When The World Watched Denver

FIVE DAYS When the world watched Denver A Metropolitan Special Report

A Boulder resident, who asked to be identified as Forrest, stands in silent protest after the police blockaded the marchers using pepper spray and rubber bullets to subdue the crowd. Photo by Stephen Swofford, [email protected]

History made a mile high

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or 120 hours, Denver was the center of the universe. That’s 7,200 minutes; 432,000 seconds. In comparison to other events, that isn’t a long time. But those pivotal moments will be spoken and read about forever. It was during those five days history was made. And the course of the United States would change, undeniably, forever. It was the week the Democratic Party would nominate the junior senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, a man of Kenyan and Kansas descent, to be its presidential nominee. It would be the first time, in the history of this country, a black man would be a major party’s candidate. This is the story of how one city, and one college campus — in the middle of it all — witnessed history.

About this special report For five days, reporters, photographers and editors of The Metropolitan staff fanned across Denver to report on the Democratic National Convention. They were at Civic Center Park, the 16th Street Mall, the Pepsi Center and, of course, Invesco Field at Mile High to be your witness to this historic event. The following is a collection of interviews, observations and experiences during the week of the DNC. FOR MORE NEWS, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS FROM THE DNC GO TO www.metrostudentmedia. blogspot.com

C2 • FIVE DAYS • SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 • THE METROPOLITAN

Sunday

A protester throws a garbage can onto the sidewalk at the16th Street Mall during “Reclaim the Streets” on Aug. 24, in Denver. About 37 different groups came together to march through the streets without a permit. Photo by Dawn Madura, [email protected]

Protesters prelude historic week We are taking over the streets, sitting in the name of freedom. We will not be silenced. We will not be silenced. We will not be silenced. — Ron Kovic, author “Born on the Fourth of July”

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s the Democratic National Convention Committee put finishing touches on the Pepsi Center, more than 5,000 delegates, a cavalcade of media and thousands of tourists made their way into the city. And while the convention had yet to officially start, the demonstrators marching the streets made it clear — the DNC had begun.

chair, and I will be damned if I’m going to see any other troops come back in this chair. “I gave three-quarters of my body in Vietnam. Today, we’ll march today peacefully. The whole world is watching. The whole world is watching you,” Kovic said.

Protesters take first steps

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fter months of meetings with the city, various protest organizations formed two groups: The Recreate ’68 Alliance and Tent State. The alliances had Civic Center Park and the City of Cuernavaca Park as their respective parks for demonstrations. While Tent State prepared for a week of classes and concerts, R-’68 began the week with a march to the gates of the Pepsi Center. On the west steps of the Capitol building, R-’68 began its march with a rally. Among the speakers were former CU professor Ward Churchill and vocal war protesters Cindy Sheehan and Ron Kovic. Sheehan’s son was killed in 2004 while serving in Iraq. She has been protesting the war ever since. Kovic, author of “Born on the Fourth of July,” told the crowd assembled, “This is my 40th year in this chair. I was in the Vietnam War — that is why I am in this

The marches begin he first march from Civic Center to the Pepsi Center rounded onto Speer Boulevard from Colfax Avenue at about 11 a.m. Protesters wearing Zapatista-esque bandanas covering their nose and mouth chanted against fascism and the war in Iraq. “We are going to the Pepsi Center, and we’re going to make our demands heard,” someone belted on a megaphone. R-’68 had been told by the city its march would end at Market Street, but the organization promised to continue all the way to the heart of the convention at the Pepsi Center, even if it meant they’d be arrested. Leilani Dowell, 30, of New York City, and a member of Fight Imperialism Stand Together, said these kinds of protests were necessary to remind the world that while politicians can make the decision to go to war or retreat, they won’t until the people demand it of them. “No matter who gets elected, all wars

