August 26, 2008 10:44 AM
Is the police presence during the DNC oppressive or reassuring?
You can't travel anywhere near downtown without seeing evidence of the heavy police presence.
Officers from Denver and surrounding jurisdictions are on the streets, riding astride SUVs, on horseback, in riot gear, holding weapons.
The 16th Street Mall was shut down for more than an hour yesterday while police dealt with a small anti-gay rights protest.
Later in the day, they used pepper spray to subdue a group of protesters who were marching toward the mall and wound up arresting 91 of them across the street from the Rocky's building.
City Councilman Michael Hancock says the police presence is essential for a safe and peaceful convention.
Wherever I saw law enforcement I thanked them for their service and wished them well during the week. The many hours of regional planning to ensure a smooth and safe convention was now being implemented for the world to see. As one delegate shared with me during our visit to the media party at Elitch's after noticing the amount of security in place, "We simply cannot take our safety for granted."However, not everyone agrees with such a display of strength.
On Sunday during a fundraising reception, a visitor to Denver approached me and shared her concern about the peace march that occurred earlier in the day. In her words, "the overwhelming presence of law enforcement was over the top and intimidating."
Do you think the police presence is overdone or necessary? Has the large number of police officers taken the steam out of protesters? Do you feel safer or intimidated walking the mall when police officers are so visible?
August 26, 2008
11:24 AM
Anonymous writes:
The protesters would be doing serious damage if it wasnt for the police. I wish the police would kill a few of them, lets see how many of them think there tough and speaking truthiness to power then?
August 26, 2008
11:55 AM
gr8fuldude writes:
I am normally no fan of the police, but I have to say that on my three block walk to and from my bus, all of the officers I saw were courteous. otoh, two of the protesters I met asked me to "give" them my backpack and then got belligerent when I suggested they conduct a sexual intercourse with themselves. Go figure.
August 26, 2008
12:00 PM
Carla writes:
I was part of the Falun Gong parade. Falun Gong always follows "all the rules." We contact the city and the police and they are always aware of our plans. We are always peaceful in all regards.
Yet, our peaceful protest was seen by practically no one, because our route was Civic Center Park/Colfax/Spear/CU campus with little to no spectators along that route. In addition, at the end of the parade, we ended at a "free speech" area that was basically a cage with no access to the public.
How can we call that free speech? It was entirely controlled. Are we now becoming like the Chinese communist party and controlling all free speech and the right to gather?
I think this article sums up the situation best, http://cliffschecter.firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/free-speech-zone-at-the-dnc/ We were forced to talk to reporters through a wire mesh fence. It was absolutely ridiculous.
In addition, there were probably more policemen on our route than those in our parade. We are never intimidated by the police, because we respect the jobs they are there to perform and we always thank them. But, was their presence overwhelming? Yes. A resounding "Yes."
Why can't all groups protest peacefully? Hasn't this shown to be the most effective means of protest throughout history? (remember Gandi and Martin Luther King)
I wish Zhen-Shan-Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance) to all of you!
August 26, 2008
12:15 PM
JustSayin writes:
Gr8t - you didn't run into protesters, just some out-of-work republican appraisers.
Anonymous - just hit the mouse key once - you're idiotic diatribe will make it through eventually.
August 26, 2008
12:18 PM
T-Rex writes:
Falun Gong
Falun Gong
Get it on!
August 26, 2008
2:38 PM
Anonymous writes:
wasn't that on the Slider album in the 70's?
August 26, 2008
2:44 PM
Trye writes:
The only ones complaining about all the cops down there, are the people who don't want them there. They don't want them there so they can destroy the place. If you aren't doing anything wrong, the cops have no reason to bother you.
August 26, 2008
2:47 PM
Trye writes:
The only ones complaining about all the cops down there, are the people who don't want them there. They don't want them there so they can destroy the place. If you aren't doing anything wrong, the cops have no reason to bother you.
August 26, 2008
3:02 PM
Goodall1 writes:
I don't think the important question is whether people feel oppressed or reassured by the police presence. The important question is whether or not they have been effective and kept people safe and orderly.
