OCCUPY DENVER HOLDS PEACE VIGIL TONIGHT AT 6

From Occupy Denver press release.
The weekly march at Occupy Denver deteriorated into a full-fledged standoff yesterday, resulting in several confrontations between police and protesters. The primary message of the Occupy Wall Street movement has become overshadowed in the past few weeks, as focus has shifted from demands for economic justice to 1st Amendment rights and outcries against police brutality.

The display of overt police violence at yesterday’s assembly of peaceful protesters was entirely abhorrent. The overwhelming police presence was centered on a handful of tents in a public park. The unnecessary show of force by the Denver Police Department was not only disproportionate and inflammatory, but a vastly excessive expenditure of public funds. We urge Denver’s new Chief of Police, Robert White, to live up to his reputation for being reasonable and holding police officers under his jurisdiction accountable.

We openly condemn the Denver Police Department for using pepper balls, shotgun-propelled beanbag rounds, pepper spray and tear gas on an entirely unarmed and nonviolent group. We have collected scores of unedited photos and videos depicting sheer brutality on the part of police on site: officers choking already restrained protesters, using a stun wand on a female arrestee who was already face down and pinned to the ground by an officer, verbally threatening protesters during the standoff, and recklessly and indiscriminately deploying chemical weapons on unarmed civilians, to name a few.

Police violence has never, and will never stop our movement’s momentum. We will continue to organize and move forward, as have Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oakland, Occupy Boston, and countless other occupations across the nation and around the globe.

While the goals of Occupy Wall Street are myriad, the central message of the Occupy movement is specific–and clear to those who are willing to listen: this is a nonviolent movement seeking to bring economic justice to a sociopolitical and economic system that has consistently favored the 1% of citizens at the apex of wealth, while oppressing the beleaguered majority. By allowing money to corrupt corporate responsibility and unduly influence the political process in the United States, our nation’s current policies have undercut our fundamental rights as Americans to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

As a nonviolent movement, Occupy Denver utterly deplores and condemns the use of any and all types of violence by any individual or organization, whether of law enforcement or private citizenry.

Occupy Denver is a leaderless, non-hierarchical movement, comprised of autonomous individuals. Occupy Denver does not condone or endorse the behaviors of any individual claiming membership to or affinity for our efforts, and especially disdains individuals who promote, incite, threaten, or resort to violence under any circumstance. Individuals promoting or resorting to violence of any form are explicitly not welcome at Occupy Denver and contradict entirely with the avowed core values of the movement. While the movement prides itself on maintaining public health and safety, and order within its ranks, Occupy Denver cannot control private citizens who choose to act against our sworn principles of nonviolence, and deeply regret their appearance alongside our tireless efforts.

In response to the volatile atmosphere created by the most aggressive raid of Occupy Denver to date by the police, we are holding a Sunset Peace Vigil at 6pm tonight. Please join us and help bring the focus of the movement back to its fundamental philosophy of peace and economic justice.

ABOUT OCCUPY DENVER

Occupy Denver is an autonomous group of concerned citizens aiming to bring awareness to the issues of corporate inequality and greed, and to empower the 99% of the citizenry that does not benefit from the policies that support this objectionable structure. For more information, please visit occupydenver.org, or contact Occupy Denver at media-pr@occupydenver.org.

Denver police do a great job of PR for Occupy Denver

Photos from the Denver Post (see more)

Occupiers coming better equipped to the show

Officer down in an unscripted fall

Officer playing his part with enthusiasm

Occupiers and officers came to Saturday's march in full battle dress for their parts in the continuing drama at Colfax and Broadway (I was unable to attend). Hickenlooper and Hancock have seemed determined to draw the line by not allowing tents, repeatedly removing the occupiers camping gear, food, and medical supplies, but allowing them to sleep on the sidewalk for the last few days despite the 11pm to 6am curfew .

Tactical error by police
After the marchers approached the west steps of the Capitol and were repulsed, they moved down to their camp on Broadway. There police seem to have made a tactical error by driving two motorcycles up on the grass and into the crowd. After an occupier shoved the back end of the second motorcycle, he was chased down and arrested. (Video from DenverOccupy)

This led to the officers being surrounded by occupiers with the police then using pepper spray and guns with pepper "bullets" on the crowd. The occupiers backed away and the police moved back to the street.

