August 6 - A federal judge will soon decide whether the locations and restrictions of demonstration zones are unconstitutional during the Democratic National Convention. Twelve advocacy groups sued the City of Denver and Secret Service after a federal lawsuit forced them to reveal restrictions that keep protesters out of sight and sound of the convention.

Arguing on behalf of the demonstrators, the ACLU of Colorado demanded adequate alternatives that meet constitutional standards.

However, the City and Secret Service are not giving up with out a fight. Reporter Blake Wesley is in Denver and files this report.

During closing arguments lawyers for DNC demonstrators told a federal judge that restricting protesters to a zone surrounded by two layers of chain-link fence is unconstitutional.

The demonstration zone is located nearly three football fields away from the Pepsi Center and will be tucked behind a circus size media tent.

"We are being put in these cages--these 'freedom cages.' The parade route ends four blocks away, so the delegates aren't even going to know we exist."

Recreate 68 co-founder, Tom Mastnik, says any demonstration zone that confines protesters to a cage violates their right to free speech.

"Demonstrators, free speech advocates, are not pests or a nuisance to be caged, they are an intricate part of the democratic process."

Legal Director for the ACLU of Colorado, Mark Silverstein, agrees. He says demonstrators have a First Amendment right to express their message to the delegates.

"What we're interested in, is will people be able to stand in a place that is sufficiently close to the delegates so that they can be seen and be heard as they try to send a message to the delegates."

However, lawyers for the City and Secret Service say keeping demonstrators at a distance is justified because there could be guns or explosives.

So Katherine Archuleta, Senior Policy Advisor to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, says the demonstration restrictions are reasonable.

"I think we have worked very, very hard to have a robust balance between freedom and safety and security."

Archuleta says the restrictions are minor when compared to pass conventions, such as the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston.

"Well, we have 50 thousand square feet that is only 3 sided, and it has full access, ingress and egress, I think we have done a good job in providing that space."

But Unconventional Denver member and protestor, Tim Simons, disagrees.

"Basically they are telling people the only place to be allowed to express free speech is within fenced-in corridors and cages surrounded by riot police and multiple walls of fencing."

Lawyers for the demonstrators told the judge they are "embellishing" security threats to justify demonstration restrictions.

Simons argues the security threats a pretext for keeping demonstrators away from the delegates.

"It's ridiculous to say that when you have this convention that suddenly, you know, they need to militarize a whole corridor of downtown and say that no one can get close. The FBI has said itself that there is no credible threat of any kind of terrorism or anything like that. It is ridiculous to say it's about terrorism, it's about suppressing free speech."

Mark Silverstein says in order of protect First Amendment Rights the demonstrators need to be within sight and sound of the Convention.

"People who want to protest still have to have some space available that is within sight and sound of the delegates as they are entering in the Pepsi Center."

Lawyers for the demonstrators says they have a right to protest "on the steps" of the convention.

However, the City says they will only change the restrictions if ordered by the court. The judge is expected to make a decision within the coming weeks of the Convention. Reporting for Election Unspun, I'm Blake Wesley.

Interview: Tim Carpenter, head of Progressive Democrats of America

Protesters aren't the only ones attending the Democratic convention wanting to be heard. Progressives are hoping to drown out the moderate wing of the Democratic Party and are working to be heard loud and clear. They'll raise Issues of universal health care, ending the war in Iraq by leaving no troop behind. Pacifica's Nathan Moore spoke with Tim Carpenter, head of Progressive Democrats of America.