will continue,” she said. “The war in Iraq, the war against poor people. We need to force these politicians to make changes. This day will help create that change.” Along the southbound lanes of Speer, police in riot gear stood to keep the protesters on the street. When the demonstration reached Lawrence Street, a helicopter flew over and several protesters fell to the ground. This was to represent the thousands who have died in military service. It was an awe-inspiring sight. The march reached Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway at 12:21 p.m. The convention’s security checkpoints were not yet in place for the convention, and the protest was allowed to continue to the nearest gate at the Pepsi Center. A college Democrat, Rachel Soyle, of Ohio, said she decided to see the march at the spur of the moment. “I love the passion,” she said. Upon reaching the gates of the Pepsi Center, R-’68 leaders asked protesters to sit with them. “We are taking over the streets,” Kovic said. “We are taking over the streets, sitting in the name of freedom. We will not be silenced. We will not be silenced. We will not be silenced. “They told us we could not march to the Pepsi Center, but we did. We are sending a message to the convention and to the entire country.”

Police made the decision on-site to allow the march to continue to the Pepsi Center as long as the group remained peaceful.

Calm before the storm

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hile the protesters remained peaceful in the physical sense, their chants were filled with rage: “1-2-34, we don’t want your fucking war,” the crowd roared. At 12:51 p.m., R-’68 asked the Denver Police if they could march back to the Capitol building through Auraria. The request was denied, and the group was ordered to disperse or be arrested. While there was some confusion, mostly due to a lack of communication, the group broke up soon enough. As the sun set on the eve of the convention, little else happened. Tent State sponsored a music festival at the 16th Street Mall. The free mall shuttle was temporarily shut down when Unconventional Denver — perhaps the most radical of any protest group — marched up the mall, occasionally deviating on to side streets causing minimal traffic jams. (By Nic Garcia, [email protected]) Dan Williams contributed to this report.

THE METROPOLITAN • SEPTERMBER 4, 2008 • FIVE DAYS • C3

Monday

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pectators awoke wondering, “was that it?” The demonstrations from the day prior had left more to be desired by any news junkie or violent anarchist. The throngs of protesters promised to Denver had not arrived on time, if at all. At best, the most Denver had seen on the eve of the convention was a meager 500. Glenn Spagnuolo, one of the masterminds behind Recreate ’68, had said he was happy with the Sunday march. His goal for the week is to minimize violence and arrests, he said. “A lot of people are hoping for violence. They’re going to be disappointed,” he warned. The first surprise of the day wasn’t on anyone’s schedule. The Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for vice president, Sen. Joe Biden, landed in downtown Denver at a hot dog stand outside of the Tabor Center. Meanwhile, a march by supporters of Leonard Peltier and Mumia Abu-Jamal made its way from Civic Center Park to the Araj Federal Courthouse. Peltier and Abu-Jamal are two prisoners turned cultural icons regarding unfair imprisonment. A dozen protesters wearing orange jumpsuits and hoods, similar to those worn by the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, led hundreds of others down the 16th Street Mall.

Beast and the Beauty

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en. Ted Kennedy — in his second public appearance since being diagnosed with a brain tumor — addressed the convention, shocking all in attendance. Rumors of a possible Kennedy address had been swirling all day since he touched down in Denver, but went unconfirmed until he stepped on stage. The senator pledged that the time had come for all Americans to have health care, and under the leadership of Sen. Barack Obama, the dream could finally be a reality. “This is the cause of my life,” Kennedy said. “New hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American — north, south, east and west, young, old — will have decent health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.” Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama, also spoke Monday night. She stumbled at first during her speech, looking slightly uncomfortable speaking in front of her largest audience yet on the campaign trail. But midway through, she found a rhythmic pace and began to speak and look like a very strong potential first lady. Michelle Obama had two goals for her speech: the first to clear up any questions about her patriotism that had been in question by the GOP; the second to cast her husband and family as All-Americans. “Barack doesn’t care where you’re from, or what your background is, or what party — if any — you belong to. That’s not how he sees the world,” she said. “He knows that thread that connects us — our belief in America’s promise, our commitment to our children’s future — is strong enough to hold us together as one nation even when we disagree.” While the Pepsi Center was full of pomp and circumstance, Civic Center Park was filling up with protesters and tear gas.