Here's a second point of view on the motorcycle takedown




More from SenorMysterioso on YouTube:

Senor goes on to say:

October 29, 2011. Occupy Denver. Police fight with protesters in Civic Center Park. 

This video starts right after police stormed into the park to pull a tarp out of a tree. Police tackled a man and a woman to the ground. Protesters became enraged about the force being used.

I removed my original description because of threats. I was objectively relating what I observed and experienced but some people were angry so I will just let everyone watch for themselves.

Yet another point of view of the inside action

Live feeds

I was able to find 4 live feeds of the action while it was ongoing. 9news seemed to have commandeered the DOT camera (note watermark on screen grab) from atop the light pole on the southwest corner of Colfax and Broadway.

Other feeds included Ustream's StandUpDenver, occupydenvernow, and occupydenver303. You can search around at Ustream to find their recorded streams.

Police action at Occupy Denver today

From StandUpDenver via Ustream at 3:24pm:

Live feed of Occupy Denver standoff on 9news now

http://www.9news.com/video/9newsonline.aspx

Occupy Denver from SenorMysterioso

Denver Public Works & Denver Parks and Recreation Announce Free Broken Branch Drop-Off Sites for Denver Residents

DENVER, CO ­— October 27, 2011- Bring your broken branches to one our three free drop-off locations in Denver for quick disposal. Only branches will be accepted at these sites and all branches will be recycled into mulch.

 

All sites will be accepting branches starting on Friday, October 28 (tomorrow) through Sunday, October 30 from 10am-4pm. Proof of Denver residency is required.

 

Broken Branch Free Drop-Off Sites:

·         Havana Nursery: 10450 Smith Road – enter off Havana Street 

·         Barnum Park North:  3144 W. 6^th Ave –east side parking lot - access via 8^th and Federal

·         Kennedy Softball Complex:  3398 S. Kenton Street – NW parking lot of the Complex off of West Dartmouth and South Kenton

 

Please remember:

·         No tree stumps will be accepted

·         No commercial contractors

·         No professional landscapers

·         No private haulers

 

Disposal of tree branches as part of regular trash collection:

·         Branches must be no larger than 4 inches in diameter, and they must be cut into lengths of 4 feet or less, bundled and tied, and weigh no more than 50 pounds.

·         Bundled branches can be set out with regular trash on your scheduled trash collection day. For more information about branch disposal visitwww.Denvergov.org/Trash

·         Branches set out with regular trash collection will not be recycled.

 

OCCUPY DENVER REQUESTS SOLIDARITY FROM CITY COUNCIL, PRESENTS OVER 10,000 PETITION SIGNATURES.

Denver police call in heavy equipment to remove igloo 10/25/11

Over the past few days the city has issued its initial price tag for Occupy Denver. They say they spent an exorbitant amount, over $365,000. That is enough money to put most of the homeless folk that they forcibly evicted from the "tent city" in condos for a year and still have money left over to provide Occupy Denver with electricity, portapotties, and heat for the winter. At the very least, that money could have been used for creating jobs or community building. According to Mayor Hancock’s office, the money was allocated as follows: Denver Police Department - $237,000. 
Denver Sheriff's Department - $116,000. 
Denver Health - $10,000. 
Public Works - $1,300 
Environmental Health - $500. We are told that the tents were taken down for safety reasons and that they set a dangerous precedent. We are concerned about the safety of the homeless population as well as the Occupiers as winter encroaches. We question the state’s demands for “safety” as we recall a massive police presence, and the treatment of non-violent protesters over the last week, and many others who find themselves without a safe place to sleep at night.

This week it was announced that the Mayor seeks to ban all downtown camping. Currently, the 16th St. Mall is one of the few places in the city where homeless people can legally sleep from 9pm-7am without risking arrest. This ban will make the lives of Denver’s homeless even more difficult. The mayor says, “We only have one downtown. We must protect the vitality of our downtown, the city core.” Occupy Denver is in full agreement with this statement. We must protect our city core, which as we know, consists of many homeless veterans and other citizens who have nowhere else to go. We are also comprised of those who continue to occupy the downtown area in solidarity with the global Occupy movement. Placing a ban on “downtown camping” would attempt to hammer the final nail into the coffin of the Occupy movement in Denver, by making it illegal for anyone to sleep on a sidewalk, which is where the Occupy Denver exiles are currently situated. Mayor Hancock's website states, "He believes in bringing different groups together to find common-sense solutions to complicated challenges, and he believes that by working together we can build on our past and create a world-class city of tomorrow, because We are all Denver." We invite the mayor to follow through with his commitment to find a common sense solution to this complicated challenge, by addressing his concerns directly with Occupy Denver. This is not a debate over tents. We are focused on being allowed a platform by which we may legally express our grievances.

