Recap: Sunday Protest Events

By Jeralyn, Section Democratic National Convention 2008
Posted on Sun Aug 24, 2008 at 11:24:30 PM EST
Tags: Democratic National Convention, Protesters (all tags)

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The protests in Denver began today. There was some attempt by protesters to block streets. It was peaceful with little resemblance to protests of conventions past.

What happened instead was a street-fair display of disparate causes, from anti-war fervor to climate control, immigrant rights and the legalization of marijuana. Participants paraded through the streets of downtown Denver peacefully as police — aided by the Secret Service, FBI and National Guard — kept watch from bikes, rooftops and helicopters.

Cindy Sheehan and Recreate '68 began the morning with a protest event on the steps of the state capitol in Denver. Later, there was a march from Civic Center Park to the Pepsi Center.

Cindy Sheehan spoke as did Glenn Spagnuolo of Recreate '68, Ron Kovic and the rap duo Dead Presidents. Recreate '68 had its own security guys at the base of the Capitol steps, wearing red bandannas. [More...]

Cindy Sheehan pointed out Sen. Barack Obama's many votes that in some way furthered the Iraq war, such as funding bills.

Most of the speakers talked about how their intent was to protest peacefully. There were a couple of more vocal Young Turks-types who shouted out things like "F** the police."

Ron Kovic spoke about the importance of continuing the protests to ensure we don't continue to get into wars.

The police were well-behaved but clearly prepared for anything. During the march, police were observed filming the protesters. (Maybe that explains the bandanas worn by the Recreate '68 security folks.)

At one point at the Capitol, those assembled surrounded a Fox News Reporter and demanded he leave. There was some pushing and shoving. Video is here. According to the Rocky Mountain News, the confrontation was sparked by an unpleasant encounter between the reporter, Griff Jenkins and former CU professor Ward Churchill. Recreate '68 says the reporter touched Churchill.

"Our security pushed him away from (Churchill) because nobody touches Ward while he's here," Spagnuolo said. "As soon as he put his hands on him, security moved him away."

One person who attended related to me that Dead Presidents criticized Obama and rappers like JayZ who have supported Obama, saying it was just support for Corporate America. They said people shouldn't vote for a President just because of race.

There were more than 1,000 people participating by the time the march reached the Pepsi Center.

The Rocky Mountain News has this video.

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Recap: Sunday Protest Events | 17 comments (17 topical)

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they just don't make them like they used too (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by DandyTIger on Sun Aug 24, 2008 at 11:54:31 PM EST

but then again, institute a draft and I'd bet you'd get a few more people, and you'd have them a bit more focused. :-)

I liked a sign I saw afterwards (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by tlkextra on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:16:50 AM EST

"Backbone Now, Out of Iraq". I'm assuming that was directed towards Congress

Must have been. Obama has (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by oculus on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:40:29 AM EST

steel in his spine.


Ha! The steel in his spine (none / 0) (#14)
by Grace on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 01:19:38 AM EST

is flexible, like steel guitar strings.


: Steel Strings: attached. (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by weltec2 on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 01:39:09 AM EST

Somehow reminds me of "Name that Tune" with Bill Cullen. I hear the sound but can't quite name the tune/positions behind it?

Thanks, Jeralyn. (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by Joan in VA on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:17:46 AM EST

The protests are by far the most fascinating aspect of the convention to me. I'm interested in the different groups and their issues. The political stuff is just not that compelling any more. Ennui has set in. Maybe some activism will get the juices flowing.

This observation (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by txpolitico67 on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:28:30 AM EST

solidifies my decision to not go to Denver, even though at the beginning of the year I was REALLY looking forward to it. I remember telling my favorite #1 liberal hippie aunt, "Let's go to Denver because either way, we will be there to witness history...a black or a woman being nominated for president." Eh, notsomuch now. I hate that even the protests seem sanitized.

I don't mind some "in your face" action. I will gladly fight for liberal causes. Speaking of Cindy Sheehan, I met her at Camp Casey down here in Crawford when I told her that I too lost a family member in the Iraq war. Cindy is TALL and an imposing figure. Soft spoken, which I wouldn't think coming out of such a towering person.