A woman, who asked only to be identified as “Sunshine,” is arrested August 25, 2008. She was allegedly searched by Denver Police officers unlawfully in front of the convention center. Denver Police said the girl was detained because she failed to provide proper identification. Photo by Dana Pennington, [email protected]

First impressions, old friends Clouded intentions

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ccording to multiple sources, Unconventional Denver was planning another unpermitted march through downtown. One source told The Metropolitan in addition to marching, vandalism and aggressive rioting would occur at fundraisers and at business offices. And at approximately 6:30 p.m., the police blocked the route and pepper-sprayed protesters. Amanda Hubbard was one of them. She was standing on Bannock Street preparing to march. “Everyone had his or her own reason for being there. Once I got sprayed, I was blind,” she said. “I grabbed the arm of the first person next to me and I told her not to let go.” Mass panic spread through the park. That’s when other protesters made a mad dash toward 15th Street. However, when the group of 300 reached Court Place, they were surrounded at each intersection by police. A standoff between the protesters and cops lasted about an hour. Hundreds of onlookers surrounded the perimeter to take photos and gawk. Other protesters, who were not being detained, mocked the police standing guard.

“Speech is free! Let them be!” the crowd chanted. Anxious protesters not corralled were wearing bandanas over their noses. The air was filled with a mixture of sweat and apple vinegar. Apple vinegar helps decrease the pain associated with tear gas. As the minutes ticked by, more protesters arrived at the scene. So did more cops. “Oh my god, they have Pixie, Dustin!” Shanice Sims, 19, told a friend over the phone. She turned to the reporter next to her. “In America, I thought we had the freedom to assemble. But I guess not. These faggot pigs.” Sims works for the city and county of Denver. Sims said she and her friends were out in Civic Center, but when the tear gas was used, the three were separated. She could have been inside the perimeter had she been a minute earlier to cross Colfax. “We were on the west side of the park. I thought we had the First Amendment,” she said over and over. “I never thought the cops would arrest peaceful protesters. I think this is corrupt. Uncalled for.”

Smoke clears

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y 9 p.m., the police had let most of the protesters go. However, 91 peo-

ple were arrested on multiple charges. A police spokeswoman did not have an immediate comment when asked about the police using pepper spray on protesters in Civic Center — the apparent reason for the abrupt march into downtown. “We were just responding to the crowd’s actions,” she said. R-’68’s Spagnuolo was furious. “This is evidence we live in a fascist state,” he said. Spagnuolo was not one of the protesters in the perimeter. “The cops started spraying tear gas, then they boxed them in like a bunch of animals. This is total bullshit.” Two protesters told The Metropolitan a second protest had been planned for the evening at 16th and Market, the intersection between downtown and LoDo, Denver’s night-life district. When staff members reached the intersection, dozens of cops had already reached the space. Several people, who would be protesters, were seen doing an about face upon reaching the “second spot.” (By Nic Garcia, [email protected]) Andrew Flohr-Spence, David Pollan and Geoff Wollerman contributed to this report.

I grabbed the arm of the first person next to me and I told her not to let go. — Amanda Hubbard, protester

C6 • FIVE DAYS • SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 • THE METROPOLITAN

Tuesday

Iraq war veteran Kris Goldsmith takes aim as part of a demonstration by members of Iraq Veterans Against the Way Aug. 26. The purpose of the performance was to illustrate to ordinary citizens what a typical day in Iraq might look like. Photo by Adriana Carlson, [email protected]

Few protests, a party comes together Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. — Sen. Hillary Clinton

The heated clash between demonstrators and police cooled during the night, but protests were becoming an all-tofamiliar sight throughout the city, with Recreate-’68 and CODEPINK gearing up again that morning in Civic Center Park.

Opposing points of view Yet, Christian groups armed with conflicting viewpoints and ideologies also had converged in the area and verbally clashed with the protesters at R-’68’s base of operations. “God Hates Fags,” read a banner displayed by an Evangelical group from Westboro, Kan., and tensions between the demonstrators reached their zenith when R-’68 member Carlos Garcia grabbed a sign from one of the Evangelicals. The police promptly stepped in, arresting Garcia. In the first instance of possible police brutality, a video by the Rocky Mountain News shows an officer pushing a member of CODEPINK, Alicia Forrest, to the ground and later literally snatching her away from the media and arresting her. While no pepper spray or tear gas was released, the public was weighing in on the ever-increasing presence of police. “The police have been out of control all week,” said bystander Lou Brown, of Oakland, Calif.