With this in mind, we would like to draw to the state’s attention, that as promised, we have obtained over 10,000 signatures on the petition to end arrests at Occupy Denver. We urge the city council to pass a resolution of solidarity with the Occupy Denver movement, and to push the Mayor and Governor to allow us to occupy throughout the winter. We urge the Mayor to grant a waiver of city ordinance to Occupy Denver members to allow us to resume our occupation without arrest.

Let us help you. We are all the 99%. By working with us on these issues you will have the support of the people. When this occupation movement succeeds, corporations will be paying their fair share of tax revenue, generating more income for state infrastructure, education, and policies to improve the quality of life for all Coloradans. This protest, this Occupation, is an act of free speech and peaceable assembly, protected by the United States Constitution, and the First Amendment has no curfew. In Los Angeles, the Mayor passed out ponchos to occupiers and the homeless. Hundreds of police officers in Albany refused orders to dismantle the Occupation in upstate New York. Many other cities have given up on trying to suppress this movement by force, we urge Denver to follow suit.

Occupy Denver is holding a rally & march this Saturday October 29th, 12PM @ The Civic Center Park. Join us.

Police body language at Occupy Denver

Crossed arms

I've been to the Occupy Denver site a number of times, and I can't help but notice the body language  and individual actions of the police there. This photo (from Kelsey Whipple of Westword) says it all.

On Saturday, within the first 15 minutes of my arrival, I witnessed three different uniformed Denver bicycle police spitting on the sidewalk. The third one happened just a few feet from me, so I walked over to the officer.

"Isn't spitting on the sidewalk against the law? I asked of the spitting officer. He said "No" but his partner laughed and said "Yes". I looked down at the large, wet goober lying on the sidewalk near his foot.

"I think it's disgusting, it's bad for your image, and that you should stop." I walked away.

This "image" problem that the Denver police have goes further. From the same Westword (Denver's only real newspaper) article: (emphasis mine)

"The small box shack drew immediate attention from police constantly positioned across the street to monitor the group because its placement blocked part of the sidewalk, Hausner says. "Even the people sleeping on the sidewalks at night are currently in violation of the law, but we're willing to let that one go. This one, we cannot."The fluctuating interpretation of the ruling drew confusion from the Occupy gathering, which was split almost in half on the decision of whether or not to tear down the Thundercube."

So the police get to decide which violations to enforce, and which to "let go".

Given the early estimates ($365,000) of the cost of this "fluctuating interpretation" and enforcement  of the law, I'm guessing that the cost to taxpayers is well over $1 million by now. Isn't it time for Mayor Hancock and Governor Hickenlooper to "let this one go"?

May I recommend that H & H (and the police) follow what is happening in Albany, NY, where the police refused to obey orders to arrest the occupiers?

Meanwhile, Albany County District Attorney David Soares on Sunday said that over the weekend he had conversations with Jennings, Albany Police Chief Steven Krokoff and State Police officials about his concerns regarding prosecution of “peaceful protesters.”
Soares said protests at the state Capitol are common, and historically anyone arrested for trespassing generally faces a low-level charge that’s later dismissed.
“Our official policy with peaceful protesters is that unless there is property damage or injuries to law enforcement, we don’t prosecute people protesting,” Soares said. “If law enforcement engaged in a pre-emptive strike and started arresting people I believe it would lead to calamitous results, and the people protesting so far are peaceful.”
Source: Red Green & Blue (http://s.tt/13BLN)

COLORADO RESIDENTS TO GOV. HICKENLOOPER AND MAYOR HANCOCK: RESPECT RIGHTS OF OCCUPY DENVER PARTICIPANTS

WASHINGTON, DC – Colorado residents are joining a 10,000-strong campaign on Change.org demanding that Colorado Governor Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Hancock respect the rights of Occupy Denver participants to gather at Civic Center Park.
Denver resident Sarah Fong launched the online petition campaign after watching police arrest Occupy Denver participants. A growing number of Colorado residents have joined the campaign on Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change.

