July 22 - Political intimidation has swept over anti-war demonstrations during the Democratic National Convention. Six Denver activists received an e-mail threatening with police riots. Activists group say they are planning non-violent demonstrations and they want to know who is behind the threats. Reporter Blake Wesley is in Denver and files this report.

A flyer with a police officer in riot gear and a picture of a Chicago police officer beating a protester with a nightstick during the 1968 Democratic National Convention is what some DNC anti-war activists saw after opening an anonymous e-mail.

"We beat you then," and "we'll beat you again," is what members of Denver CopWatch, Recreate 68, and Unconventional Action were told would happen from the police side of a nightstick.

"This does indicate to me that they are preparing to have some kind of confrontation."

That was Denver Cop Watch volunteer, Evan Herzoff. He says the language of the e-mail indicates it was written by police officer.

"So, if this is not a police officer this person is impersonating a police officer. If it is a police officer this is extremely over the line. We have something called the rule of law in this country."

Herzoff called the e-mail a form of intimidation, and demanded the city of Denver's Office of the Independent Monitor to start an internal investigation of the Denver police department.

However, Independent Monitor, Richard Rosenthal had his doubts.

"Right now.. there's no proof one way or another, but given the allegation that it might be a police officer we will definitely look into it."

Rosenthal says he received a phone call from Denver Westword reporter, Michael Roberts, claiming he knows who it is.

Roberts says he is a local artist trying to provoke a reaction.

"He is first and foremost an artist, and was interested in this approach from an artistic stand point."

However, co-founder of Recreate 68, Glenn Spagnilo, doesn't buy it. He says the e-mails are not the work of an artist and feels personally threatened by them.

"I should not have to live in fear for exercising my constitutional rights. Whether that's from some thug who wants to claim he is an artist living here in the community, or whether that's some thug hiding behind a badge."

Spanilo says he does not want to go the police, because "that's like the fox investigating the fox," but argues Roberts' claim is unreliable because he refuses to identify who it is.

Herzoff told the Independent Monitor Roberts claims have no substance and he wants to know who it is.

Whether this is a police officer or not it really comes down to the fact that they are compromising the safety of everybody."

Herzoff says the e-mails intimidate people's right to demonstrate and threaten everyone planning to attend the DNC.

For Election Unspun, I'm Blake Wesley.

Interview: Mark Silverstein, Legal Director of ACLU of Colorado

Activists have been intimidated and monitored for previous conventions. Joining us to is Mark Silverstein, Legal Director of ACLU of Colorado talks about the treatment of Colorado activists in 2004.