Denver Post: Tense But No Violence At Pepsi Center (Some Of My Photos)

[Hissyspit]

A busy night. Witnessing the anti-war protesters and the riot police, viewing the speeches from Biden and BIll Clinton, and attending the Democratic Underground meet-up - all of it going on concurrently, for the most part. After coming across the protest march and the riot police on the way back to the automobile, I shot a few photographs of the marchers and the security forces, but made the judgement call to go to the meet-up at Racine's restaurant south of the capital building - the meeting to which I had been inviting so many people - and not follow the marchers and IVAW further. The situation with the march seemed fairly volatile.

The Denver Post has reported that there is a promise to the Iraq War vets that the campaign will meet with them and that, as far as I am aware, the march ended peacefully.

Below are some images of the police preparation, which was CLEARLY seen at the convention hall, and some protesters, who were NOT so clearly seen from the hall.



Mounted police lined up as the protesters entered the "Freedom Cage" area near the convention hall.




Riot-clad police were now found at the security point we had to go through to get to our vehicle.




Protesters took time to rest.




The banner reads 'No War With Iran.'




More police marched to the area.


Here's the link to the Denver Post story: http://www.denverpost.com/politicswestnews/ci_10319568

As the vets got within a few yards of the police, the cavalry arrived in the form of two white-shirted Obama staffers who asked a representative of the veterans to be escorted inside the security zone.

After a brief conversation, a veteran's representative said they had been promised a meeting with Obama's liason for veteran's affairs. A cheer went up, the veterans did an about face, and the Democrats appear to have avoided providing John McCain with some very unflattering video footage of veteran's being pepper-sprayed hogtied and handcuffed outside their convention.
The veterans first approached the southwest entrance of the Pepsi Center and tried to ask the Democrats to allow a representative to read an open letter to nominee Barack Obama from the podium. But no one from the party or the Obama campaign emerged from the arena to speak to the group.

Jeff Key, who served in Iraq as a Marine master sergeant, said he wants to go into the convention, play taps for the fallen on his bugle and read the letter from Iraq Veterans Against the War.
"I'm not leaving until I get to read that letter," he said, as protesters gathered behind him in a fenced zone outside the Pepsi Center. "I intend to read that letter from the podium. If they say no we're going to tell the world they turned away the veterans."

While this was going, Elad, I and other posters from Democratic Underground were watching the Biden speech and Obama's appearance on the televisions at Racine's.



As I said, a very busy night. On to Mile-High Stadium tomorrow.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Can't wait to see the rest of the photos...

Thanks for the report - glad it went well tonight. I really enjoyed meeting you, Elad, and the rest of the gang.

Hawkeye-X

[Hissyspit]

7. Police Bus:

[Froward69]

2. it was a nice night,

It was good to meet you hissyspit and Elad!!! :toast: BTW that's me!!! on the right side of the last pic...

[King Coal]

3. Thanks, Hiss. Where did the Denver cops get the horsies?

[alittlelark]

4. They have stables.

[Hissyspit]

6. I have a picture of one of the downtown stable areas. Complete with horseshit.

[Hissyspit]

5. And I finally meet DU's Ava!

[caseycoon]

8. K&R Thanks Hissyspit! n/t