“I started to realize that the Occupy Together movement was a huge mass of people who decided to do something about the corporate power that has overtaken us,” Fong said. “Because of the size and scope of Occupy Together, and because of its emphasis on democracy, I started to take inventory of the things I could to contribute to the movement in some small way.”

Since the launch of the Occupy Denver campaign on Change.org less than two weeks ago, more than 10,000 people have added their signatures. Several other Occupy Together groups in cities across the U.S. have since created their own campaigns on Change.org to defend participants against attacks by local officials.

Live signature totals from Sarah Fong’s Occupy Denver campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-of-colorado-and-mayor-of-denver-stop-the-occupy-denver-arrests

Live signature totals from a similar campaign by Occupy Colorado Springs:
http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-bach-allow-occupy-colorado-springs-to-use-acacia-park

Journalists interested in contacting Governor Hickenlooper or Mayor Hancock’s public relations staff should try:

For Mayor Hancock:

Amber Miller

Phone: 720.865.9016

amber.miller@denvergov.org

For Governor Hickenlooper:

Eric Brown

Phone: 303.866.6324

eric.brown@state.co.us

Holly Shrewsbury

holly.shrewsbury@state.co.us

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

Poet

DPD Raids Squat, Support Needed

UPDATE:
Posted on October 24, 2011 by denverabc

Sunday afternoon a squat in the Jefferson Park Neighborhood of Northwest Denver was raided by over a dozen officers from District 1 of the Denver Police Department.

Witnesses report that the raid was very violent, with at least 8 officers repeatedly beating one of the arrestees, and eventually using paramedics to sedate them while they laid face down, bleeding, in the street.

Four people were arrested, one being sent to a hospital in an ambulance to receive medical care. As of Sunday night, three of the arrestees are facing 2nd degree Burglary (a class 3 felony) and $10,000 bonds. The fourth arrestee’s charges remain unknown because she is still hospitalized. All four have been active participants of Occupy Denver.

How to Help
Contribute to our bail fund! Contact DenverABC at DenverABC@Rocketmail.com for information on how to donate to the fund.
Courtroom solidarity! Bond hearings will be Monday (10/24), 10am, at the Van Cise- Simonet Detention Facility (Colfax and Delaware).

Future hearings will be posted on denverabc.wordpress.com

The first solidarity action will be Monday (10/24), 5pm, at the Van Cise facility.
Stay in the loop for future solidarity actions and opportunities at denverabc.wordpress.com. We are also on Twitter and Facebook. Also request to be on our announcement list by emailing us.

Occupy Denver on the march again (10-22-2011)

I was hoping to have my live-streaming video online today, after testing on the Mall yesterday (see the new tab above). However it was not to be, but I went anyway and shot the video above. I would encourage you to view the entire video. For one, you get to see who is actually in the crowd marching down the mall. Many of the marchers look like middle-class citizens rather than hippies or the homeless as is often stated. And the speech at the end is worth watching. Sorry I didn't get her name, but the First Lady is quite an emotional speaker. Everybody in the 99% is suffering, and they are finally waking up! I took off before the music started (which was really what I wanted to shoot) so I could get back and get this out.

Breaking news:
At about 7:00 pm this evening a group of about 50 protesters came by my place going south on York St. Drums and hollering were prevalent, and most seemed to be dressed in dark clothes. The Denver police followed the group in about 10 police cars. I assumed they would turn west and go down Colfax, so I grabbed the camera and drove west on 16th Ave. in an effort to get in front of them.

All of the traffic from Colfax, now closed by police cars at every intersection, was being diverted to 16th, leaving me stuck in a traffic jam. Police cars, marked and unmarked, were everywhere, including leap-frogging the jammed up traffic with lights flashing. Try as I might, I couldn't get in front of the protesters on their way back to Civic Center Park, but I did see them walking calmly on the sidewalk at Ogden St. The over-whelming police presence made me think the cops were anticipating some sort of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE! OMG No! Send in the troops, we can't have that.