A lot of people have been complaining that there is an excessive amount of officers in the downtown area; my response to them is that the amount is only unecessary or excessive until something happens. Their presence is a proactive deterrent that ensures that nothing will happen and clearly illustrates to protesters or anyone else looking to cause trouble that they will not be successful.
I think that the same people who seem to have a problem with the number of officers are, like Trye said, the individuals and/or groups that would like to cause trouble. Further, if the force was less prmoinent and something did happen, they would be the first ones to speak out and cry "Where were the police when I needed them?"
August 26, 2008
3:09 PM
Shaggy writes:
Trye,
I would say this is a little over board wouldn't you?
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/25/80-year-old-man-gets-caught-protest/
August 26, 2008
3:25 PM
T-Rex writes:
I thought it was from "Electric Warrior", but those were the days when one hit would appear on several albums though.
August 26, 2008
3:50 PM
NDeeZ writes:
Trye:
"If you aren't doing anything wrong, the cops have no reason to bother you."
No? No such thing as a rogue or over-zealous cop?
Would you mind being "randomly" asked for a blood/semen/saliva sample...I mean, if you've done nothing wrong?
How about a search of your person, your vehicle or your home because a cop "suspects" something.
I'm not saying all cops are like this--in fact, I think damned few are--but as Founding Father Ben Franklin sez: "They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
August 26, 2008
5:10 PM
Aert writes:
Just a reminder
Mussolini kept order
Hitler kept order
Emperor Hirohito kept order
Lenin kept order
Stalin kept order
These people used the same tactics ( fear of the police ) to keep order.
Add the DPD, SS ( our NEW SS, not the German one in the '30s ) and all the LEOs to the list.
Gee, welcome to the police state.
( and to those people who say different, I am pretty sure that the above leaders were also " just keeping order " in their countries with the approval of the population )
August 26, 2008
5:32 PM
Anonymous writes:
heck Trex ... those were the days where one hit and I might appear on several albums ..... yeehawwww
August 26, 2008
9:29 PM
Freda Borden writes:
Seems to me that what really took the wind out of the protests so far this week was the fact that they are being routed around all the mall areas and down streets nobody is lining.
Come on we all know these young people that like to "take to the streets" do it not for true ideology, but for the social satisfaction of meeting similar thinking people, and for the attention of the adults.
Denver planners wisely routed all these clowns out around the boondocks and once they realized the press and the adults wouldn't be looking they decided not to even show up.
Brilliant planning Denver, although given that most Democrats love protesting anything, something tells me the DNC won't ever be coming back to Denver.
Democrats like dramatic statements in front of millions of faces and TV cameras, their ideology is paper thin.
August 27, 2008
10:39 AM
Victor Forsythe writes:
Oh what will the Klintons say next? I remember voting for Mr. Klinton for his first winning term, thinking he was the voice of change. The first thing he did was turn around and embrace NAFTA. I did not trust anything he said after that. But it possitively infuriated me when he left office pardoning a whole slew of very nasty criminals. I'm sure it was for lots of money and not any other reason.
The huge and intimidating police presence shows very clearly that what the democrats do best is Police State. I see very little change between Denver today and Seattel in 1999. Citizens, instead of going to make money at work, come here at great expense to show what kind of change they want, are brutalized in the street.
The latest Zogby poll shows most of the electorate is getting tired of major corporations with their illusion of change. We are told we have no choice, we have to vote for one or the other ruling party princes or we throw away our vote. Well unless there is a real debate I no longer trust them. I want a real debate, in fact I demand one.
August 28, 2008
9:44 PM
McGowdog writes:
Hey Aert,
Yeah, the cops presence kind of did remind me of the extermination of 6 million Jews. Weird.
Bang and Gong, Falun Gong
Get it ON! Jeepster for your Love.
Here's to inviting protesters or out of work Republicans to go have intercourse with themselves!
Good night, Denver!
August 28, 2008
9:47 PM
McGowdog writes:
Hey Aert,
Yeah, the cops presence kind of did remind me of the extermination of 6 million Jews. Weird.
Bang and Gong, Falun Gong
Get it ON! Jeepster for your Love.
Here's to inviting protesters or out of work Republicans to go have intercourse with themselves!
Good night, Denver!