Woman says 'no reason' for 15th Street arrests
Paul A. Anthony, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 25, 2008 at 9:14 p.m.
Updated August 25, 2008 at 9:42 p.m.
Tim Hussin © The Rocky
Denver surround, mace and detain protesters at 15th and Court.
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Police disperse protesters and media from the the 1400 block of Court Place.
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Photo by Marie Griffin © The Rocky
Protesters are circled by swat teams on 15th street at 7:30p. on Aug. 25, 2008.
Photo by Brian Lehmann © The Rocky
Police surround a group of protesters after an impromptu demonstration near Civic Center Park on 15th street Monday night.
15TH AND CLEVELAND — Police are arresting as many as three dozen anarchist protesters on 15th Street, while a protester who said she was sprayed in the face with pepper spray said police fired on the crowd without warning.
Barbara Spagnuolo, wife of Re-create 68 co-founder Glenn Spagnuolo, said her husband and fellow co-founder Mark Cohen negotiated the release of some 300 protesters detained for nearly an hour on 15th Street, but that between 35 and 40 protesters were being arrested and taken for processing at specially created courts for the Democratic National Convention.
"They negotiated the release of everyone that was on the sidewalk" at the time police closed in on the running group affiliated with anarchist group Unconventional Denver, Spagnuolo said, "but the people in the street, they are still there."
The march started about 7 p.m., with a group of anarchist protesters marching arm-in-arm down Bannock Street outside the City and County building when a line of police officers fired at the first line of marchers, said Amanda Hubbard, 31, a Denver resident who was in the front line.
"As we approached the police ... they opened up and sprayed us," she said. "No provocation. No reason. No warning."
A sizable group of protesters continued to mill around 15th Street and Cleveland Avenue after 9 p.m., awaiting word on the remainder of the detainees, though the crowd has largely dispersed.
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August 25, 2008
9:25 p.m.
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Oh_Wise_One writes:
"a group of anarchist protesters marching arm-in-arm " hmmm.... could this have been the reason? naaa... they were little anarchist angels.
August 25, 2008
9:43 p.m.
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mountaingoober writes:
"a group of anarchist protesters marching arm-in-arm " does not threaten anyone.
August 25, 2008
9:50 p.m.
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bosunj writes:
mountaingoober wrote: "a group of anarchist protesters marching arm-in-arm does not threaten anyone.".....
.......except that fascists who have seized power in America and the jack booted nazi robocop thugs unsure of their manhood....
August 25, 2008
9:52 p.m.
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denverrma writes:
What are these people protesting? Is the RMN going to include this information in these type of articles? If these groups are just 'anarchist' groups, then yes, they should be hauled off for public disorderly conduct or inciting a riot. RMN, as your photog's and reporters are out there, please get a couple words from those handcuffed and arrested. Im all for going to 'warehouse jail' for a cause, but let your voice be heard as you are being hauled off!
August 25, 2008
9:54 p.m.
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mountaingoober writes:
this is what "they" call "shock and awe". Straight out of the "The Shock Doctrine" by N. Klein.
August 25, 2008
9:59 p.m.
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chronic writes:
ahh .. the smell of capiscum in the night air.
August 25, 2008
9:59 p.m.
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mountaingoober writes:
RMAnderson: You said "If these groups are just 'anarchist' groups, then yes, they should be hauled off for public disorderly conduct or inciting a riot." Since when is it illegal to be an anarchist. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics (defines anarchy) as "the view that society can and should be organized without a coercive state." This is just a political viewpoint that can and should be acted on if this is what you believe.
August 25, 2008
9:59 p.m.
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raoul writes:
is this part of the Dem's big tent?
August 25, 2008
10:03 p.m.
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Eli writes:
Both sides are exaggerating a bit. The protesters were somewhat aggressive...blocking the streets and antagonizing the police. At the same time, the police did seem to overreact a bit- they were very quick to start using mace and start shooting rubber bullets into the crowd. There was another protest yesterday where police at least issued warnings before using any force...no such warning was given at this protest.
August 25, 2008
10:11 p.m.
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GladysKravitz writes:
i have seen these shmendrix up front 2x, in San Fran and Seattle. This is my city too, and as much as I am for free speech there is also law and order. And if these anarchists think they do not have to abide by traffic law and basic common courtesy by blocking the right of way or MY right to get home from or to work, I welcome the police to get them onto the sidewalks. And if they don;t comply, they get arrested. One thing I will not tolerate and am pleased so far that it has not happened, is vandalism and destruction of public and private property. It has happened too many times by these types of protesters and thus we have to keep it check.
August 25, 2008
10:14 p.m.
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7_ogNiOj writes:
And again...who is it that perpetrates violence in this situation? Is it the anarchists? No. The bystanders? No. If you answered police, you're correct. Blocking an intersection, holding arms, chanting, etc., do not warrant pepper spray, mace, or rubber bullets.
This just shows that the DPD is *still* completely incompetent when it comes to dealing with crowds. Act first, think later: motto of the thug.
