Convention cities brace for political protests

0 Comments | USA TODAY, July, 2008 | by Martha T. Moore

The cities hosting the Democratic and Republican conventions also will inevitably host thousands of protesters -- and those visitors have already taken Denver and St. Paul to court.

Both cities have been sued by the ACLU and protest groups planning to mobilize at the political confabs. At issue: where and when demonstrations and marches can be held.

In St. Paul, the city and protest groups are due in court today to settle the route of an anti-war march scheduled for Labor Day, Sept. 1, the first day of the Republican convention.

Protest groups want to march all the way around the Xcel Energy Center, the convention site. City officials say that route would interfere with evacuation routes from the convention hall and could help protesters who want to...