Protesters steal the show at the DNC
A mass frenzy before the official start of the Democratic National Convention on Monday.
DENVER, Colo. – Thousands of delegates, visitors and members of the
media swarmed Denver Sunday during the first full day of the
Democratic National Convention, but it was the protestors who stole
the show.
Recreate 68, a protest group opposed to the country’s “two party”
political system, began the day by leading a rally on the Capitol
steps featuring Cindy Sheehan, a prominent anti-war activist known as
“Peace Mom,” and Dead Prez, a hip-hop artist. The group then marched
to the Pepsi Center, where they managed to briefly shut down access
to the site of the convention.
The group dispersed for a bit, but reformed later in the afternoon –
marching through downtown Denver with a police escort, and blocking
several main arteries of traffic. Many chanted slogans such as "No
cops, no KKK, no fascist USA."
Things grew tense when the group of protestors, about 1,500-strong,
marched through Civic Park, where Colorado-based vendors and
marketers had set up booths to peddle their products and information.
Protestors chanted, “we’re marching, we’re marching, we’re not out
shopping,” but didn’t stop in the market. Instead, the group stopped
just across the street, between the park and the Capitol, refusing to
disperse.
Hundreds of police rushed to the scene – many on bicycle and
horseback, others in full riot gear – to contain the crowd. Police
handcuffed one young boy and the group began to chant, “let him go.”
Further trouble was averted, though, when the crownd began to
disperse several minutes later.
-- Neal P. Goswami