Election 2008
(2008-08-25)
This week the streets of Denver are filled with demonstrators are every age and description.
But it raises a question, what good are protests anyway.
"Let's get our country back!"
A speaker exhorting a crowd of about 2 thousand anti-war demonstrators on the steps of the Colorado state capitol in Denver Sunday. It's a crowd of mostly young tattoed and passionate people. There are also grey haired veterans of 1960s anti-war protests. They'll all taking part in what's being called RECREATE 68. An attempt to recapture the vibrant anti-war movement that disrupted that year's Democratic Convention. But, the crowd is smaller than was expected. RECREATE 68 organizer Glenn Spagnuolo blames those supporting presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
"A lot of the liberal voices said they weren't going to come here today," says Spanuolo, "They sent out false press statements saying we cancelled our event today ,that hasn't stopped us at all."
Meanwhile a short distance away ..there's another counter demonstration. Rona Rocker of Evergreen, Colorado organized a support the troops counter protest across the street.
"The anti-Americans, the radicals are always in the media, always shouting out so people not knowing any better would certainly get the impression from what they seen on the mainstream media that a majority ofAmericans are for pulling out, surrendering, appeasing, and I don't believe that's the truth," says Rocker.
The strains of Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American" mixes with chants of "U-S-A".
The two groups face off, with a line a riot geared police officers dividing the two sides the news media swarming around it all. Demands for 'Supporting the troops' mix with shouts decrying torture.
It all reminded me of the first Democratic Convention I covered 20 years ago in Atlanta. Only then it was a small group of white supremacists facing down a horde of anti-klan demonstrators. The difference is 20 years ago there was actually conflict. People fought, spat and police had to strain to keep the situation from spinning out of control. This face off in Denver was , well, tame. Some name calling, finger pointing. But that was it. The difference may be that both groups did all they could to avoid confrontation. They were just there to wave signs and get media attention.
Hardly Recreating 68.
Convention Protests, much like the political conventions themselves, are highly orchestrated. But that raises a question. Have they become, like some have argued the conventions themselves become , so less effective in getting a message to the general public.
Matt Grossman is a political scientist at Michigan State University. Grossman says, since the high tide of 1968, convention protesters have had a hard time of grabbing attention. He expects more attention will be paid to Hillary Clinton supporters than the puppet waving, drum thumping, showmen of the anti-war movement. Still, he says all is not lost for the protesters outside the convention's walls
"If you're going to hold a protest this is a good place to do it. It's a political event that a lot of people pay attention to," says Grossman.
War protesters plan to be in Denver all week, with events each day. Demonstrations on Abortion, Immigration, Education and a whole host of issues are planned as well.
Denver resident Andy Stonehouse hopes the added attention will be good for his adopted home town. He expects his family back in Grand Rapids will be entertained watching the protests on TV
"This is just a show mostly, but it's a fun show. I wish I could get tickets to see Rage against the Machine, but I got to work," says Stonehouse.
Meanwhile the show outside the Pepsi Center goes on the show inside the arena begins today. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio
