DNC 2008: Come to Denver August 23-28 when the Democrats meet

[redwinter]

Call from World Can’t Wait
Come to Denver August 23-28 when the Democrats Meet

Be there to make your sentiments loud and visible:

If you think no government should be allowed to do what the Bush regime has done the past 7 years, come to Denver and join others building a movement to that end.

If you are sickened by your government waging an endless, illegitimate, immoral war and occupation in Iraq, with ominous and immediate threats on Iran, and you demand U.S. aggression in the Middle East stop now, come to Denver and say it loudly!

If you are outraged that the war crime of torture is being committed by your government in your name with the Democratic leadership’s involvement, come to Denver to say “We Won’t Live in a Torture State!”
If you don’t buy the justification of your government spying on private calls and mail, no matter which party makes it, come to Denver to repudiate the new FISA law.

If you’re tired of politics as usual selling “change” while Obama refines the Bush program from “faith-based” initiatives to 80,000 troops “stabilizing” Iraq, and refuse to settle for less and less, come to Denver make a moral and political declaration.

If you know that only you—not your government—can bring this whole fascist direction to a halt, join with all of us in Denver to fight for a different future.

World Can’t Wait, other organizations, and thousands of Denver activists will march against the war & torture, attacks on immigrants & women’s rights; gather in parks with permits, drop banners, and meet the world press with the our demand to bring the Bush program to a halt, no matter who is president!

Sign up at 866-973-4463 or at worldcantwait.org

[LiberaCHE]

Might it be more fun to attend the Republican Convention ?

I think a large burning effigy of McCain outside their meeting hall would make the front page of the NY Times.

[redwinter]

I think that protests outside both conventions should be supported. However, I think it's more important for revolutionaries to be active outside the Democratic National Convention because of the historic nature of the convention itself and the fact that they are busing/flying in tens of thousands of people to fill a stadium for when Obama accepts the nomination, appearing to give the people's mandate to his program of strengthening US empire, and who many are deluded into believing is the "anti-war candidate".

Our social base already knows what McCain represents, a direct and unconcealed continuation of Bush's policies (and of course there's support from a reactionary section of the proletariat, and big chunks of military vets/bikers/white labor aristocracy, etc). However, millions and millions of oppressed people, proletarians, and progressive minded people of all strata (especially Black people but definitely spanning all nationalities) in this country and around the world have been bamboozled by the Obama campaign which also seeks to continue the policies to strengthen US imperialism, with some differences from Bush but ultimately not representing any kind of rupture whatsoever with the direction things have been going in: saying "no options are off the table" with regards to Iran, advocating sending two more infantry battalions into Afghanistan to slaughter more people there, talking about tactical strikes on suspected "terrorists" on Pakistani territory, etc. Not to mention his recently voting in support of government spying (the FISA bill) and his Bill Cosby style rhetoric and blaming black masses themselves for their problems (from his Father's Day speech: "They [black men] have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.”)

The article On The Nation's Open Letter to Obama: Wishful Thinking and Deadly Self-Deception by Sunsara Taylor in this week's issue of Revolution is a particularly educational polemic. I thought this passage honed in on some of the issues you touch on with your comment, LiberaCHE:

The real choice is not a choice between Obama and McCain. The real choice is between accepting the ruling class spectrum of Obama to McCain as the limits of what is possible—or—rejecting this whole framework and instead waging meaningful mass political resistance to the whole fascist direction the world is being dragged in. It is the difference between fighting for the change you ARE ALLOWED to believe in and the change that you understand is really needed.
Yes, political resistance of a scale and scope that could bring all this to a halt is more daunting and requires more sacrifice. But, if you want genuine change then nothing is more unrealistic than confining yourself to pulling the lever.

It is long past time people put their hope in something that can bring about change worth believing in: the power of the people acting in the interests of humanity. The people do have the power to effect change when they refuse to hold their tongues out of electoral calculations and get off their butts and go into the streets.
It is a very good thing—not a bad thing, as The Nation implies—that millions are deeply angry and profoundly alienated not just by the Bush regime but also increasingly by Obama. Many of them are casting about, wondering if there is another way. Many of them will join in resistance if they see it as an option.

All of their eyes—and millions more around the world—will be at the Democratic National Convention.

Instead of trying to convince them that what is going on inside should be accepted, shouldn’t we tell them the truth about what this represents? Shouldn’t we bend every effort to ensure they see thousands of protesters OUTSIDE making clear their refusal to swallow war-mongering and repression regardless of which candidate or party is pushing it?

