Flobots warn crowd to not let Rush Limbaugh's riot dream come true

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 27, 2008 at 1:49 p.m.
Updated August 27, 2008 at 2:43 p.m.

Text size  

• 8 Comments
• Email
• Print

Photo by Javier Manzano © The Rocky

The Coup raised the energy as several bands, inlcuding the main show, rage against the machine, were part of a large organization, headed and organized by "Iraq veterans against the war". The Coup, another music band will head a protest to Civic Center Park after the concert.

Video: We talk to the Denver Police Chief and a concert goer outside the Rage Against the Machine concert at the Denver Coliseum. Watch »

Photo by Preston Gannaway © The Rocky

The Flobots perform at the Denver Coliseum on Wednesday in Denver.

DENVER COLISEUM — The Flobots, as always, elevated the crowd with their hit Handlebars, especially its crescendo warning of the danger of unbridled power being able to turn the world to a holocaust. Then the band went into its uplifting Rise, leaving the crowd of 9,800 thrilled.

But in between those songs, rapper Jonny 5 (James Laurie) warned the crowd about their own power.

Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh was widely quoted as it would be his "dream" for Denver to have riots during the DNC. Jonny 5 told the crowd the worst thing they could possibly do was to make that dream come true.

There's a march scheduled to go from the Coliseum to the Pepsi Center after Rage Against the Machine's 2 p.m. set, and he urged the crowd to be peaceful, respectful and non-violent, to loud cheers from participants.

• August 27, 2008

  2:25 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  LingLingfor_prez writes:

  Rage Against the Machine, but just don't have too much rage that you destroy property and hurt people. Ok...

• August 27, 2008

  2:28 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  I_am_smarter_than_you writes:

  My dream is for that fat Nazi gasbag to have a horrifyingly painful heart attack, arrive at the Pearly Gates, and be quickly told that he was an awful person that has no chance in hell of getting into heaven. That's a good dream.

  Oh yeah, and we have a big party!

• August 27, 2008

  2:29 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BroncoRick69 writes:

  Its going to be a bloodbath. The cops are waiting outside the coliseum for any fool to even look at them funny. They have been waiting for this for a long time. I really hope the cops have enough self-restraint to not shoot anyone. maybe even listen objectively? Eh, I didn't think so.

• August 27, 2008

  2:36 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  hikingartist writes:

  It may be beyond perception ling, but anger is an emotion that can, and should, be channeled to a positive outcome.

• August 27, 2008

  2:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  jay writes:

  the cops reacting to "yelling" is completely different than the way they should react to people "throwing crap at them".

  don't you agree, shaggy?

  i've been downtown for several protests and everyone has been largely well behaved...on both sides of the lines.

  i think the far right wing hopes of massive violence and unrest just aren't going to come true this year...at least not in denver.

  which brings an interesting point...which is how ironic it would be if they had to reap what they sowed in minneapolis

  let's hope they don't get what they wished for....in either city.

• August 27, 2008

  3 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  RightDownTheMiddle writes:

  That's a pretty long walk from the coliseum to the pepsi center. I personally would be too tired to riot....

• August 27, 2008

  3:12 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Mark Brown writes:

  I'm glad to see that people who aren't here at the Coliseum seem to know the mood of the crowd and police better than those of us actually here.

• August 27, 2008

  3:41 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BrandiWine_84 writes:

  Rush publicly talks about his "dream" of destructive things happening to the city I love. He says that he would ideally like to see "burning cars, protests, fire, and literal riots and all of that, that is the objective here." Riots are harmful - People get hurt, things get destroyed. What kind of person hungers for riots? Oh yeah, the kind of guy who makes fun of people with Parkinson's Disease, who says disrespectful and inflammatory things about soldiers and veterans, who breaks laws to obtain drugs to feed his addiction. Really gives conservatives a bad name.

  Go FloBots! What a talented band with a Message! They contribute to my local pride, for sure!
  "a threat for a threat leaves the whole world terrified
  blow for blow never settles the score
  word for word it's time need clarify
  We the people did not want war"

Featured

• Legislature Blog

  

  Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.

• Rocky multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.

• Who's next?

  

  Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.

• Rocky year in photos

  

  View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.

• Winter Escapes

  

  Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.

• Sam Adams' Open Mic

  

  Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs

• Shanahan's career

  

  See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.

• 12 days of Drew

  

  Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.

• A dream fulfilled

  

  A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production