Sign up for 5280's weekly e-newsletters. Want the latest restaurant scoop? The latest happenings around town? Access to exclusive events and deals just for 5280 readers? Via Progress Now, which captured the video, Carole Kreck, a 61-year-old librarian was waiting in line this morning at the Denver Center for Performing Arts to attend the John McCain town hall meeting. She held a sign that said “McCain = Bush.”
McCain’s security detail told her to leave. The police were called. They issued her a ticket for trespassing and escorted her out.
The event was open to the public. They advised people to arrive a few hours early. How can you trespass on public property if you’ve been invited to the event being held on that property?
Posted 7/7/2008 at 3:08 pm by Jeralyn Merritt
Politics :: Permalink :: Comments (4)
I would like to know why Denver taxpayers stand for this misuse and abuse of their local police force. The proper answer when some misguided D.C. security detail says “get rid of her” is — “You do it, asshole, and defend the wrongful lawsuit, too. This is public property.”
I would like to know why Denver taxpayers stand for this misuse and abuse of their local police force. The proper answer when some misguided D.C. security detail says “get rid of her” is — “You do it, asshole, and defend the wrongful arrrst lawsuit, too. This is public property.”
Jeralyn, give us an attorney’s POV: If Ms. Kreck can show that people were allowed into the meeting wearing McCain campaign buttons, does that open up the city/campaign/Secret Service up to a civil rights lawsuit?
To be fair, they told her to get rid of the sign or to leave. Sounds like they had a rule against having signs. She choice neither, ie broke the rules, so she got ticketed. Doesn’t seem that big a deal to me.
Just because it’s public property and “public event” doesn’t mean there are no rules. Any other day they have musicals there — those are public events. But if you go in and start waving a sign around in front of other people and refuse to leave the same thing will happen.