[Pawn Power]

Denver's homeless get free haircuts to look good for Obama and his Democrats

"No, really.


According to Rick Sallinger of the CBS TV station, Denver Human Services has been handing out coupons for free homeless haircuts.
The idea was to make the homeless feel better about themselves. And maybe then they'd get jobs or something."

[freakazoid]

DNC detention centers,

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

Careful out there comrades. Play it safe,

edit - I was looking through the anti-defamation league site, http://www.adl.org/learn/Events_2001...tremist_Events and apparently there is going to be a Minuteman rally there on August 25, "Anti-immigration rally organized in part by the Colorado Chapter of Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC), a border vigilante group, to be held all day in Congress Park, featuring a number of speakers including three principals of MCDC"

[Dust Bunnies]

You guys need to be careful if its the DNC, any action could be potrayed as racism by the ruling class and Fox News.

[redwinter]

News from Denver on www.worldcantwait.org:

On the Eve of the Democratic Convention

"Sunday, on the eve of the Democratic Convention, thousands of people will march against the United States' illegitimate occupations in the Middle East. Permits for the march were blocked until a lawsuit challenged the City of Denver and the Secret Service. Even so, the permit does not allow a march to the Pepsi Center where the convention will start the next day.

We will be in the lead contingent of the march. Our demands are righteous. But while we see editorials in the US press decrying the suppression of protest in Beijing, the preparations in Denver include barbed wire topped "protest zones" and surveillance against people who take notes, use maps, ride bicycles or take photos. Is there "free speech" or is there a police state while the Democrats meet?

Join us to make political dissent massive! As people with our histories of disrupting and challenging President Nixon in public, we're calling on other public figures, writers, DNC delegates, and artists to help lead the march."

--Ron Kovic and Debra Sweet
You can come too. After two days in Denver, I've met people in World Can't Wait on this list, and of course, many Denver people organizing. Find the highlights of World Can't Wait's plans.


Abortion Without Apology: Pro-Choice Message Will Counter Anti-Abortion Protests During the Democratic Convention

Groups including Operation Rescue and the Christian Defense Coalition, both with a connection to extreme anti-abortion violence in the last 20 years, are calling for eight days of protests at abortion facilities and public locations where the Democratic Party is meeting. Information on anti-abortion violence is available via the National Abortion Federation.

Anti-abortion groups managed to get an amendment to the Colorado constitution on the November ballot which would declare - in contradiction to all known science and logic - that legal "personhood" starts at conception. The right of a woman to control her own body, including to use birth control would be gone. We've been there before. It was called the 'Dark Ages'.

Pro-choice activists plan to bring their own messages to counter the large photos of fetuses, and what they describe as "disinformation" on abortion and birth control usually carried by anti-abortion protesters. Emma Kaplan, a young World Can't Wait organizer here from Seattle said:

"People who see where this is going - to the outlawing of birth control -- need to raise our voices now. The anti-abortion lies must be countered directly, with substance, courage, and reality. Hoping they will go away or conciliating with their anti-woman agenda is not working".

The Democratic Party in its new platform has taken a noticable step back in supporting abortion rights, and the choice of Senator Robert Casey, who is strongly anti-abortion, to speak Tuesday night at the convention is seen as a sop to the right. Abortion with apology has gotten us where we are today: in danger of losing not only abortion, but access to birth control. George Bush -- who we continue to point out has not stepped back from his program -- is pushing new executive orders which, under the guise of protecting "individual conscience" sets the legal basis for widespread denial of birth control.
Speaking out Against a War on Iran, or Pakistan...and more troops to Afghanistan:

Evening of Conscience: Ron Kovic, Cindy Sheehan, Cynthia McKinney, Jeremy Scahill, Sunsara Taylor with Cleo Parker Robinson and Tom Chelston from Denver, united in speaking out - NO War on Iran! At a restored theater in the historic African American community of Five Points, and because your donations last week paid for the event, we'll be ending the anti-war march looking forward to what we must do, no matter who is the president.

[redwinter]

[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]Also wanted to post the calendar of events for this week in Denver...[/FONT][/FONT]
(from http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.p...842&Itemid=289)

Come to Denver when the Democrats Meet: Protest August 23-28

World Can't Wait will support many of those actions, and in addition, is planning events related to Bringing the Bush Program to a HALT.

Find calendars of more events at:
Recreate68: www.Recreate68.org
Alliance for Real Democracy: www.realdemocracy2008.org
Unconventional Denver: www.dncdistuption.org
Come Up to Denver: www.comeuptodenver.org/

Only you -not your government- can bring any of this to a halt. The only realistic course is for the people of the U.S. to taking meaningful and independent political action to resist the machinery of war and the fascist direction that has emerged. Come to Denver for a week of protest that includes marching to stand with immigrants under assault and counter-protests to the week of anti-abortion actions of the Christian right. Join in contingents, film showings, street protests, strategy sessions, and more.

