The authorities at first glance appear to be following the "stomp down Occupy Wall Street" law enforcement model?

Don't they have any Free Speech Zones on the outskirts of town they can send these silly First Amendment Fundamentalists off to?

-90% Jimmy

stupidity on DU has reached new heights. The Mayor, Betsy Hodges, has offered the protesters open land adjacent or a parking lot across the street to continue their protests -peacefully. They can't continue to block an arterial street with fires in it indefinitely. We all have first amendment rights, but they have limits. Ambulances, fire trucks, etc couldn't get to where they needed to be in a reasonable time.
I wish people would wait until the investigation is done before they started popping off. Once you have facts, then you have power. Until then, it's just an opinion. Even Keith Ellison (first black Muslim elected to House) is calling for an end to it.
Stonecarver

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment I

doesn't say a thing about blocking a public street or annoying people, or the right to conduct commerce or there being a time limit or a First Amendment zone or anything other than the protest be peaceful. That is why the image of riot police descending on peaceful demonstrators is so disturbing. I think it is fairly clear that the rights of people to assemble and to petition their government for redress transcends the right of the public or the authorities not to be inconvenienced.

destruction \