Following the arrests and in the wake of the prior evening’s events, R-’68 leader Glenn Spagnuolo voiced his dismissal of any cooperation with authorities for the duration of the convention, saying, “all bets are off.” “We will no longer be negotiating with police whatsoever,” he said. “Last night, we negotiated with the police and were told to trust them.” Apparently, any and all trust had dissipated. However, the energy from the demonstrators had not abated nor had their creativity. And around noon at Civic Center Park, The Backbone Campaign, a group urging a more progressive stance on politics, launched its own parade complete with elaborate handcrafted puppets and displays. “I’ve never seen Denver look like this at all. It’s almost like a big party,” Metro student Chris Sanders said, as he helped fellow Metro student Matt Struck carry a giant puppet twice their height. In yet another display across downtown, members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War simulated an Iraqi riot in front of MSNBC’s makeshift studio near Union Station. Veterans used their hands as weapons to subdue “civilian rioters” in white T-shirts in an effort to show observers what American soldiers in Iraq deal with every day.

As the afternoon progressed, most of the protesters around the city quieted.

Middle class takes center stage Meanwhile at the Pepsi Center, the Democrats were ready for their voice to be heard. “Barack Obama is running to restore that fair shot for every American,” Virginia Gov. Mark Warner said. While highlighting his own accomplishments, Warner gained applause with his vision of Obama as the candidate to take the country into the next century and also hushed the crowd with his push for setting aside bipartisan politics. However, it was Sen. Hillary Clinton, the former thorn in Obama’s side, who those in attendance waited for to encapsulate the message of unity and the future of the Democratic Party. Clinton reminded the crowd of America’s prosperity during her husband’s years in the White House. But in her speech Tuesday — as opposed to every other stump speech — there was a different ending: this one with Obama in the White House. “As I recall, President Clinton and the Democrats did it before. And President Obama and the Democrats will do it again,” she said.

Clinton, whose job has shifted in months from presidential candidate to possible vice-presidential candidate, became a party unifier. “Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose,” she said. Clinton’s main talking points towed party lines: McCain isn’t the man, Obama is. And as a unified party, they will reclaim the White House. “No way. No how. No McCain,” the New York senator said. Clinton’s message of unity and support continued. Reminding the world why she ran for office — to create a world-class education system; to fight for an America defined by equality; to bring fiscal sanity back to Washington; and to restore America’s standing in the world — are all the same reasons why she is now an Obama supporter. “We need a president who understands that the genius of America has always depended on the strength and vitality of the middle class,” she said to thunderous applause. (By James Kruger, [email protected]) Zac Taylor, Andrew Flohr-Spence, Julie Vitkovskaya, Dana Pennington and Cora Kemp contributed to this report.

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ibrations from the Rage Against the Machine show and upcoming march could already be felt even before the concert, with heat bearing down on officers and organizers around the Denver Coliseum. At noon, two hours before the headliners were to perform, police had already made one arrest at the Convergence Center where protesters from Unconventional Denver, Tent State and Recreate-’68 were gathered. “I think (the police’s) mindset is confrontational,” said Matt Kellegrew, of Olympia, Wash. “This is the first time all three major protest groups are working together on a march. The timing of this isn’t random.” With temperatures and anticipation rising, more police made their way to the area, lining the sidewalks; while inside the Coliseum, the headliners took the stage at 2 p.m. “It looks like the First Amendment is going to get some rigorous exercise,” Scott Coble, an onlooker, said.