Why Go to Denver?

World Can’t Wait will have booths:
* Festival of Democracy Aug 24-28, where Recreate 68 will be based in Civic Center Park August 24-26 and Skyline Park August 27-28
* Cuernavaca Park where the Alliance for Real Democracy, Tent State University, and Amnesty International’s Guantanamo Cell are located August 24-28

For last minute changes, check back here.

World Can’t Wait Convention Phone 347 385 2195

See Theater & Art Exhibits up in Denver During the DNC at the end of this list:


Saturday, August 23

Time Location Event Title Description

9 am
Planned Parenthood Clinic 7155 E. 38th Avenue, Denver
Countering Anti-Abortion Protest
Pro-Choice presence v. Christian Defense Coalition protest at new clinic heavily targeted by protest

12:00 - 1:00 pm
Mercury Cafe 2199 California Street, Denver
Know Your Rights Training
with Denver Legal Collective

12:00 noon
Civic Center Park
Countering Anti-Abortion Protest
Pro-Choice presence v. Christian Defense Coalition

1:00 pm
Pepsi Center
Countering Anti-Abortion Protest
Pro-Choice presence v. Christian Defense Coalition & “Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust” who plan to lay roses around the Pepsi Center for all the “unborn”

6:00 pm
Skyline Park
Countering Anti-Abortion Protest
Pro-Choice presence v. Christian Defense Coalition

7:00 pm
West steps of Capitol
Denver
“Meet the DNC Protest Leaders” Roundtable
Conversation with leaders of groups protesting the DNC for press & public


Sunday, August 24


Time
Location
Event Title BOLD indicates World Can’t Wait sponsor
Description


9:00 AM
Rally on west steps of the Capitol.
Mass Anti-War Rally
World Can’t Wait demonstration of waterboarding for public & international press
Speakers

11:00 am
March from Capitol to Speer Blvd
1/3 mile from
Pepsi Center.
Anti-War March
Join World Can’t Wait Contingent: NO War on Iran!

12:30 pm – 12:35 pm exact time TBA
Along the Mall
Stop the Next War Now "Freeze" on the Mall

5 minute "freeze" to visually represent stopping the next war now! organized by Code Pink.


1:00 PM
Route 1:
Confluence Park (Between 15th and Speer), led by CODEPINK.
Route 2:
Freedom Cages (Pepsi Center Lot A), led by
Tent State.
Route 3:
Recruiting Center (MEPS- 19th & Stout Street), led by IVAW.
Route 4: 5 Points
(TBD: Curtis Park?
Blackberries? Sonny Lawrence Park?): Lead
by The Green Party. Other routes TBD.
Meeting Point: Union Station (17th & Wynkoop)
Funk the War:
Dance for Peace
A creative action with an emphasis on music and
visuals. Smaller feeder marches lead to Union
Station (17th & Wynkoop), then proceed down
16th Street Mall

3:00 - 8:00 PM
Cuernavaca Park
Guantanamo Cell Tour
Sponsored by Amnesty International

7:00 PM – 9:00 pm
Cleo Parker
Robinson Dance Theater 119 Park Avenue West, Denver 5 Points
Tickets and Info:
(303) 295-1759
Evening: No
Attack on Iran hosted by World Can’t Wait
Ron Kovic, Cindy Sheehan, Sunsara Taylor, Cynthia McKinney, Jeremy Scahill, Iraq Veterans Against the War National Board member Phil Aliff & special guests, in opposition to a US war on Iran

Monday, August 25


Time
Location
Event Title BOLD indicates World Can’t Wait sponsor
Description

9:00 am
Civic Center Park with feeder marches
Human Rights March/Free All Political Prisoners Rally
Rally organized by Recreate68

9:30 am or TBD
Civic Center Park
Demonstration of Why Waterboarding is Torture - Join Orange Jumpsuit Contingent
Actors show the press & public why no government should be allowed to torture. Contingent protests US legalization of torture sate.

11:00 am
Civic Center Park
Human Rights March
Speakers with headliner Public Enemy performing

9:00 - 11:00 AM
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1615 Ogden
Israel/Palestine and 'Can We Avoid War with Iran?'
Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak on resolving the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Jonathan Granoff, president of Global Security Initiative, will discuss how to peacefully resolve the conflict with Iran.

