DNC Day 2 Report From the Streets

Although I didn't get to spend as much time at the events today I still have plenty to report on. When I came upon downtown there were many more people than yesterday.

I first decided to make my way up to the Capital and Civic Center park where many protesters are claiming the area as their home. Regretfully I came up on pandemonium with riot patrol blocking off streets surrounding a big hotel. As I gathering information I learned the protesters while marching by the hotel had just finished having a scuffle with police. One member of media claiming to be an eye witness to the situation claimed that the force used by police was not excessive but was once again borderline pushy. The street was blocked off at both ends causing people to gather where the scene had a somber feeling. Although not being able to tell exactly what was going on in the middle of the street it appeared the police had maybe thrown some tear gas and were decontaminating people and the area. There was 3 huge buses, dozens of police cars, and what looked like way more members of the police than these vehicles could accommodate.

A reporter looking for answers was finally approached by a women and agreed to the interview as an eye witness. I decided to watch the interview to see if I could get anymore information and did in fact find out how the situation was defused. She explained the famous protester Ron Kovic who many of the Denver protesters look up to rushed to the scene. She described a touching moment when Ron was able to connect with the violent protesters and stop them from acting how they were. A few area hotels were in lock down during the events. For a brief moment I decided to step on the front lines where a line of riot police were standing face to face with the protesters. Many of the protesters ran up and down the line of riot police yelling "fascists, fascists, fascists". The police still remaining robotic no matter what was yelled at them.

I decided to get away from the protest area where I was still having trouble wrapping my head around the situation between police and protesters. I headed to the lower part of the Downtown area where the atmosphere was more celebratory than I have seen in days. Obama shirts, buttons, and signs flooded the lower downtown area where many people had smiles and were cheery. Michelle Obama had just finished her speech and many people roamed with giant hot dog shaped signs saying simply, " MICHELLE". Although the area of lower Downtown had a different buzz the huge police state remained just as present. At one point even coming up on another blocked street where the Boulder County Bomb Squad was called out for a suspicious backpack laying on the sidewalk. A man was stuffed into a giant suit and sent over to rummage through the backpack, and several minutes later emerged with one hand to the sky to give the all clear sign. After watching several minutes of the MSNBC news tower that you cant miss right on the edge of town, I decided to make one last check on the protest situation.

The situation was pretty much defused and the protesters had started heading home many speaking of the war that continues between police and them. Neither side of the war is giving up and the tensions are only getting tighter as each situation unravels. The protesters have promised many disruptions for the DNC and I get the feeling they are still hungry to make that big something happen. On the hindsight the police state is baffling and never will they give the protesters a chance to make a move.

After a short but full evening at the DNC I looked back and realized I had made a better understanding of the situation. It seems as though the protesters and the Obama enthusiasts have marked their territory on the streets of Denver where for now they will remain. The protesters continue to try to make their message heard to the Obama crew but are being silenced by the huge police state. The Obama crew may never hear the words that the protesters have to speak, but that is okay with them because they are occupied in watching history. Tomorrow is a new day for the protesters, the Obama Crew, and the police state. Stay Tuned.