Wednesday

Rage hits the street

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t the frontline of the march, members of the group Iraq Veterans Against the War began the procession down Brighton Boulevard with supporters and members of Rage Against the Machine at their heels. Marchers carried signs in the shape of tombstones for soldiers who had died in Iraq and sang military marching songs protesting the war. “We have to show America that the people that were over there oppose it; it’s not right,” said Maggie Martin, a twotime Iraq war veteran with the U.S. Army, as she marched, wearing her full-dress uniform and wiping beads of sweat away as the heat bore down. With an American flag draped over his legs and being pushed in a wheelchair by a supporter, writer and Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic followed close behind the IVAW. “I wholeheartedly support these men and women,” he said. “History is being made in Denver.” Despite the sweltering sun and the police presence, the goal was one of unity and peace for the thousands who had filed out of the concert and joined ranks with IVAW. “Nonviolence — that’s the name of the game,” said political activist and emcee who goes by the name of S.O.N. Demonstrators encouraged onlookers to join in, and after three miles, 3,000 were marching through the heart of downtown, occasionally stopping to let crowds know what IVAW represented and who they were. Sweaty, fatigued and thirsty, the group eventually made it to Auraria, where they told passionate and emotional stories about their experiences in Iraq. Army Sgt. Kris Goldsmith told the crowd how he and other soldiers would remove the firing pins from the AK-47s of the Iraqis they fought alongside, making the weapons useless. “We are not born monsters. We are made monsters!” he shouted. Still, the goal of the group was to make themselves heard by the delegates inside the Pepsi Center, and Marine Jeff Key called for the group to be let inside to read a letter to the delegates or Sen.

Joshua Earl, left, and Sgt. Matthis Chiroux embrace in celebration Aug. 27, on Speer Boulevard. The Iraq Veterans Against the War wrote a letter to the Obama campaign with demands they want met. Chiroux said that at this moment he felt “As if six years of wrong had been lifted.” Photo by Nicholas Duckworth, [email protected]

Rage, unity reign in Denver Barack Obama’s representatives. When one reporter asked how long he would wait, Key replied, “until I die.” And he walked back into the group of soldiers. Police formed a perimeter around all of the protesters, but the focus on nonviolence did not waver. “The police are out here, and they seem to be ready for war,” Army veteran Sholom Keller said. “We are ready for peace.”

Peace prevails

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round 6:30 p.m., most of the followers had departed and left a core group of supporters and veterans, although hope for the cause was reignited when police allowed a representative past the police blockade and into the Pepsi Center. There the representative met with an Obama spokesperson to schedule a meeting with the candidate. However, the meeting has yet to take place as of deadline. If attention outside on Denver’s streets, outside the security zone surrounding the Pepsi Center, focused on the largest protest march of the convention, it surely went unknown to most on the inside. Delegate from Michigan Jerry Hall wasn’t aware of the IVAW march. Hall said the delegates she knew understood the positions of veterans and the

other protesters and respected their right to free speech, but “it all has no impact on our support of Barack Obama our nominee.”

A party united

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fter one of the closest primary seasons in decades, attention inside the arena was on the roll-call vote when delegates officially vote for their choice for presidential nominee. While Obama’s nomination was sealed, through the weeks outspoken Hillary supporters urged her name to be part of the roll call. But with all eyes on New York’s delegation, Hillary Clinton stepped up and said, “in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let’s declare together in one voice, right here, right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate.” The crowd went wild. The evening speeches included former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and cowboy-hat-wearing Ken Salazar, as well as Bill Clinton, 2004 Democratic candidate John Kerry, and personal stories of several Iraq veterans who drove home the need for a change in foreign policy. But the most anticiapted speech of the night was Sen. Joe Biden’s. He continued to hammer the message of change and how it relates to foreign policy. He also

drummed home the message that McCain is no different than Bush. “He’s not change; he’s more of the same,” Biden would recite after citing specific examples likening the GOP nominee to the president. As a surprise at the end of the evening, Biden’s wife, Jill, announced a “special guest” and Obama walked out on stage and addressed a shocked and ecstatic audience. Obama spoke only briefly and mentioned his elation to have Biden as a running mate and the chance to make history “at Mile High stadium.” The excitement and anticipation of the chance to reclaim the White House radiated from all those in attendance. Obama’s mere presence uplifted the crowd and optimism resonated throughout the arena. To the people in attendance, hope and change are no longer far-fetched ideas, but something that must be achieved. Losing is not an option to this group. This is their year, their time and Obama is their guy. (By James Kruger, jkruger1@mscd. edu) Zac Taylor, David Pollan, Andrew Flohr-Spence, Julie Vitkovskaya, Dana Pennington and Cora Kemp contributed to this report.