11:00 - 8:00 PM through 8/28
Cuernavaca Park
Guantanamo Cell Tour
Sponsored by Amnesty International.

3:00 pm
Civic Center Park
Human Rights Day Concert
Performances: Sunsara Taylor opens

4:00 pm
Civic Center Park Revolution newspaper Booth
Democracy – Can’t We Do Better Than That?
Discussion with Sunsara Taylor of the new constitution of the RCP

7:00 pm
Phoenician Kabob Restaurant
5709 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver
Presentation & Discussion: “Barack Obama and Iran: Anti-War Candidate? Or New Face, Same Empire?”
Larry Everest of Revolution newspaper presents. Middle Eastern buffet dinner 6:30 pm by reservation.


Tuesday, August 26


Time
Location
Event Title BOLD indicates World Can’t Wait sponsor
Description


11:00 - 8:00PM
Cuernavaca Park
Guantanamo Cell Tour
Sponsored by Amnesty International.

Afternoon/Evening to be determined
Downtown
Operation First
Casualty
Street theater that demonstrates the reality of war.

6:00 - 8:00 PM
Los Cabos Puro
Peru at 15th and Champa in Denver
A San Francisco
Mime Troupe
Sampler
San Francisco Mime Troupe will do a benefit
reception for Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center. Sliding
scale donation $10 - $20 to help launch RMPJC's
second 25 years. For more info or advance sale
tickets, please call (303) 444-6981. Tickets also available at the door.

7:00 pm
Mercury Café
2199 California Street, Denver
Film: "Iran is Not the Problem" hosted by World Can’t Wait
One hour documentary examining the history of US threats to Iran

7:00 pm
TBA
Presentation & Discussion: “Barack Obama: New Day for Black people? Or Different Face on the Same Set-up?”
Presented by Revolution newspaper revcom.us

Wednesday, August 27


Time
Location
Event Title BOLD indicates World Can’t Wait sponsor
Description


11:00 am
Denver Coliseum
Anti-War Concert with Rage Against the Machine
Free concert with RATM, The Coup, Wayne Kramer, Flobots. information on free tickets at

9:00 - 6:00 PM
Outside of the Pepsi Center
Affinity Group Creative Actions: War Is Not Green!
Guerilla Theater during the caucusing portion of the DNC

3:30 PM
TBD
IVAW March to End the War
Iraq Veterans Against the War will march in
opposition to the war in Iraq.

Thursday, August 28


Time
Location
Event Title BOLD indicates World Can’t Wait sponsor
Description

9:00 - 12:00 PM
Commencing at
Rudy Park (2855 W. Howard Pl.),
with a Colfax
route to a rally
at Lincoln Park (W. 12th Ave + Mariposa St.)
National
Mobilization for
Just and Humane
Immigration
Reform
NO BORDERS! No ICE Raids! No Militarization of the Border! No Detentions! No Human Being is Illegal!
.

11:00 AM
Skyline Park
A Walk in their
Shoes
Thousands of shoes will represent the hundreds of
thousands of Iraqis who have died.

TBD
INVESCO Field/ Mile High Stadium
Obama's
Acceptance Speech
75,000+ to attend. Join in bringing the NO War on Iran message.

Works of Art in Denver During the DNC:
Visual Art:
"Dialog: Denver" Colorado artists created politically themed works in the format of a 21 by 31 inch yard sign. Article featured one called "I Am Your Worst Nightmare." Aug. 16-Sept. 20, Robischon Gallery, 1740 Wazee St.
"Grey/re(a)d: In Response" and installation "dealing with finding hope amid the gloom of so much contemporary news." It poses "essential questions like: What is news? What is the truth? What is a lie? And getting people to think about it." Thru. Sept. 5, PlatteForum, 1610 Little Raven.
"Inside.Outside.North & South" - Collaborative Internet project with teens from Denver, La Paz, Bolivia and Puebla Mexico "examining the growing diversity of an ever more globalized world." Artworks created "address stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination." Aug. 21-Sept. 14, Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Drive.
"Pictures of You, Images of Iran" - inside a 90-foot long tentlike structure based on Persian architecture, installation that "gives Americans a look at everyday iranians" along with "ambient sounds from Iran and excerpts from interviews with a few of its citizens." Aug. 25-26, temporary installation, Civic Center Park.
Theater:
"The Eyes of Babylon" by an honorably discharged marine about how he used the military ban on gays to get out of the war in Iraq that he saw as morally corrupt. Aug 21-Sept 13, Theatre Group at the New Denver Civic Theater, 721 Santa Fe Drive.
"The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui", Brecht play described as "a chilling parable about corruption and power, in which Hitler is reinvented as a '30's Chicago gangster." Aug. 26, The Bindery Space, 720 22nd Street.
"Red State" by San Franciso Mime Troup, "to skewer the electoral process in song and dance." Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The Bindery Space, 720 22nd Street.
"Iraq War, The Musical!" "musical-comedy satire about the obstacles the Bush administration overcame to get its war in Iraq going -- and keep it going." Through Aug. 31, Bug Theatre 3654 Navajo St.
"Allied Witches' Presidential Election Convention 2008," described as "theatrical witches poke their broomsticks in the satirical belly of our democratic process" with characters including Eleanor Roosevelt, Dick Cheney and Michelle Obama. Aug. 22, 23, and 29, Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St.

