DENVER -- The lawyer for a woman who received a trespassing ticket after a liberal group's protest outside John McCain's town hall event in Denver said she will contest the ticket.

Sixty-year-old Carol Kreck, a former reporter for The Denver Post, held a sign that read "McCain = Bush" Monday when police removed her from the atrium of the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

She said she was removed as she asked an officer whether he could deny her free-speech rights by taking away her sign, while McCain supporters wore buttons inside the venue.

Jenny Schiavone, a spokeswoman for the performing arts center, said the venue is city-owned rental property but is not legally defined as public property.

She said the liberal group ProgressNowAction had asked about being inside the atrium during the GOP presidential candidate's event but was told it would have to rent space or use designated protest areas along the street.

Police spokesman John White said officers acted as they would have for any complaint on private property.

McCain campaign spokesman Tom Kise said the town hall was open to supporters and opponents.

Kreck's attorney, David Lane, said Tuesday that Kreck will challenge the ticket.

The group Progress Now Action posed a YouTube video of the woman confronting police: