catscradle

Sunday I took the lightrail downtown to check out the DNC activity as the delegates and protesters had their first full day in the city of Denver. When we first got there, the feeling was laid back. Everyone, including all of the protesters, were very polite. The only tension came from the police force and as the day progressed the more the tension mounted. You can find them everywhere in full riot gear and armed to the teeth. You can also catch secret service roaming about talking into their sleeves. Yeah, they seriously really do that.

( Check out the pictures beneath the cut tag )

I'll be going back down there tomorrow to join the Procession for the Future Puppet March sponsored by the Alliance for Real Democracy, Tent State and various other groups. If I'm not arrested, I'll post more pics...

I've been immersed in the start of the summer quarter for both schools I work for, to explain why DNC updates are a bit touch and go right now. Here's what's been in the news the past few days:

If you're coming to Denver to protest at the DNC, you might want to leave your bike at home. Proposed Ordinance Restricts What Protesters Can Carry - The Denver police chief claims that they will not arrest people with bikes and pad locks, but folks like the ACLU and Recreate '68 maintain that the way the rule is written, technically the police can arrest them.

So how many police will be out there? Well, at Least 900 Officers will be brought in to help at the DNC - This is in addition to the regular police force that will be here. There's not been a number published of actual police that will be on the streets yet. In addition to the police, there will be nearly a million dollars worth of surveillance camera's installed around the city. This of course brings joy to the hearts of the people of Denver. We'll be keeping those cameras after the convention.

For those wishing to start their criminal justice careers in Denver this August, you can forget it. There's a hiring freeze on all positions of authority and medical personal right now.

The last bit of news isn't about the DNC, but the election. Denver has decided to nix the voting machice and go back to the paper ballot. Take THAT Diebold! The last Congressional election was a miserable disaster here. The Mayor ended up paying all the parking tickets for the people that had to wait in long lines.

More as it comes in...