[Infowarrior] - 'Gitmo On The Platte' - Holding Cell For DNC

[Richard Forno]

'Gitmo On The Platte' Set As Holding Cell For DNC
Written By Rick Sallinger

http://cbs4denver.com/denver2008/denver.protesters.arrested.2.793930.html

DENVER (CBS4) ― CBS4 News has learned if mass arrests happen at the  
Democratic Convention, those taken into custody will be jailed in a  
warehouse owned by the City of Denver. Investigator Rick Sallinger  
discovered the location and managed to get inside for a look.

The newly created lockup is on the northeast side of Denver.

Inside are dozens are metal cages. They are made out of chain link  
fence material and topped by rolls of barbed wire.

"This is a secured environment," Capt. Frank Gale of the Denver  
Sheriff's Department told CBS4. "We're concerned about how that's  
going to be utilized by people who will be potentially disruptive."

In past conventions, mass arrests have taken place.

With Denver's jails already overflowing, new space had to be created  
and officers trained.

Each of the fenced areas is about 5 yards by 5 yards and there is a  
lock on the door. A sign on the wall reads "Warning! Electric stun  
devices used in this facility."

CBS4 showed its video to leaders of groups that plan to demonstrate  
during the convention.

"Very bare bones and very reminiscent of a political prisoner camp or  
a concentration camp," said Zoe Williams of Code Pink.

Williams was one of those arrested at the Republican Convention in New  
York in 2004.

"That's how you treat cattle," said Adam Jung of the group Tent State  
University. "You showed the sign where it said stun gun in use and you  
just change the word gun for bolt and it's a meat processing plant."

Gale would not discuss the facility at this time.

"We want to make sure we got our game plan set," he said, "We want to  
make sure the entire procedure is laid out all the personnel know what  
they are supposed to do."

The plans were to keep this lockup a secret, at least for now.

The American Civil Liberties Union says it will ask the City of Denver  
how prisoners will get access to food and water, bathrooms,  
telephones, plus medical care, and if there will be a place to meet  
with attorneys.

The protesters have already given this place a name: "Gitmo on the  
Platte."