Cindy's definitely an old-school firebrand protester. I don't think she did herself any favors cozying up to Chavez. That will be used against her in her bid for Congress.

: I noticed this in 2000 in front of SCOTUS. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by weltec2 on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:41:32 AM EST

"I hate that even the protests seem sanitized."
Yes, and I really don't know why. It's a disturbing trend... almost as though protesters don't really take themselves seriously.

Spoke to my beloved aunt in CO (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:52:46 AM EST

tonight. Haven't missed home as much as I do right now. One of the hearts of the West (Denver) is hosting the Democratic convention. My Grandma Vera's party way upstairs is just beginning and they are going to get rowdy. She was a delegate to conventions everywhere but the West for many years. I wonder if my grandmother had similar shortcomings to my own lately at different times in her life concerning the Democratic party? In her elderly years I never saw her flinch, would she have flinched now?

We missed you at the screening (5.00 / 2) (#16)
by echinopsia on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 01:57:03 AM EST

tonight of the preview of "The Audacity of Democracy." This is the future feature-length documentary of the caucus fraud that took place in Texas - among other places. It just happened to be more blatant in Texas than elsewhere.

Tomorrow we're going to take a DVD of it to the MSNBC tent in front of Union Station at 2 PM.

"We" being PUMA, Just Say No Deal, and 18 Million Voices.

Anyway, the event was a huge success - drinks and finger food at the new Fuel cafe in the Taxi development north of downtown on the Platte.

Tomorrow is the rally at Confluence Park for 18 Million Voices.

: I saw a long preview of it (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by andrys on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 07:09:53 AM EST

Very well done but almost sabotaged by the ultra slow opening words on the screen. They have to speed that up as even I, who is so into all this, could hardly bear how slow it was and the only way I could watch any more of it was to fast-forward the video to where the witnesses began to describe what happened.
Wonderful stuff they got though, after that woeful opening.
That is real democracy in action, going after that. I hope it helps, long-run. It should.

It seems odd the protestors are (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:15:55 AM EST

in Denver, not Minneapolis.

: Because the Dems have addressed (5.00 / 2) (#7)
by Joan in VA on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:23:47 AM EST

their issues? Bush is impeached, the wars are over, the earth is saved, etc.?

: Dem lead Congress approval (5.00 / 3) (#9)
by txpolitico67 on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:30:25 AM EST

ratings are still in the teens I believe? They SHOULD be in Denver AND Mpls/St Paul. Right now, both parties are failing us.

: That was a topic... (none / 0) (#10)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:30:55 AM EST

...that came up at dinner tonight. Not sure we really ever did come up with a definitive answer.

Thanks for the first-hand reports and links. (none / 0) (#18)
by andrys on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 07:17:26 AM EST

FoxNews (yes I watched it since MSNBC has only jail shows in California at that time and Comcast is not displaying CNN the last few nights due to failing signal) showed the entire scene of keeping Griff Jenkins away from Churchill. What an unpleasant bunch.

Morning Joe is broadcasting from some dining space in Denver, but they're letting the customers talk among themselves (disinterested in the show) and you can't hear the group over the hubbub!

1,000 participants--but how many from Recreate 68? (none / 0) (#19)
by gaitor on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:41:10 AM EST

I was at the protest yesterday to take pictures. The group was made up mostly of 1) amateur and professional photogs, 2) 50 to 65-year old professionals who are against the war, 3) spectators (people like my friends who came along just to see if anything happens and to hear the speeches because they are generally interested in politics, regardless of party), and 4) other observers (non-photog media, folks in the bright green Lawyer's Guild group who are watching police behavior, etc.).

There were only a handful of people who appeared to be affiliated with Recreate 68 at all.

The speakers were fine, but they hardly incited the crowd. And the march seemed to just fizzle out at the Pepsi Center, with little fanfare, as people set down their signs and headed to LoDo for lunch.