Day two: Monday, August 25.
In a day touted to be the strongest offensive in both the police and protester camp, my day was filled with a lot of wandering, a lot of searching, and, eventually, a lot of success. The majority of my day was spent alone, with a camera and a mission, walking up and down 16th Street Mall.
The highlights of the morning included three celebrity sightings: New York Senator Charlie Rangel, Charlie Wilson, the real person portrayed by Tom Hanks, and, (pardon my geekiness) Danny Glover!
Even the sight of Danny Glover up the street couldn't satiate my hunger for a story to find. Of course, as usual, the stories found me: an anti-gay rally in the heart of 16th St. Mall gave way for some of the most interesting, on-the-street dialogue I've yet encountered. Words were exchanged, insults too, and more impressively, common ground was found.
Next came the "Clintons for McCain" march of less than twelve people. These ten-twelve people, (mostly men!) marched down the Mall, with signs for McCain, and sassy attitudes. The three women at the front were a walking SNL skit. I could see Kristin Wiig portraying one of them. Unleashing such diatribes as "Lay off the Hope-ium! DEEEE-TOX!" and repeating "Sweetie!" after every chant, (in reference to a FOX News interview with Obama where he called one of the female interviewers "sweetie", which they viewed as condescending and misogynistic), they said they were sick of their Party, and were going to vote for McCain.
Alex Fenaughty tipped me off about the Westboro Baptist Church (read: the "God Hates Fags" cult), protesting off the corner of Speer and Colfax, so I ran over. Of course, as usual, they had a child with them, holding posters saying: "God Hates America".
What was most interesting was their willingness, in fact, glee, that I was filming them. I didn't want to. I didn't want to dignify their presence with my camera, but I was too intrigued to discover. In talking with them, calmly mind you, there is such an immovable logic to their beliefs. During calm discussion, they actively support and reinforce their dogma, and why they bring their kids to it.
Never did I ever imagine to be staring someone from the Phelps family in the eyes, talking with them, especially so calmly. It was unnerving, yet oddly human. I could see this man's humanity. I could see it in his eyes. Despite all this horrific speech was a person there. A corrupted person.
I felt sick.
Surprisingly, as you have noticed by now, the largest presence of protests for the day did not involve anarchist groups, anti-war marchers or anything "juicy" by mainstream media standards. On the contrary, they were groups you wouldn't automatically expect to be out there, but groups that make a lot more sense to be there. It was fascinating.
Then, with the help of my father, I got in to a prestigious event at Invesco Field, the CH2M Hill Global Sustainability Fair with Corbin. Unfortunately, we hit it at an off moment, missing Willie Nelson, as well as the booths on sustainability. Got some good dinner though. Best root beer float of my life, and entirely sustainable!
Worse off, though we had planned on going back later in the evening when it was to pick up again, we received a tip about potential action going on downtown, once again on 16th.
Around 8:00pm, Jeremy and I rushed down to 16th, meeting up with the rest of our crew at Two Fisted Mario's. Apparently, we had missed all the riots and police brutality for the day, as each of them was competing for Best Footage of the Day.
Billy won, by far, with absolutely stunning video of six cops on one protester, beating and spraying and kicking this guy, stained with the newly financed Green Paint/Pepper-Spray Ball Gun. Horses were rising, smoke and teargas was in the air, and it was absolutely terrifying. Of course we missed it.
After a misfire, and cancelation of the vague "action" that was meant to go down, we ran into some of the drum marchers from yesterday, and the story found us. Dozens of police wrapped the block, and in the streets, causing a mass interest among delegates and citizens alike. Dozens of police for this one kid.
The marchers were racked with grief over their friend who had just been arrested. What was the reason for his arrest? According to numerous on-camera accounts, the group of them were sitting at the corner of 16th and Lawrence, just chatting. A passerby asked one of them for an RTD Bus Schedule, and he handed one to the passerby.
Within seconds, police came at them from all sides, allegedly using their bikes to hit the friends away, and arrested the schedule passer. The belief is that the arrested guy was "spreading literature" or passing a note on potential violence that was going to break out. Or something.
There are more details elaborated on in the footage, but these people I came to know yesterday were absolutely devastated and shocked. They were crying, rather than getting angry and violent, they were holding one another.
The police presence in this city right now is excessive. I will just say that right now. It is excessive and overbearing. Fifty million dollars was spent on securing this Convention, and it feels ridiculous now that it's come. Which isn't to say I think they are oppressive or evil or out for blood or anything. On the contrary, the police I've spoken with have been gracious and kind to me for the most part, and if not that, then merely very serious.
This morning, trying to get my passes for the Sustainability event, became an absolute quest for access. For those who don't know Denver, my dorm's are across the street from the pathway to the entrance to Invesco Field. The main street, Walnut St. is the road leading to the Pepsi Center. Now, in returning back to my dorm, it took five arduous checkpoints with eight separate police officers, to cross Walnut St. to get back to Campus Village, most of whom did not believe I lived there, despite the evidence I provided them.
If that isn't excessive, I don't know what is.
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