Anti-abortion group challenging city on DemCon permit

City officials told an anti-abortion group Thursday it was too early to apply for permits to demonstrate at several parks during next year’s Democratic Convention, setting up a possible lawsuit against the city.

The Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Pro-Life Coalition said he was told it could be months before the Denver issues permits to groups wishing to reserve parks for demonstrations.

Mahoney has said he expected to be turned down. He said he went through the process to lay the groundwork for a lawsuit alleging the city is denying his group its free-speech rights.

Denver typically issues event permits for the following year beginning the first business day in November. But officials are withholding permits for events at 14 city parks, including Civic Center downtown, until they devise a new system.

City parks officials say the city is trying to accommodate the expected rush for permits for the Democrats’ convention.
Mahoney said his next step is to meet with his attorney.

In October, city officials announced they will not give permits for 14 city parks until a new system is devised. Civic Center, the prominent downtown park stretched between the Colorado’s capitol and Denver’s city hall, was among those cut from the list.

Mahoney, who lives in Washington D.C. and made plans to come to Denver to wait in line for permits, said the move violates free speech. “This is an absolute disgrace ... and I think it will be considered unconstitutional,” he said.

“Our message to the city of Denver is, ’Do not trample free speech, embrace it.”’ The Denver-based protest group Recreate 68 was also unhappy when Denver announced the changes, but a member said the group is willing to wait for a new policy and is not planning a lawsuit.

Recreate 68 set itself up as an umbrella for protest organizers and has been meeting with city officials and authorities since the spring.

“We’re hoping to hear what the new permitting plan will be in three weeks,” Mark Cohen said.

Cohen said he did not view the date change for issuing for permits as a free-speech violation because the Nov. 1 date was “arbitrary in the first place.” Denver Department of Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Jill McGranahan said the city is trying to accommodate the expected rush on permits during the convention.

“We are expecting so many people to ask for permits that just asking people to line up at 6 a.m. — how do you know who was really there first if someone could jump in line?” she said. “We’re trying to do it in a way that will be fair and equitable to anyone who wants a permit.”

The annual A Taste of Colorado festival, which has been held downtown over the Labor Day Weekend since 1984, will be the only exception, McGranahan said.

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