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VIDEO: DNC Dispatch #3

author: acumensch
Aug 27, 2008 22:56

SubMedia, FluxRostum Pepperspray, et al. with the latest video scoops.

PART 1

PART 2

Three people were arrested at the Denver Convergence Center (where Recreate 68 and Unconventional Denver were planning actions), one from the Tacoma PitchPipe Infoshop, and the police confiscated painting supplies and banner material. It was a low blow to freedom of assembly and speech, like it has been all week.

Riot police surrounded the building, but failed to eventually come up with a warrant that would allow them to raid the building and make a mass arrest.

UPDATE! (not in the video dispatch)

Between 5:00 - 9:00 pm today.

Thousands of activists participated in a march led by IVAW to the DNC at the Pepsi Center, with the plan of getting Obama to negotiate face to face with the anti-war movement. There was a long stand off with riot cops, they were on top of several cranes, armored trucks, and ready to beat people. Suddenly IVAW learned that Obama was going to negotiate with IVAW on their platform and demands about leaving Iraq, giving Iraqi people reparations and giving better health care to veterans.

The IVAW members, at the front of the march, (some masked up) were prepared to get across the police line if nobody from the DNC was going to negotiate with the thousands of people outside.

None of the civilian activists were going to do anything to engage the DNC delegates or the riot police unless the Iraq vets did so first. The wave of supporters, standing behind the vets, were ready to absorb whatever was about to happen, ready for direct action if needed.

Whether this is a long run success for the anti-war movement that Obama will now meet with IVAW, it was definitely a short run victory and something we can all be proud of accomplishing.

We did something pretty amazing today. Power to the people!

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