One thing for sure, the police reaction is very expensive. Their aggressive coverage of this evening's protester foray made me think they were itching for something to happen. Just sayin'.

Occupy Denver meets with Mayor Hancock 10-18-2011

Adrienne Anderson Memorial Service

Adrienne Anderson, longtime environmental activist who worked with labor unions, low income and other neighborhoods affected by industrial pollution, Denver neighborhood associations, the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, and a host of organizations on behalf of environmental justice, passed away on September 7, 2011, after a five month battle with brain cancer. A memorial service and celebration of Adrienne’s life is planned for November 6, 2011, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Altona Grange Hall, #127, 39th and Nelson Road, Longmont, Colorado, just east of North Broadway (Hwy 36) in Boulder. Adrienne’s friends, supporters, and coworkers are invited to share light refreshments and remembrances and to honor her life. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the college fund set up for her daughters at the Public Service Credit Union. Checks may be made out to Erin and Sarah Smile and sent to them for deposit at 306 Peery Parkway, Golden CO 80403.

With Anderson’s death, Colorado lost a courageous fighter for environmental justice. Adrienne worked with many environmental organizations in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon. Her projects ranged from improving services provided by electrical utilities to rural communities, to protecting Pinon Canyon from encroachments by the US military, and to fighting contamination of farmlands, watersheds, city parks and lakes with toxic and radioactive wastes. Though environmental work is always tough, Adrienne never shirked from really hard tasks. While it is relatively easy to take on less controversial causes such as wilderness protection, energy policy, general air and water quality enforcement, and global warming, it is an entirely different matter to challenge defense contractors, Denver Water, and the corporate establishment of Colorado. Adrienne was an activist with the Toxic Alliance Campaign when she came to Colorado. There, she helped to publicize the failure to truly protect workers from plutonium contamination, and the subsequent failed clean up of the remains of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Plant. Her most celebrated campaigns began with the Friendly Hills neighborhood in Southwest Denver. Unusually high cancer rates were discovered there near the Martin Marietta plant, especially among young children. Cancers were associated with Martin Marietta’s practice of pumping effluent from production of rocket fuel into aquifers and pipelines serving the area’s water supply.

After being appointed by Mayor Wellington Webb to the Denver Metro Wastewater Reclamation District Board specifically to represent worker and union concerns, Anderson uncovered a massive cover-up of ground and surface water contamination by rocket propellants in suburban southwest Denver by Lockheed-Martin, and ground water contamination by toxics and radio-nuclides from Rocky Flats and other sites. These toxic materials were being illegally dumped into the Lowry Landfill, whose effluent enters the Platte River and leaches into aquifers providing water to the Denver Metro area. While the city of Denver has always claimed that there has been no plutonium contamination at Lowry, it is undeniable that the Lowry landfill received toxic materials from Rocky Flats, Coors, and other corporate entities. Workers with Metro Wastewater sued under the OSHA because they had no protection against the contaminants that were being flushed into the wastewater system at Lowry Landfill.

Anderson was asked to serve as an expert witness in the case. Federal whistleblower Judge David W. DiNardi of Boston fully vetted Anderson’s documentation of radiation at the Lowry Landfill and found it “most credible” and “well-founded.” Comparing her to top whistleblowers like Erin Brockovich and Karen Silkwood, he ruled in her favor on every issue before him. His ruling was subsequently reversed by Bush appointees in the Department of Labor on a technicality. The contamination against which Anderson fought continues in the Denver area.

Judge DiNardi’s analysis and a series of articles in the Westword by Eileen Welsome remain the most thorough discussions of Anderson’s work. Welsome’s articles won a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting, and provide detailed analysis and key documents that substantiate the full range of Anderson’s controversial claims about radioactive material that was dumped at the Lowry Landfill and now is being clandestinely removed.

Anderson often ended up on the losing end of tough fights. She was repeatedly vilified publically and threatened by those whose crimes or duplicity she attempted to expose. Thugs threatened her in front of her home. A public relations firm was hired to smear her. Newspapers and media campaigns impugned her intelligence, her work, and her morals. And pressure from politicians and corporate donors to the University of Colorado—the same corporations whose actions she had sought to uncover—caused her to lose her job as an instructor in environmental ethics and environmental research at CU, where the content and balance of her classes and her pedagogy had received the highest ratings for teaching excellence for a dozen years. Not long after Anderson’s dismissal from CU, the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center hired her as the foremost investigative environmentalist in the Rocky Mountain region to continue her fight against pollutants, especially plutonium and other radio-nuclides. While continuing her association with the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, her last employment was with the LIUNA construction workers’ union, where she investigated potential development sites to assure that they were free from toxic contamination.

