2 arrested outside protest group's headquarters

DENVER - Activists say they are being harassed by police who seized anti-war banners and painting supplies.

A spokesman for the city's Joint Information Center (JIC) says police on bicycles responded to a call of "two suspicious parties" at 43rd and Brighton just before noon. A building at that corner is leased by Unconventional Denver, a self-proclaimed anarchist group staging protests during the Democratic National Convention.

The spokesman says two people were arrested when they ran from police. They were charged with disobeying a lawful order. One of them was also charged with possession of an illegal weapon, a knife.

Activists who say they witnessed the raid told of police ordering a bulldozer to sweep up their sign-making materials and deposit them in a dump truck for removal. The police spokesman says he would have to research that claim.

"It seemed like a planned thing," said Unconventional Denver organizer Tim Simons.

Matt Kellegrew, an activist who says he watched police arrive at the building, says officers tried to get a warrant, citing wooden poles and bricks found outside as weapons. Kellegrew says officers grew angry when a phone call seeking that warrant was fruitless.

"We're left wondering what happened and if this is the next step in a campaign of harassment," said Simons.

Tensions between protest groups and police escalated after a confrontation Monday night in which police used pepper spray to disperse a crowd of about 300 people gathered in front of the City and County Building. Approximately 100 people were arrested for various minor charges.

Both police and protesters are gearing up for a scheduled march to begin at 3 p.m. at Denver Coliseum when concert-goers plan to walk to the Pepsi Center.