Charges against DNC protestor dropped

The Denver city attorney's office drops the case against a protester who was arrested during the DNC

By Howard Pankratz, The Denver Post
03/18/2009

The Denver city attorney's office this morning dismissed criminal charges against Democratic National Convention protestor and Code Pink member Alicia Forrest.

According to her attorney, Dan Recht, Forrest was charged with interfering with a police officer after a video captured an officer "violently strike Forrest with his baton."

Recht said the arrest occurred after Forrest was helped off the ground and began telling members of the media what had occurred.

She faced up to one year in jail if convicted of the offense, said Recht.

"If the First Amendment stands for anything, it stands for the right to peacefully protest without being bashed violently with a baton by a police officer," Recht said in a statement.

In September Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey announced no charges would be filed against Denver Police Officer Scott Stewart.

His investigation found that Forrest, 24, refused to back away as protesters crowded police during the arrest of another protester Aug. 26.

A Rocky Mountain News video captured Stewart shoving the woman with his baton and saying, "Back up, (expletive)," as Forrest collapsed. Before the camera panned to the shove, police can be heard telling people to "Back it up," and Forrest can be heard saying, "Do it again."

Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com