Adrienne Anderson was an extraordinarily courageous woman. She never flinched when challenging those arrayed against her. She was a role model as a community organizer and strategist. She was an inspiring teacher who influenced generations of students and future activists. Her passion for keeping families safe went far beyond her duties as an environmental scientist. She fought to keep corporations accountable to all of us so we could have acceptable clean water and a toxin-free environment. She truly did pass her legacy on to her children and all those who work very hard to keep their families safe from contamination. At the time of her death, Adrienne was working with Denver neighborhood organizations to stop the use of recycled water contaminated with Lowry effluents in City parks—resulting in the drowning death of numerous waterfowl—and contamination of playgrounds, schoolyards and recreational areas.

Adrienne Anderson was born on February 10th, 1952 in Dallas, Texas. She grew up in Texas and received her BA in Sociology from Southern Methodist University and her MA in Environmental Sociology from the University of Oregon. She is survived by her two daughters, Erin, 20, and Sarah, 16, and a host of life-long friends, family members, admiring co-workers and supporters. Adrienne never stopped fighting. In 2005, she was awarded the very first Edward Abbey award for support of the environment. In June 2011, just weeks before her untimely death, she broadcast a call on KGNU radio to the public, warning people about the danger of harmful toxins in their water.

Concert and Rally this Saturday 10/22/2011

Last night's activity at #OccupyDenver (9news.com)

And this? Corey gropes a photographer? Looks like they'll try anything to get Corey off the street. He has been a leader by example from the beginning of #OccupyDenver.

From FB: Please come to the Civic Center Park General Assembly Sunday 10/16 @ 3pm! Important issues will likely arise, let your voices be heard! Solidarity!

More #OccupyDenver

It's been quite a week, what with Rep. Wes McKinley up from Cokedale (near Trinidad) to spend 3 days with Occupy Denver. He sleeps outdoors a lot, living the life of ranching, trail rides, and the great southeastern plains of Colorado, so he was right at home. He also spent quite a bit of time behind the scene arranging for the #OccupyDenver open letter to be delivered to the Governor's office (successful) and trying to get the State Patrol to arrange for porta-potties (unsuccessful).

Moi? Not so much with the camping thing. I lasted one night, but the reality was that I had to get back to edit the day's takes. Footage was stacking up at this one-man show. (I need an intern or another fool willing to work for nothing - send resume to Editor@DenverDirect.tv).

I learned about the Governor's press conference (above) just an hour before it started. I had to park 5 blocks away from the Capitol, as the lots and streets were packed. I huffed and puffed my way along as fast as my new titanium hip would allow, and finally arrived, the press conference in progress. I had to flash my Capitol press name plate three times, but finally was allowed into the packed room, a large office with a staging area and with room for about 5 reporters, which meant the 25 of us were standing anywhere we could fit.

Hickenlooper made a number of points (I feel your pain but I have to think of the liability) and Hancock said ditto using language that indicates he thinks the city belongs to him. Attorney General John Suthers was there to read the ordinance.

I went down to the site immediately after the press conference. Upon learning of the 11 pm curfew and impending eviction, the tension level of the crowd went up a notch. One crazy got a little crazier, and another crazy who was "security" had to be brought under control himself by another "security" person who wasn't crazy.

Later, at about 8:00 pm I assembled great internet coverage of the "action" on my computer. I had two overlaping video shots of the east side of Broadway in the sign waving area. A wide shot from the Denver Post building and a close up provided by 9news.com. Kudos to 9 for an excellent picture and for not talking all the time. The interviews were of interest however, especially the point about the Right to Free Speech and Assembly taking precedence over all state, city, and local law, including but not limited to curfews and tent pitching restrictions. I guess if money is free speech, tent-pitching should qualify.