The police are out here, and they seem ready for war. We are ready for peace. — Sholom Keller, member of IVAW

C8 • FIVE DAYS • SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 • THE METROPOLITAN

Thursday

Obama fulfills dream, defines change

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our days and 45 years in the making, before anyone realized it happened, a dream became reality. On the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech, a man filled with hope and passion — and maybe just enough smarts to outsmart the Republicans this election cycle — came to Denver to accept the nomination as the party’s presidential candidate. The man that would defy odds and the Clintons would be Sen. Barack Obama. When it was evident Obama had received enough votes to become the Democratic nominee, his staff teamed up with the Democratic Convention Committee to plan an acceptance speech fit for only Obama. They would move the convention from the Pepsi Center to Invesco Field at Mile High. As far as the eye could see from every direction, streams of people by the hundreds and thousands formed lines converging on the shiny and silver Mile High Stadium. This was what Denver and the history books had been waiting for: the long journey under the baking sun to the climax of the week, the grand finale and a dream realized. In front of 80,000 people Obama took to the stage. Unlike his previous speeches filled with ambitious rhetoric, the senator laid out his vision of America and took his opponent, Sen. John McCain, to the mat. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not willing to take a 10 percent chance on change,” Obama said referencing McCain’s voting record. Obama said the Republican senator has voted with President Bush 90 percent of the time. Obama shared his own policies on the economy, energy, education, health care, the war in Iraq and America’s overall global presence. Obama promised a tax cut to 95 percent of America’s working families. “I don’t believe Sen. McCain doesn’t care,” Obama said. “I just don’t think he knows (about the middle class).” Obama also promised to eliminate tax cuts for companies who export jobs and give them to companies who keep jobs in America. He would also eliminate the capital gains tax breaks. The senator pledged America would be free from foreign oil — for

Thousands wave in the stands at Invesco Field at Mile High as Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidental nominnee, delievers his speech. Obama pledged to make major changes to education, health care and energy. Photo by CORA KEMP, [email protected] the sake of the economy and security of the country — in 10 years. He will fund this incentive with $150 billion. “Today we have tripled the amount of imported fuels than we did when Sen. McCain took office,”

he said. “Now is the time to change this addiction.” Obama said he would establish a “world-class education system” for America. The senator said one of the rea-

sons he was able to stand at the 50yard line was because of his education and the opportunities he and his wife received. “I will not settle for an America where some kids do not have that

chance,” he said. Promising to recruit an army of teachers, he said he will demand higher standards and early education with a complete reform. The senator briefly noted his policies on health care saying he understands the plight of Americans and that he wants every American covered. Obama also took a moment to mention his goal of creating a policy that would ensure equal pay for both genders. “I want my daughters to have the exact same opportunities as your sons,” he said. Playing the war card late, Obama challenged McCain to a game of character, claiming he would be the best commander-in-chief. “If John McCain wants to follow George Bush, that’s his choice,” he said alluding to McCain’s policy on the War in Iraq. “But that’s not the change America needs. Don’t tell me the Democrats won’t keep America safe. “You don’t defeat a terrorist organization that operates in 80 countries by fighting in Iraq,” he said. The nominee said he would end the war responsibly and would rebuild the army but would never hesitate to defend this country. “I got news for you John McCain, we all put our country first,” he said to a standing ovation. After laying out his policies, Obama returned his address to the audience. “This election has never been about me, it’s been about you,” he said. Obama said with the trust and hard work of the American people he can help restore greatness to the country. It will be very hard, however, he said. “It is that American spirit that pushes us forward even when the path is unclear,” he said. “I believe as hard as it will be, change is coming.” Obama stressed not only individual duty to country but mutual responsiblity. “We cannot walk alone,” he said. “We cannot turn back, America. We cannot turn back when so much work has to be done.” (By Nic Garica, ngarci20@mscd. edu.) Tara Moberly, James Kruger, Andrew Flohr-Spence, David Pollan and Geof Wollerman contributed to this report.)

We cannot walk alone. We cannot turn back, America. — Sen. Barack Obama