Fort Boston...

[insein]

http://www.boston.com/news/politics...25/confusion_reigns_as_security_rules?mode=PF

Confusion reigns as security rules
By Suzanne Smalley, Globe Staff | July 25, 2004

With 15-foot fencing and black netting, the area around the FleetCenter was transformed yesterday into the so-called hard zone, where uniformed soldiers and police officers in bright orange raincoats patrolled outside while the Secret Service completed its sweep of the facility for security threats in preparation for tomorrow's start of the Democratic National Convention.

Because of the security sweep, several hundred reporters and news crews spent up to two hours waiting to get to office space inside the zone.

''It's the Secret Service," said one Boston police officer, after he sent reporters to the wrong entrance. ''They keep changing orders."

About 500 journalists toting briefcases and cameras were herded around almost the entire perimeter of the FleetCenter, and across two ramps to Route 93 and onto the parking lot of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center.

Another 200 journalists cooled their heels at one entrance to the FleetCenter for more than 90 minutes not knowing that the media at another entrance was finally gaining access, at least to the magnetometers.

''I've covered 10 conventions," said Mark Z. Barabak, a Washington correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. ''There's a lot of confusion. It doesn't seem like anyone knows what's going on."

The Secret Service chalked up the confusion to necessary precautions. ''The whole security screening process is a thought out and complicated process when we're doing something like this," said Ann Roman, a spokeswoman for the Secret Service.

Dump trucks from Boston Public Works blocked several streets leading to the security perimeter on Causeway Street, adding to the fortress-like atmosphere.

Two private security guards stood watch by a local Fox 25 news satellite truck parked on Friend Street outside the perimeter. The Fox 25 logo was covered with blue duct tape, perhaps in response to the FBI warning issued last week that a radical group of domestic terrorists may target news vehicles. Most network and local TV news trucks were parked in a designated lot inside the hard zone, authorities said.

A spokeswoman for CBS news said her bosses had instructed her not to talk about security preparations, but Sandy Genelius said, ''We feel we're as prepared as we can be."

Asked for updates about threats to media vehicles, Coast Guard Petty Officer Zack Zubricki said, ''There have been no incidents. It's been quiet so far."

The biggest sighting of the day by far was the arrival of a liquefied natural gas tanker traveling through Boston harbor with four tug boats flanked by four orange zodiac inflatable boats. Two US Coast Guard ships escorted the flotilla. Journalists standing on the roof of the nearby Boston Harbor Hotel gawked as the heavily fortified blue tanker cruised through the harbor with black military helicopters whirring overhead.

LNG tankers sailing into the Distrigas terminal in Everett have long been controversial as potential terrorist targets. Distrigas announced last spring that there would be no LNG tankers traveling into Boston during convention week. But Distrigas spokesman Douglas Bailey said yesterday that the delivery was planned well in advance with various law enforcement officials notified.

''We voluntarily scheduled our tankers' arrivals and departures so they wouldn't interfere with the DNC, which starts next week," said Bailey. ''We don't release when we bring them in," he said. ''Nobody is surprised by this."

Mayor Thomas M. Menino has repeatedly warned that LNG tankers pose a potential threat to the city when they cross the harbor and dock in Everett. But a spokesman for Menino, Seth Gitell, said that the LNG delivery yesterday was not a problem since the convention had not yet begun.

By last evening, there had been no security-related arrests.

But amid the heightened security, police answered an emergency call in Hyde Park yesterday and searched a privately owned school bus with Idaho plates that contained two small gasoline containers and a few 130-gallon propane tanks, Boston police said.

Some media members found amusement. Jim Mitchell, a CBS crew member, smiled at having to cross the highway to gain access to the magnetometers outside the media center. ''It was kind of insane," Mitchell said. ''Like, 'make way for the ducklings crossing Storrow Drive.' "

 

[Annie]

Not that it isn't important, but there's so much more:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1963&e=1&u=/ap/20040725/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_protest_6

 

[dilloduck]

oh great---the bring the troops home bunch--YUCK. Interestingly enough Kerry intends to show people at the convention how tough he can be on enemies. What a mess.

 

[Annie]

oh great---the bring the troops home bunch--YUCK. Interestingly enough Kerry intends to show people at the convention how tough he can be on enemies. What a mess.

Hey if the majority want to bring them home, then that is what should be done!

 

[Annie]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1963&e=1&u=/ap/20040725/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_protest_6

exerpt:

Delegates arriving for the Democratic National Convention were greeted Sunday by competing protests against the war in Iraq (news - web sites) and abortion.

About 2,000 protesters gathered at noon on the historic Boston Common, site of many of the city's most memorable demonstrations. After about two hours there, they marched half a mile to the FleetCenter, where Democrats plan to nominate hometown candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) for president on Wednesday.

"This is just the beginning of a week of protests," said Larry Holmes, spokesman for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, a coalition of activist groups that staged the march.

Several blocks away, about 1,000 anti-abortion advocates gathered at Faneuil Hall, the historic meeting house where patriots gathered before the American Revolution, and set off on their own march to the FleetCenter.

The two groups crossed paths at an intersection and exchanged angry words. A brief scuffle broke out between some of the peace demonstrators and a man carrying a graphic anti-abortion sign. The man was pushed to the ground and his shirt was torn but he appeared unhurt.

 

[dilloduck]

Hey if the majority want to bring them home, then that is what should be done!

But our ally, Iraq, needs us !! we must keep our alliances strong !!!

 

[Annie]

But our ally, Iraq, needs us !! we must keep our alliances strong !!!

Whatever.

 

[krisy]

Great articles! I have been watching coverage on Fox and their host was talking about how intense the security is-he said it's just wild. I heard a story on the news that the protesters said the fence was abusing their right to free speech and a judge backed them up. I think it's bull. If they would have behaved at the last convention,they wouldn't necessarily have to put a fence up. Their behavior is what put that fence up. Freedom of speech doesn't give anyone the right to act like jackasse to the point of putting the police in danger. Republicans or Democrats.