In addition, I had the Twitter feed running - great stuff with participants at all locations of police staging and prep, as well as scanner monitoring - coming in at about 5 per minute. I also found Mike Rosen at KOA doing a live audio feed from the site. The 4 track total immersion kept me going until 4 am.

Then, further explanation from Hickenlooper today:

DENVER — Friday, Oct. 14. 2011 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today released this statement about the events last night in Lincoln Park in downtown Denver:

“The First Amendment and the rights it guarantees for free speech and assembly are critical to our democracy. These rights are what set the United States above all other nations. We also have rules and laws that must be followed.
“Demonstrators in Lincoln Park were told every day this week they could not camp in the park. Yet each day the number of tents grew. Last night, and after multiple requests to follow the law, the Colorado State Patrol intervened. State troopers and Denver police demonstrated extreme restraint and professionalism as they encountered a very difficult situation.
“We owe the Colorado State Patrol a great deal of gratitude for their work. We also greatly appreciate the efforts by state employees from the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Department of Personnel and Administration, as well as the support from the Denver Police Department and Xcel Energy.
“Some people are finding it easy today to criticize the state’s response this week to what is a national movement in many cities across the country. There were numerous jurisdictional and legal issues to work through before a clear course of action could be set. For example, the state does not have a jail nor does the state have direct prosecutorial authority for park violations. We needed the cooperation of other entities and wanted to be very deliberate and thorough in our response.
“In the end, we worked with Occupy Denver to find a resolution that included constructive communication, many people voluntarily leaving the park, no violence and minimal arrests.
“We understand the frustration voiced by demonstrators about the economy, the loss of jobs and dysfunction in Washington. That’s why we are intently focused on economic development in Colorado. Just this week the state saw two global companies make significant investments in Colorado that will add jobs and momentum to business development efforts happening throughout the state.
“This kind of economic news doesn’t solve all of the issues raised by demonstrators this week, but it does show we all want the same thing: a healthy America where everyone can prosper.”

What will be the result of Hickenlooper's decision to boot Occupy Denver out? We'll just have to wait and see.

Controversial Parks Admission Policy Retained

Editor's note: Our parks; available for rent to money-makers but not to the people for protests.

By Dave Felice

Despite a significant lack of interest by event organizers, Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) is keeping its policy of allowing private commercial operators to close parts of parks and charge admission to events. Opponents call for the policy to be rescinded under the administration of Mayor Michael B. Hancock.

What was to be a first-year policy evaluation by Parks Finance Director Fred Weiss turned out to be a few brief comments by Interim Parks Manager Dody Erickson. At a meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Erickson acknowledged there had been no requests for commercial events during the initial year of the policy.

Erickson says the Parks staff doesn’t know why no commercial operators applied for permits. She says there may not have been enough time to plan events, the fees may be too high, or the event criteria might be too restrictive. Proponents of the policy had claimed there was great demand for closed commercial events and the city would reap significant revenue from such events. If there are no requests after the current commercial permitting period begins in December, “we will try to determine the reasons,” says Erickson.

Read more »

Two live feeds now covering Occupy Denver 11:29 pm 10-13-11

http://www.9news.com/video/9newsonline.aspx

http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/10/live-camera-view-of-the-occupy-denver-protesters/

Hickenlooper, Hancock: Park may be cleared tonight

Governor Hickenlooper and Mayor Hancock announced at an 11:30 am press conference today at the Capitol that all people may be cleared from the park at 11:00 pm tonight by State Troopers, assisted by Denver Police if necessary, in accordance with the law, and in the interest of public health and safety.

See also: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/10/13/governor-mayor-to-address-occupy-rally/
and http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/29475029/detail.html
and http://www.kdvr.com/news/politics/kdvr-occupy-denver-protests-put-hickenlooper-hancock-in-a-quandry-20111012,0,1965021.story
and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/occupydenver-gov-hickenlo_n_1009550.html

Occupy Denver delivers letter to Gov. Hickenlooper's Deputy Chief of Staff, Kevin Patterson

24-hours at Occupy Denver with Colorado Rep Wes McKinley

When I first told Representative Wes McKinley that "Occupy Denver is camping in your backyard", he responded with enthusiasm and started plans to join the movement.

Yesterday, Corey and an OD crew helped him get set up. Later, we had a dinner of rice and beans, attended parts of the GA, and met with Patricia Calhoun of Westword, who came over to visit with Wes.

