Denver Librarian Faces Tresspassing Charges for Sign Reading "McCain = Bush"; Asks: "Why is that offensive to Republicans?"

Ticketed McCain protester pleads not guilty

By Felisa Cardona | The Denver Post

Carol Kreck, who was cited for trespassing while holding a sign outside Sen. John McCain's town-hall meeting in Denver on July 7, pleaded not guilty today in Denver County Court.

The librarian and former Denver Post reporter was removed from the galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex while holding a sign handed to her by a protest group that read "McCain = Bush."

The area that Kreck was standing in is not a public space and that is why she was cited for trespassing.

A videotape of the incident shows a security guard telling Kreck to leave and saying that the U.S. Secret Service had asked him to remove her.

Later, a spokeswoman for the complex said the security guard was mistaken, that the Secret Service had nothing to do with it; McCain's campaign staff had asked that people holding signs be removed from the galleria.

McCain's campaign spokesman, Tom Kise, has said that is not true, that the senator has a track record of allowing opposing views at his public events and that the campaign only asked people inside the town-hall meeting not to hold signs of any kind.

Kise said the campaign never asked that people not be allowed to hold signs outside the venue and said it was the complex's own policy that was being enforced.

Kreck said she is surprised by the attention her case has received, but she wants her day in court to find out who wanted her removed.

"No one will admit it, and everybody's pointing fingers at each other," Kreck said. "That's a good reason to go to trial."

A trial date was set for Oct. 1 in Denver County courtroom 117M, but Kreck's attorney, Peter Hedeen, is handling a death-penalty case during that time and the date is apt to be reset.

(left) Carol Kreck leaves court with attorney after pleading "Not Guilty" at arraignment.