Most people savvy about political matters will know that the leftists will be protesting outside of both conventions this year, as they always do. There will be tear gas, mass arrests, and—as always—there won't be any conservatives involved. We will be keeping a tally of major riot/protest events each day. The MSM will make it difficult, of course, as they have to do their best to shield the Democrats from a 1968 effect.
Day 3
(scroll for Days 1 and 2)
You know, surprisingly enough, there wasn't much in the way of confrontation on Wednesday. Oh sure, there was a big march, but as far as we can ascertain, there was no need for tear gas or pepper spray, and only a few arrests. Partially, this is because of a stern response by the Denver police on days 1 and 2. Partially, it is because for all their noise, the left hasn't yet quite returned to the fevered insanity levels of 1968, when they were bombing buildings and killing police. Give 'em time, I suppose.
That said, if you haven't actually been at one of the modern left's protests, you are missing out. EVERY one of them has masked thugs (urban stagecoach tilters, I call 'em). Every one has anti-Israel signs and Palestinian flags. EVERY one is either organized by or attended by communist front groups. Literally. Every one has conspiracy theories about con trails and 9/11 and GMOs. And they all have tons more wacky stuff too.
And yesterday's was no exception:
Day: Wednesday
Location: Denver Coliseum to downtown
Protesters: 1,500 to 2000
Anti-War Demonstrators March Downtown
Demonstrators spilled out of a concert featuring the anti-establishment rock band “Rage Against the Machine” and took to the streets of downtown Denver Wednesday to protest the Iraq War.
The march began at the Denver Coliseum and travelled down Brighton Blvd. into the downtown area.
An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 protestors carried signs, chanted slogans and banged drums as the march snaked through downtown streets toward the Auraria campus, adjacent to Pepsi Center where the 2008 Democratic National Convention was being held.
There was one incident that we found reported by Denver local news, but other than that, Wednesday appeared to be mostly peaceful. Freaky, but peaceful.
Of course, they're all freaky. Check out these photo essays from various immigration, anti-war, anti-Israel—all leftist—protests in Los Angeles:
Immigration March, Los Angeles, May 1, 2006: Videos!
Photo and Video Essay: Anti-Israel protest and the counter protest, Los Angeles, July 19th, 2006
Photo Essay: Anti-Israel protest and the counter protest -- Los Angeles, July 7th, 2006 (videos too!)
Immigration March, Los Angeles, May 1, 2006: Photo Essay
Photo essay: Yet another anti-war leftist protest: Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, March 17th, 2007
Day 2
(scroll for Day 1)
Day: Tuesday
Time: n/a
Weakened protest groups say truce with cops is over
DENVER – Defiant activists said they will no longer communicate with police, who dealt a blow to their organization with mass arrests Monday night.
"There is no truce with police anymore," said Recreate '68 organizer Glenn Spagnuolo during a news conference in front of police headquarters Tuesday.
. . .
Activists say the crowd was not given a chance to disperse before police used pepper spray and made about 100 arrests.
Those arrests made a serious dent in the protest groups' strength, estimated at around 1,000 people. Police say they moved in when protesters, some of whom were carrying rocks, refused to disperse.
"We can only assume that they are trying to get some people in jail to keep them off the streets for the rest of the week," said Brian Vicente of the People's Law Project, a group offering assistance to those arrested.
A plan by the anarchist group Unconventional Denver to put street blockades in the way of convention-going delegates Tuesday was scrapped. An organizer said Monday's arrests took a toll on the group and they were meeting to assess their options for continued protests.
Day: Tuesday
Location: Civic Center Park
Police: ???
Protesters: 200
2 people arrested, prompting protest
About 200 protesters marched through downtown Denver Tuesday after police detained two people during a rally at Civic Center Park.
The arrests came when religious demonstrators arrived at the rally with anti-gay banners. One man yelled at the crowd, "Jesus Hates Sin." A rally participant holding a banner supporting separation of church and state was restrained by police and driven away by officers on a golf cart. People yelled "Let him go!" as police on foot and horseback tried to control the crowd.
Jean Stevens, spokeswoman for the group Codepink, said the other person taken away by police was a member of her group.
Day: Tuesday
Time: Morning
Location: Denver City and County building
Day 2: More Confrontations Between Police, Protesters
DENVER -- Tuesday started the same way Monday ended -- with tension between police and protesters. At least two people were arrested Tuesday morning on the streets right outside the Denver City and County building.
The clash Tuesday lasted about an hour. Protesters called the choice between Obama and McCain, no choice at all.
Day 1
Day: Monday
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Denver capitol building
Police: 100
Rioters: 200
Tear Gas Fired at Demonstrators Near State Capitol
Protesters clashed with police outside the Denver state capitol building early Monday evening as law enforcement amassed and tensions heightened.
Tear gas was dispersed on a crowd of screaming demonstrators who had been attending a rally at the Civic Center Park. The protesters’ decision to march on the capitol building without a permit started the confrontation.
As of 7:30 p.m., about 200 protestors and 100 police officers in full riot gear were on the scene. Several police vehicles were en route, sirens blazing.
Day: Monday
Time: ??? (possibly the same event as above)
Location: Sheraton Denver Hotel
Police: ???
Rioters: 200-300
Tear Gas Disperses Group
The Denver police used tear gas on Monday night to disperse a small group of demonstrators outside the hotel where many of New York’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention are staying, witnesses said.
The police action stranded many delegates in the lobby and left one woman wheezing and coughing from the gas.
The scene at the Sheraton Denver Hotel was hectic and confused as delegates, including Representative Charles B. Rangel and Gov. David A. Paterson, entered the lobby unaware of what had happened and were told by hotel employees that they could not go to their rooms.
Day: Monday
Time: Day
Location: Denver Mint
Police: ???
Rioters: ???
Video Exclusive: Michelle Malkin Attacked at DNC; “Kill Michelle Malkin”
Michelle Malkin was attacked by protesters and conspiracy nut Alex Jones during the “Shake Your Money Maker” event while Recreate68 attempted to levitate the Denver Mint. Another protester began shouting “Kill Michelle Malkin.”
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