After the GA, a group with a car-battery operated amplification system - Mute Man's Microphone - played with an open mic.

When we retired to the tipi, we found two Indians (First Occupiers?) guarding our tent. We had never met these guys but they took it upon themselves to sleep near the door of the tipi as our guards. I was impressed.

McKinley slipped into his bedroll like a glove. Much to my amazement, he was sound asleep in 5 minutes. I have to admit, I envied him as I tossed and turned most of the night. The band, the traffic, the honking, the partying and the incessant background city din - I wished I had taken my earplugs.

And later that night:

Will this happen in Denver?

I believe that the growing tent city at Occupy Denver (Colfax and Broadway) is at risk. The Occupiers have been told that they may NOT set up tents but they continue to do so. Because this area (Capitol grounds) is controlled by the State (and the State troopers), I assume that Hickenlooper has allowed the current situation to continue. Trying to shut this down now would bring more negative publicity to Denver than allowing it to continue. If only we had a visible Governor (or any other elected offical) who would step up to the plate and announce his support for the Occupiers. I know, I'm dreaming. (see also http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/occupy-wall-street-occupy_n_1003276.html)

From OccupyDenver Facebook page 12 hours ago: If you're ever on the ground at the occupation and the police attempt to shut it down or illegally confiscate property of the occupation, tweet, facebook and text for assistance like crazy. Likewise, if you get notice of this happening... get to the occupation a.s.a.p. and stand in solidarity, if you can. Thank you!

MEET ALL THE CANDIDATES AND WATCH FORUMS AT www.DENVERDECIDES.ORG AND ON DENVER 8 TV

Community Partnership has full array of Candidate Forums and Introductions available online and on TV.

The Coordinated Election is fast approaching and ballots are set to arrive soon. Now, Denver Decides, a community partnership for accessible and transparent elections has fully updated its website with all the candidates, community forums and ballot issues.

Denver Decides has captured numerous public events where candidates faced-off in community-based forums around the city. Each program in the series is available for viewing online at www.DenverDecides.org and will be shown on the City of Denver’s municipal television channel, Denver 8 TV, up until Election Day.

Read more »

Initiative 300 - Paid Sick Days for a Healthier Denver

from http://greaterparkhillcommunity.com

By Rev. Daniel Klawitter

My wife and I have lived in Denver for the past dozen years and in Park Hill for nine of those years. I love Denver and the Park Hill community. It has been a particular joy to get to know the many different neighborhood restaurants here and across the city, and I always try to treat restaurant workers with respect and dignity. After all, these are the folks serving us our daily food and trying to support their own families in a tough industry.

So it’s hard to see some of my favorite waiters and waitresses coming into work sick because they can’t afford to miss a day without pay. But Denver voters will soon have the chance to make Denver a healthier place to live by voting yes on Initiative 300, the paid sick days ballot measure. Nearly 108,000 Denver workers - 41 percent of the workforce - do not have paid sick days. Most of these are lower-wage workers who are forced to go into work sick rather than risk not being able to make ends meet at the end of the month or even losing their job.

Read more »

In case you were wondering...

how Occupy Denver survived yesterday in the rain, check out these great vidies by JoeCoolNV:

Anonymous take down of Wall Street a psy op

BREAKING EMERGENCY UPDATE:

Warning: The Operation #invadewallstreet HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. Do not participate.

People may still hack NYSE. They will do it at their own risk.

Message from AnonyOps Twitter: WARNING: To ALL people! DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN #invadewallstreet AGENT named hypotenuse has infiltrated AnonOps IRC.

http://pastebin.com/P5C3hdiG
Confirmed psy op.

Please spread.

Occupy Denver - Day 13

NYPD White Shirts in action again tonight

Declaration of the Occupation of New York City

As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.

As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.

They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.

They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses.

They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.

They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.

They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices.

They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions.

They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.

They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.

They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.

They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.

They have sold our privacy as a commodity.

They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.

They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.

They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.

They have donated large sums of money to politicians supposed to be regulating them.
They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.

They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit.

They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.

They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.

They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt.

They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad.

They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.

They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.*

To the people of the world,

We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.

Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.

To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.

Join us and make your voices heard!

*These grievances are not all-inclusive.

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