not be ready before July 29, the trial date for a lawsuit filed by various groups challenging where and when protest groups can gather and march during the convention.



“It’s a much different venue than one we’ve been working on for the past 17, 18 months,” said attorney James Lyons, helping represent the city of Denver.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and groups planning protests during the convention have filed a lawsuit complaining that a designated public demonstration zone and a route for marches during the convention will not be within earshot or view of delegates entering the Pepsi Center, where the first few days of the convention will be held.




The groups also are concerned about accommodations for protesters at Invesco, but the city is still working on plans there.

The groups’ lawsuit was filed against Denver, the deputy chief of operations for Denver police, the Secret Service and the Secret Service director.

The Democratic National Committee did not announce that Obama would accept his nomination at Invesco, the stadium where the Denver Broncos play, until July 7 ” about 18 months after Democrats said their national convention would be held in the smaller Pepsi Center.

Most of the convention will still be held at the Pepsi Center on the edge of downtown Denver.

Mayor John Hickenlooper has said there will be allowances at Invesco Field for protesters, without releasing details, Lyons said.

Another pretrial conference for the ACLU lawsuit was set for July 28. During a pretrial conference Monday, Judge Marcia Krieger asked the city to disclose its decisions on public rights of way, parade routes and public demonstration zones at the stadium within 24 hours, if any are made.