[gla22]

people that are attending please keep us updated what is happening.

[Sendo]

Ah fuck. I knew I should have put off going abroad until September.

I know someone personal who's going. I'll live vicariously through him.

These detention centers and the strength of the size of the protest are evidence more than ever that this is war and we need to be aware of our surroundings and be in good physical condition if we're there when shit goes down. The rise in deadly taserings, unjustified arrests, and the like tell me that everyone's at risk. We're nearing a crisis point. Maybe not this per se, but just see how the USA looks in 2009 when we have a "change" president who stays in Iraq, starves us with corn ethanol, keeps the bankers rich, and leaves the cities a fucking mess. Another year of this inflation and who knows what can happen. Maybe I'm just fantasizing, but who knows, we could see another situation like the 60s activism or militant labor. Hey, even the Obama bug's wearing off: his support's dropping off.

[gla22]

I heard there was going to be 50k people at the anti-war march. Good numbers, hopefully most won't scatter when confronted with police intimidation.

[RHIZOMES]

+ YouTube Video

[An archist]

Since when did the right to freedom of speech turn into the obligation of free speech?

[The Author]

That protester video was hilarious.

[Sendo]

I heard there was going to be 50k people at the anti-war march. Good numbers, hopefully most won't scatter when confronted with police intimidation.

As of Monday morning the numbers ended up far lower. Someone talking on Pacifica from Recreate '68 thinks the police state, freedom cages, tasers, national guard, etc, scared a lot of people. Makes sense.

[freakazoid]

lol. When he first said that you can see them coming up behind him and that there were about a thousand of them the first thing I could think of was ZOMBIES!!

This just goes to show you that no matter what you do, the media will ALWAYS twist it you make you look violent, even when nothing bad is actually happening. Apparently chanting slogans means that you are yelling at the reporter and getting violent. He actually expected there to be Obama supporters among them!? Of course this is Fox news so of course they think that leftist means Democrat. And apparently refusing to talk to the media who wishes to twist your words means that you do not believe in the freedom of speech!? Guy refuses to speak to him, "Well I guess he doesn't believe in the freedom of speech."

As of Monday morning the numbers ended up far lower. Someone talking on Pacifica from Recreate '68 thinks the police state, freedom cages, tasers, national guard, etc, scared a lot of people. Makes sense.

This makes me sad, Hope it gets much bigger.

If comrades end up getting sent to the cages then we should mount an offensive to get them free. We should never let a comrade be taken by a pig. Do everything you can to help you fallen comrade away from the pigs clutches.

[freakazoid]

That is a lot of pepper spray. Gas masks are cheap people! And pepper spray in kind is also cheap, Or simply toss a bucket of paint and blind there visors, Also it looks like some of them are wearing short sleeves, or simply rolling there sleeves up, some tasers are cheap too. mwuahahahahaha

[gla22]

yeah paint would mess them up.

[freakazoid]

Yeah. People could set up as artillery units with those big slingshots, one person on each side holding an end with one person controlling the thing being thrown, behind the main units up front who help hold and/or push the pig lines, launching paint filled water balloons or simply a bucket of paint where the bucket is attached to the sling and the paint gets launched out overhead. The units up front could even be splashing paint or use spray paint to cover there visors.
The paint would cover there visors and they would be useless causing them to have to pull back and try to get the paint off.

What is the problem with the picture I posted from the DNC protest? The protesters are using nothing to protect themselves. Even if it is nothing but cardboard, metal trashcan lids would be better, it is still better than nothing to help protect yourself from there spray, batons, and rubber bullets. And grab any from them that you can,

Hmm... I'm thinking perhaps a separate thread for tactics.



edit - I made a thread on it, http://www.revleft.com/vb/some-ideas...71#post1227671

[RHIZOMES]

+ YouTube Video