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City announces parade rout for DNCPath for protestersPeter Marcus, DDN Staff WriterFriday, June 13, 2008 |  | | PARADE ROUT |
City officials yesterday announced the parade route for groups looking to march toward the Pepsi Center during the Democratic National Convention in late August.
Protesters and activists will be allowed to march for free between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on all four days of the convention beginning Aug. 25. The designated route will begin on the north side of Colfax Avenue in the westbound traffic lanes at Bannock Street and proceed west toward Speer Boulevard to Larimer Street. The route will end near the Pepsi Center, within walking distance to the 50,000 square-foot “demonstration zone” located in parking Lot A at the Pepsi Center. The public protest site at Pepsi Center will be surrounded by a “transparent and sound-transparent fence,” according to attorneys representing the American Civil Liberties Union.
More demonstrations
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters and activists are expected to gather at Civic Center Park during the convention to hold rallies and demonstrations of their own, not affiliated with the official DNC parade. Re-create 68 says Civic Center Park will be transformed into “Free City” where everything will be free, including food, education, demonstrations, music and “love.” The group — claiming to be about 50,000 strong — does not have permits to use the park each day of the convention, but says it will do so regardless.
The staging site for the official parade will open at 10 a.m. on Bannock Street between 14th Avenue and Colfax Avenue each day of the convention.
The city is still yet to release details of how marchers will be able to access the Pepsi Center from Speer Boulevard and Larimer Street.
Mayor John Hickenlooper assured residents yesterday that inconveniences will be minimal.
“Both the parade route and its hours of operation respect the desire of demonstrators to be seen and heard – as well as the needs of downtown residents and commuters to get to and from work before and after the parades take place,” he said in a prepared statement.
DNC still needs money
Hickenlooper was in Kansas City yesterday attempting to raise more money for the DNC. He revealed last month that the Denver 2008 Host Committee was about $15 million short. At a Mayor-Council meeting at the time he said, “My greatest fear is if we aren’t able to raise the money.”
The host committee has until Monday to show proof that $40.6 million was raised, according to the terms of an agreement with the Democratic National Convention Committee.
Details of additional transportation impacts due to the parade are still being finalized, said city officials. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Four separate entities submitted parade requests by the March 14th deadline to reserve slots on the designated parade route. Subsequent requests will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis, said officials.
Groups will march the parade route with staggered start times.
Street closures Aug. 25-28 10 a.m.-3 p.m.:
• Bannock Street between 14th Avenue and Colfax Avenue
• Westbound lanes of Colfax Avenue from Bannock to Speer Boulevard
• Southbound lanes of Speer from Colfax to Larimer Street
Information: Kevin Scott, DNC2008Permits@DenverGov.org, 720-865-4330
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