August 25, 2008
10:18 p.m.
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timeandagain writes:
Wait. Was this on Lark Sparrow Lane? What were Glenn & Barbara Spangnuolo (Highland's Ranch most impressive residents) doing there? This was in DENVER, not Highlands Ranch...
August 25, 2008
10:22 p.m.
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rage_against_the_stupid writes:
The hippies' children and grandchildren are now acting from the same script that was written in the Vietnam era (40 years ago). Unfortunately, they were never told what they are protesting for or against. It's sad-
August 25, 2008
10:23 p.m.
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GladysKravitz writes:
So 7_ogNiOj , would you prefer that the "anarchists" disrupting traffic get run over or hit by a car because they are not following basic traffic laws?
I dunno where you live, but although pedestrians have the right of way, that does not mean they can block mine either. Maybe you prefer that they eat tire tread, asphalt and pavement. Pray that pepper spray, rubber bullets, and minor bruises are the all that happens, than broken bones or worse.
August 25, 2008
10:25 p.m.
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MattGuyver_007 writes:
But they are dying to try out their new toys and the 'Warehouse Jail'. Seemed to be an easy target... 'Anarchist' sounds much more dangerous than 'Greenpeace'.
August 25, 2008
10:54 p.m.
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7_ogNiOj writes:
Gladys, I've been down there and seen how traffic is stopped by these actions. First, they don't just run out into traffic going 40 mph. Usually it's stopped traffic or a few people wave drivers down. Besides which, as a driver, you should be aware of pedestrians to begin with, especially with the number of people downtown at the moment, and everyone has as far as I can tell. Would you pepper spray and non-protester pedestrian because they jay-walked? So, the argument of getting pepper sprayed being a better alternative than getting run over just doesn't quite wash.
Now, on to the
August 25, 2008
10:57 p.m.
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7_ogNiOj writes:
pepper spray being better? Have a look at the health hazards of the chemical agents the state uses on its citizens for crowd manipulation. I don't think you'll find anything harmless, short and long-term, about them.
August 25, 2008
11:09 p.m.
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GladysKravitz writes:
7_ogNiOj this is more than 40 or so people jay walking...they are dead stopped in the middle of intersections. They are breaking the law. If they don't want to get pepper sprayed...don't break the law by standing and demonstrating in the middle of an intersection.
It has not yet risen to the worse levels, but when i was in SF when the damned war started, similar types of protesters did worse, by ripping sidewalk news racks and trashcans out and throwing them into the lanes of traffic. And I even saw an older woman run her car into them because of destructive behavior.
Demonstrate all you want, scream yell at the top of your lungs, but keep it the sidewalk, shout profanities, get mad, and stay out of car lanes of traffic. I would hate to see someone get hit by a car no matter how "slow" they are driving.
August 25, 2008
11:15 p.m.
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GladysKravitz writes:
and this is not simply JAY WALKING....it is deliberate demonstrating in the middle of traffic to stop and disrupt the right of way of normal traffic.
August 26, 2008
12:12 a.m.
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EZBakeOven writes:
The anarchists words and actions beget these reactions. Don't like it? Stay in the 'burbs!
August 26, 2008
12:27 a.m.
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mtnrunner2 writes:
I held my hand over this fire and got burnt, no provocation, no reason, no warning.
August 26, 2008
12:32 a.m.
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GladysKravitz writes:
they are just a bunch of angry meshuginahs!
Let me share that I have participated in my share of marches for causes that I've supported. And never...NEVER.... have I or any one of my friends, ever resulted in destructive behavior and always abided by the rules of the road.
August 26, 2008
12:39 a.m.
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sheepherder writes:
Cart em all off! They disrupted traffic so they could make their point...this is our town! Punk anarchists should all be locked up!
August 26, 2008
12:46 a.m.
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EZBakeOven writes:
Headline: Woman says 'no reason' for 15th Street arrests
Yes, we're just innocent little bunnies, so I just don't understand why the police brutes are being soooo meeeaaaannn! Wah! Where's my cell phone so I can call my mommy?
August 26, 2008
3:40 a.m.
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jay writes:
my wife and i were down at the scene this evening when this "event" took place.
we were within inches of the folks being carted away and am happy to say that neither side of this "conflict" got out of hand.
the protestors made their points, received the "mandatory" arrests and the authorities provided these services with the utmost respect and efficiency.
it couldn't have been scripted better.
literally.
at times, i thought there were more photographers than protestors.
August 26, 2008
7:09 a.m.
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Mike_In_Hartsel writes:
Jay, you hit it squarely. It's all one big show. When we see blood running down faces and teeth lying in the street we'll know the show has gone live and unscripted.
August 26, 2008
11:38 a.m.
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blu_boi writes:
Anarchists believe that individual rights trump government power. The government does not agree, hence the pepper spray. The anarchist now know that the government controls the people, the people do not control the government.
August 26, 2008
12:17 p.m.
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MacInDenver writes:
I took some photos there last night. You can see them here: www.flickr.com/photos/wackomaco/sets/72157606896508370/