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<DIV class=storyheadline>Sing to the "Rawhide" theme music: </DIV>
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<DIV class=storyheadline>Head'em up! Move'em out! Cage'em up! </DIV>
<DIV class=storyheadline> Free Speech Riiiights Deeeee--Niiiiied!!</DIV>
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<DIV class=storyheadline>Convention Protesters Upset With Site </DIV>
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<DIV class=timedate>Sun Jul 25, 5:36 AM ET</DIV></TD>
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<P><!-- TextStart --><FONT size=-1><I>By MARK JEWELL, Associated Press Writer</I></FONT>
<P>BOSTON - <FONT face=arial size=-1>As thousands of delegates, journalists and dignitaries stream into the FleetCenter, protesters for the next few days will be enclosed in a shadowy, closed-off piece of urban streetscape just over a block away. </FONT>
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<CENTER><A href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040724/480/bx10707241943" target=_blank><IMG height=86 alt=Photo src="http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040724/thumb.bx10707241943.cvn_protests_bx107.jpg" width=129 border=1></A><BR><A class=regs href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040724/480/bx10707241943" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>AP Photo</FONT></A> </CENTER><BR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER><!-- start 2003 12/11 16:12 expire never --><BR>
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<CENTER><A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/elec/promo/story/export_top/*http://news.yahoo.com/elections" target=_blank><IMG height=38 alt="Special Coverages" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/nws/p/election04_s.gif" width=158 border=0></A> <SMALL><B><FONT size=1>Latest headlines:</FONT></SMALL> </CENTER><!-- recent_timestamp 1090778932 408 secs not stale 28800 secs -->
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<TD width="1%"><B>·</B></TD>
<TD width="99%"><FONT face=arial color=#003399 size=-1><A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/elec/promo/story/export_stories/*http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040725/pl_afp/us_vote_bush&cid=1521&ncid=2043" target=_blank>Bush out of sight while Democrats convene in Boston</A></FONT> <BR><SPAN class=provtimedate>AFP -</SPAN> <SPAN class=recenttimedate>6 minutes ago</SPAN> <BR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- recent_timestamp 1090778816 524 secs not stale 28800 secs -->
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<TD width="99%"><FONT face=arial color=#003399 size=-1><A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/elec/promo/story/export_stories/*http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040725/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_security&cid=694&ncid=2043" target=_blank>DNC Security Prep Enters Final Hours </A></FONT><BR><SPAN class=provtimedate>AP -</SPAN> <SPAN class=recenttimedate>8 minutes ago</SPAN> <BR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- recent_timestamp 1090777973 1367 secs not stale 28800 secs -->
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<TD width="99%"><FONT face=arial color=#003399 size=-1><A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/elec/promo/story/export_stories/*http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040725/pl_afp/us_vote_kerry&cid=1521&ncid=2043" target=_blank>Kerry says he a better leader than Bush</A></FONT> <BR><SPAN class=provtimedate>AFP -</SPAN> <SPAN class=recenttimedate>22 minutes ago</SPAN> <BR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></B></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- generated by static story_promo_pl_elec --></TD>
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<P>The maze of overhead netting, chain link fencing and razor wire couldn't be further in comfort from the high-tech confines of the arena stage where John Kerry (<A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=news-storylinks&p=%22John%20Kerry%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>news</FONT></A> - <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=web-storylinks&p=John%20Kerry" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>web sites</FONT></A>) is to accept the Democratic nomination for president during the four-day convention that kicks off Monday.
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<P>Abandoned, elevated rail lines and green girders loom over most of the official demonstration zone that slopes down to a subway station closed for the duration. To avoid hitting girders, tall protesters will have to duck at one end of the 28,000-square-foot zone. Train tracks obscure the line of sight to much of the FleetCenter. Concrete blocks were set around streets in the area, a transportation hub on the north side of downtown.
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<P>Protesters likened the site Saturday to a concentration camp as they complained it is too far from the FleetCenter to get their messages across, even though the site is next to a parking lot where many delegates will pass on foot en route to the arena.
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<P>Authorities say — and a judge agreed — the discomforts are needed for security in the post-Sept. 11 era.
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<P>On a rainy morning made darker by overhead girders, protest leaders held a news conference at the demonstration zone Saturday to object to the site. Some called it a violation of their free-speech rights. As they spoke, pools of rainwater collected on pavement.
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<P>"We don't deserve to be put in a detention center, a concentration camp," said Medea Benjamin of San Francisco. "It's tragic that here in Boston, the birthplace of democracy, our First Amendment rights are being trampled on."
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<P>Two fellow protesters from the anti-war group Code Pink, who dressed in pink Statue of Liberty garb, taped their mouths shut. Some activists said while they understand the need for security, organizers went overboard.
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<P>"We are on high, high red alert for the protection of our civil liberties," said Claryce Evans, national coordinator for United Peace and Justice. American Civil Liberties Union (<A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=news-storylinks&p=%22American%20Civil%20Liberties%20Union%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>news</FONT></A> - <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=web-storylinks&p=American%20Civil%20Liberties%20Union" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>web sites</FONT></A>) and National Lawyers Guild attorneys asked a federal judge to open up or move the zone.
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<P>U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock this past week called the conditions "an affront to free _expression" and a "festering boil." He refused to order changes, but is letting protesters march past the site Sunday. A coalition of protesters appealed to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (<A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=news-storylinks&p=%22U.S.%20Circuit%20Court%20of%20Appeals%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>news</FONT></A> - <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=web-storylinks&p=U.S.%20Circuit%20Court%20of%20Appeals" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>web sites</FONT></A>).
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<P>Authorities said they were lowering the maximum number of protesters to 1,000, from a previous 4,000, because of concerns of overcrowding.
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