Activists: Police files will hurt free speech
By Allison Sherry
Denver Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 17, 2002 - If police keep lists, photos and license plate numbers of Denver protesters, fewer people will join movements they believe in for fear of being tracked, leaders of activist organizations said Saturday.
Members of the umbrella group All Nations Alliance said the policy of Denver police and Mayor Wellington Webb will stamp out the confidence that all Americans should have in the First Amendment by keeping clandestine lists of people and groups.
"It's difficult to ask someone to come join something if they know their picture might be taken," said Stephanie Phibbs of the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace.
"It is especially the case with people of Arab descent. . . . It's a little nerve-wracking. You don't even know if you're a part of the list. It sort of plays with your head."
Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union accused Denver police of keeping lists of lawful local activists and spying on them.
Webb admitted two days later that a broad policy allowing law enforcement officials to keep lists for intelligence purposes was misinterpreted. That policy allows police to gather names and information on people, but only those who have broken the law.
"We know this policy has been breached for at least three years," Glenn Morris of the American Indian Movement of Colorado said at a news conference Saturday. Morris said he is sure he's on the list.
"I think it's important to uphold the rights of what makes this country so great," said Pavlos Stavropoulos, 37, who volunteers for End the Politics of Cruelty, which pushes for greater police oversight.
Members of the All Nations Alliance urged the ACLU to seek an injunction to keep the city from destroying the 3,408 files of people and organizations. They want the files made public and further information-gathering on lawful groups stopped.
Webb said that someone outside city government will look at the files and decide if they should be destroyed.
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