Protesters 'will not say uncle to system'

Allison Bruce, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 24, 2008 at 12:15 p.m.
Updated August 24, 2008 at 12:34 p.m.

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CIVIC CENTER – While glossy, preprinted signs were in abundance Sunday, there were plenty of hand-crafted signs in protest of the war or in support of abortion rights as well. Some solo protesters circulated with their signs, making their own message heard away from the bullhorns and microphones.

Amelie Starkey of Mountain View carried a sign she painted with green paint on cardboard. It read, “Respect the Iraqi People. Pull Out!”

“If I had more room, I would have said, ‘Pull Out Now!’,” Starkey said.

A member of the Denver Peace Community, she said she has advocated peace for more than 35 years. She wanted to make her own non-violent protest, if only “so that I can live with myself. That I am present to say, ‘No,’” she said.

She said the police dressed in their black uniforms outnumbered the protesters when she first arrived at the park. She hoped things would remain peaceful.

On her shirt, it read: “I’m not disturbing the peace. I’m disturbing the war.”

C.J. Ferguson, a 14-year-old from Parker, picked up a sign made out of cardboard with its message printed out on paper and stapled on.

He picked up the sign because it read, “Imagine Democrats who won’t attack or invade other countries.” He planned to carry it around with him all day.

His mother, Ivy Ferguson, said the family wanted to participate in the convention activities and show support. She said her son picked up the sign because of fear of a future draft that could land him in a war he doesn’t want to fight.

“I want to finish school and go to college,” C.J. Ferguson said.

Den Mark Wicher of Vancouver, Wash., was distinguishable by his green “Justice” flag carried on a tree branch with its leaves still attached. The word on the flag matched the tattoo on the inside of his right arm.

Wicher has taken the flag to hundreds of protests. This was the third generation of that flag – the first was seized by police in Portland.

He said he likes to bring the flag because no matter what the issue is at hand, it all comes back to justice or a lack of it.

He said he almost didn’t attend the convention, but changed his mind.

“I’ve been at this since 1960 – this kind of thing,” he said. “So far, I’m not sure what I have accomplished ... But I will not say ‘uncle’ to the system. I’m not going to go away.”

• August 24, 2008

  1:29 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  The_Punnisher writes:

  " She said the police dressed in their black uniforms outnumbered the protesters when she first arrived at the park. She hoped things would remain peaceful. "

  I suggest that the LEOs complete the black uniform.

  This would be an appropriate badge and title:

  http://www.nazi.org/library/nazi_imag...

  Their behavior at the beginning of this farce demands it...8-/...

• August 24, 2008

  3:35 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  h8r writes:

  Speaking of farce, how about the dozens of protesters at the rally? Man, what a turnout! What if they had a protest, and nobody came?

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