image:8325:3::0

From CBS4 in Denver:

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit against the city of Denver after an open records request for information about the purchasing of security equipment for the Democratic National Convention was denied. The group wants to know what weapons the city is buying for crowd control during protests.

"Aren't you asking the police to reveal their tactics?" CBS4 asked.

"No, we're not asking the police to reveal tactics, we're asking the police to reveal how they are spending the public's money," said Mark Silverstein of the ACLU.

The city has allocated millions of dollars for security equipment purchases. Officials said they are planning for a peaceful event, but are ready for "contingencies."

The protest group Recreate 68 believes the city is buying high tech weaponry.

"We could save them a whole lot of money by just talking with us and de-escalating the confrontational situation that would cause them to use this weapon technology," said Glenn Spagnuolo of Recreate 68.

Here's the website for the Recreate 68 Alliance, which has already threatened violence at the convention over a permit issue:

Denver could face a “dangerous situation” on the first day of the Democratic National Convention, war protesters said Thursday, after losing a coveted permit for Civic Center to the convention host committee.

“When things blow up because the police have to enforce a permit that the Democrats got, don’t blame us for that,” said Glenn Spagnuolo, an organizer for the Re-create 68 Alliance.

“Blame the Democrats for trying to silence dissent in the city of Denver.”

The name Recreate 68 harkens back to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which was chaotic inside and marred by violent street protests outside.

The real question here is, why is the ACLU suing the City of Denver to reveal its security dispositions for crowd control at any event, never mind the DNC?

Who does that benefit?

The police?

Or protesters who are promoting a disruptive campaign for a major political event?

Unless you really believe the ACLU 'just wants to see how the public's money is being spent,' that is.