March to Pepsi was large, loud, under control
Allison Bruce, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 27, 2008 at 8:38 p.m.
Updated August 27, 2008 at 8:39 p.m.
PEPSI CENTER – Today’s march that followed the Tent State Music Festival at Denver Coliseum and marched through the streets to Pepsi Center to call for an end of the war was large, loud and under control.
A lot of that control could be attributed to the march marshals, who kept the crowd of thousands moving and gaps from forming in the procession, but also made sure the crowd stayed focused on the topic at hand and didn’t push beyond what they were legally able to do.
The march organizers had worked out with police how the protesters would march to Pepsi Center and gave the entire crowd in the Denver Coliseum instructions on how to march and kept stressing that the march would be nonviolent.
As they marched, marshals in florescent vests reminded the group that they needed to stay on one side of the street or not push beyond the banner in front that read “Support GI Resistance.” Those holding the banner followed behind Iraq Veterans Against the War.
“We want to keep the crowd focused on the event and prevent violence,” said Bob Hays, a marshal from College Park, Md. He said there were about 90 marshals from Iraq Veterans Against the War and another 40 or 50 from other organizations.
Hays is a member of Students for a Democratic Society who has been helping with Tent State this week and also will volunteer at the Republican National Convention for Funk the War.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
August 27, 2008
9:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
drkenne writes:
Freedom of speech and non violent protests. Democracy in action. Thanks to all who marched in support of this just and worthy cause. Never surrender our constitutional rights.