DENVER -- A total of 152 people were arrested during the Democratic National Convention -- far fewer arrests than many had expected. Still, attorneys for the protesters are criticizing the way the city is handling these cases.

Some attorneys believe many of the young men and women are being coerced into pleading guilty.

The vast majority of the arrests stem from the melee at Civic Center Park Monday night, when police used pepper spray on a group that took to the streets without a permit.

Rory Gravelle was arrested this week.

"Suddenly, out of nowhere, all these riot cops swarmed on top of us," said Gravelle.

"Denver's a cool town, but you guys are wasting a lot of money on innocent people. And in this courtroom they're only allowing people to plead guilty," said Richard Warner, who also appeared in court Friday.

Those in court said they feel coerced into pleading guilty because their only other option was to come back next Tuesday, an impossibility for some who live on the other side of the country.

"The judge and the city attorney have refused to allow them, essentially, to plead not guilty today," said Brian Vicente with People's Law Project.

"This is not what democracy is all about," said attorney Robert Corry.

But the judge, the city and the mayor said security in Denver was a success.

Seven of the 30 protesters who appeared in court took the plea bargain. Most pleaded to a charge of obstructing a city street.

The city attorney's office said they staffed the court just like they always do. Denver's police chief said the reason that there weren't more arrests was because demonstrators kept in touch with officers by cell phone.

During their protests, the leaders of these groups had the phone number of a police liaison officer assigned to them so that they could continually update their plans.