City Readies Warehouse for Mass DNC Arrests
Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News
August 13, 2008
New lockup has chain-link cages, stun-gun warnings
Some protesters arrested at the Democratic National Convention could be jailed in a city- owned warehouse, complete with metal cages and barbed wire, CBS4 News has learned.
Investigative reporter Rick Sallinger discovered the location and managed to get inside Tuesday for a look. The newly created lockup, in a warehouse northeast of Denver, contains dozens of metal cages made of chain-link fence material, topped by rolls of barbed wire.
Each of these fenced-in areas is about 15 feet by 15 feet, with a lock on the door.
A sign on the wall reads "Warning, electric stun devices used in this facility."
Sallinger showed video of the warehouse to Adam Jung of Tent State University and Zoe Williams of Code Pink, leaders of groups that plan to demonstrate during the convention. "This is very bare-bones and very reminiscent of a political prisoner camp or a concentration camp," Williams said.
"That's how you treat cattle," Jung siad. "You showed the sign where it said stun gun in use. And you just change the word gun for bolt, and it's a meat-processing plant."
The Denver Sheriff's Department would not discuss the facility. Instead, the sheriff's department said late Tuesday the mayor's office would be releasing a statement about it early next week.
"We're going to tell you about it," said Capt. Frank Gale, of the sheriff's department. "We're going to have the community and the media come out and view the place ."
John White, spokesman for Denver police, said Tuesday he could not comment until after he has a chance to consult with convention officials. The American Civil Liberties Union said it will ask the city of Denver how prisoners will get access to food and water, bathrooms, telephones and medical care, and if there will be a place to meet with attorneys.
www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/13/city-readies-warehouse-for-mass-dnc-arrests/