Protesters camp on eve of parade

Columbus events stir demonstrators to join with Indians

Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, October 7, 2006

American Indians and their supporters peacefully came from the four corners of the state Capitol and the city and county building to camp out at Veterans Park Friday on the eve of Denver's Columbus Day Parade.

And as if to give its blessing - for logistical reasons - the state's Division of Central Services decided on Thursday to extend the permit so that the organizers opposed to the Columbus Day parade could set up their giant teepees and tents in Civic Center and stay overnight.

The permits initially granted were only from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, and Denver and state authorities had indicated they were going to enforce the permits' hours.

"We didn't ask for (the extension)," Glenn Morris, American Indian Movement of Colorado organizer, said. "They unilaterally gave it to us."

Morris said even had the state not extended the permit for their overnight stay, his backers would have defied the authorities saying AIM received their permits to camp out from the elders of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and the Tetuwan Oglala Lakota Band.

"This document grants the endorsement and permission of the traditional headsman, and other leaders of traditional societies of the Northern Cheyenne Nation to members of the American Indian Movement of Colorado and its allies in their actions, including but not limited to, marching and establishing a spiritual, educational and cultural camp, to be held on Oct. 6 and 7, 2006, against the Doctrine of Discovery and Columbus Day, in the traditional Cheyenne territory, now illegally occupied by, and known as the city and county of Denver, Co.," said Morris as he read the permit while participants applauded in approval.

According to an e-mail sent to the organizers, the central services division decided to let the protestors camp overnight to avoid the hassles of having to pack up their tents and belongings on Friday night and return today.

However, by late Friday many of the 400 marchers, who converged on Veterans Park, had left but planned to return this morning to protest the parade.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Colfax Avenue and Court Place and ends at 14th Avenue and Broadway.

The participants came from all directions to the park, which made up the "4 Directions All Nations March; Transform Columbus Day."

About 100 participants marched, escorted by police motorcycle officers, from the city and county building, and headed east on 14th Avenue carrying white flags where they met decked-out patrons visiting the new wing of the Denver Art Museum. Eastbound traffic snarled briefly as they stayed behind the marchers.

Meantime, another 200 protesters marched east on Colfax Avenue to Veterans Park carrying black flags. Another group came west on 14th Avenue holding yellow flags and a fourth group came east on Colfax Avenue holding up red flags.

They gathered around the Veterans Park monument where they sang and danced spiritual hymns and prayers in their Indian languages. Incense from a group of Aztec dancers permeated around the monument.

Some Indians came from reservations outside Colorado to protest the parade. Kristen Antone, 38, was hosting relatives from Pine Ridge, S.D., who wanted to demonstrate. Antone brought her 8-year-old son, Julio, and 13-month-old daughter, Alexia.

"They teach you that Columbus discovered America and they make him sound like he was a great person," said Antone who blamed how Columbus' history is taught in schools. "They don't tell you about the things that happened to Native Americans by Columbus. They don't tell you we were already here. I want my children to know that if they believe in something that's not true or right then they can do something about it." Morris said organizers already are planning to mobilize against next year's parade.