Arrests Threatened Outside GOP Iowa Debate Saturday at Drake University
An Occupy Iowa protestor says members will be arrested if they come on to Drake University property.
Photos
Occupy protestors planning to demonstrate before the ABC News GOP presidential debate at Drake University in Des Moines on Saturday have turned down a "free-speech" zone and could face arrest if they come onto campus property.
The "free-speech" zone is across the street from campus, Occupy organizer Danielle Ryan told Patch.
Ryan said demonstrators plan to dress as circus performers to go with a protest theme that, in her description, the Republican candidates are a bunch of clowns.
The group plans to meet at the Drake Diner parking lot at 5 p.m. From there, they will march to University Avenue and march in a square on the public sidewalks and crosswalks on University Avenue in front of Sheslow Auditorium, where the debate is being held, Ryan said.
However, Ryan said police have warned the group that they will be arrested if they come onto university property.
The event begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Patch will have live coverage of the presidential debate before, during and after the event.
Charles Davis
9:02 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
Arrest them all. Drake is private property and they have no right to be there if they have been warned! BTW - the clowns are the protestors.
Kevin Schmidt
11:08 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
It is a public event, so it does not matter where it is held, the public can protest if they want. Besides, there is nothing in the First Amendment that says peaceful people cannot assemble on private property.
Devious
10:01 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
Yes let the occupy folks know that Drake wont stand for their freedom of speech or the forum to do it. After all Drakes Law school is widely known and the college will reveal just whose constitutional rights are going to be recognized ! They will be known as the college of no !!!
David Leonard
10:13 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
The Des Moines occupiers are always peaceful. Leave them alone.
Anne Carothers-Kay
11:52 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
I'll be covering the protestors tomorrow. Does anyone have questions they'd like to me to ask? Also, what is your reaction to Drake University designating a "free-speech" zone that is essentially off-campus? I thought universities were supposed to be free-speech zones?
Stephen Schmidt
1:19 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
Ask them if, being fair to both parties as they generally claim to be, if they'd wear clown suits to mock Democratic candidates as well.
Stephen Schmidt
1:20 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
Fair in the sense that they're disgusted with both parties.
JA Clark
12:36 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
Here's a question: Why can't I take my child to the public park anymore to PLAY? How is is okay for people to take over a public space, paid for by MY TAX DOLLARS, and then not allow me to use that space? I think I'm going to build a dirt bike track along the riverwalk. That's public space, and we can just do whatever we want, right? Even if it means alienating all the other citizens who want to use that space. I have truck loads of dirt on their way — we start building awesome jumps at dawn!
Janiece Senn
1:08 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
You act like they are occupying every park, lol. I guess there are a lot of folks who don't give a darn if they are being ripped off and that someone is doing thier best to make things better. To bad you don't get it.
Devious
3:57 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
Really irritates me the Gov. will not let the Occupy people to protest in the state owned " Peoples Park " Seems like we should rename it Brandstads park.
Charles Davis
9:59 am on Wednesday, December 14, 2011
As far as I know, they are free to protest in the "Peoples Park" just not to set up tents and / or live there.
Hank Kelly
10:51 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011
A free speech zone at Drake is only good when Drake wants it. http://bit.ly/u6tU2p
Charles Davis
10:01 am on Wednesday, December 14, 2011
When occupiers shut down your place of business, and cause you to lose income because of it, like they are doing to ports in California, and causing hundreds of people to lose their incomes, then lets hear if you think they have a right to do so.