Parade organizer critical of low fines
By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 24, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
The organizer of the 2007 Columbus Day parade is glad protesters were found guilty of blocking the event, but he's not happy with the low fines they received.
"How many times could I break the law before I got severely punished?" George Vendegnia, a Denver businessman who organized the parade, asked Wednesday.
The parade has been stopped by protesters every year since 2000, when the celebration was revived. Until Tuesday, however, no protester had been convicted.
A Denver County Court jury convicted protest organizer Glenn Morris of disrupting a lawful assembly. The Rev. Julie Todd was convicted of obstructing passage on a street, and Koreena Montoya, of Denver, was found guilty of resisting arrest and interfering with police.
Morris and Montoya were fined $200, while Todd was fined $100, with $50 suspended.
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January 24, 2008
5:57 a.m.
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plotz writes:
Maybe at the Columbus Day parade, Morris and others well get busted again...and perhaps the court will view them as habitual offenders and give them more than a little fine.
Another thought...the organizer's of the parade should get volunteers to act as protest breakers if the route is blocked again. Arm them with mace, etc. If the police are afraid of offending the policitical sensibilites of the protecter's...let others break them up.
Morris and his ilk can protest all they want, scream, make noise and so on...but when they impede a legal parade...all bets are off. Maybe after a few bruises, etc...they will think twice about doing their stunt again.
January 24, 2008
9:31 a.m.
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sheepherder writes:
Plotz, you crack me up. I would bet my next paycheck that you would be the first one screaming if the cops got "heavy handed."
January 24, 2008
1:29 p.m.
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sez writes:
Well, maybe at the next parade the city of Denver will finally realize this stupid, senseless parade is costing Denver too much money and discontinue it. And if you forgot everyone has a right to protest in America. Also Americans seem to forget that it was the Native Americans who helped you immigrants survive our beautiful land! If you would read about Colorado history you would know that the mountain men wouldn't have survived without NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN! Our people were here before the poor white settlers were murdered. Nevermind the fact the U.S. government tried to commit genocide on our people. Check the history books before you start blabbing your ignorant, racist, hateful, baseless remarks! We can't get anything for free. We have to work for it. But remember we won't get violent first! And real italians from Italy don't even celebrate columbus day. You all just need another reason to hate the REAL AMERICANS!! Oh and please try to disrupt the March Powwow I dare you.
January 24, 2008
2:45 p.m.
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aceves20 writes:
After reading the comments, I was saddened by how ignorant this group of people are. The whole point of the proteste is: Don't celebrate a man who caused so much pain in the lives of Native Americans. Would these same people allow a parade for Hitler? That's how the Native Americans feel. Why not just name the parade, 'American Italian Celebration Day'? I believe that would satisfy all concerned. I hope that the parade organizers compromise. This would go a long way in showing how adult and understanding Italians are.
January 24, 2008
4:36 p.m.
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forwhatitis writes:
First the Italians need to learn that Columbus didn't discover America. That would be a good start.
January 24, 2008
4:40 p.m.
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forwhatitis writes:
Hey, here's a great idea. Next time George Vendegniae files for a permit for the parade, Charge him thousands of dollars to cover the police efforts, court costs, etc. Then, we can reimburse him any unused portions, or any monies recovered from fines (after court costs are paid) for the protesters who are arrested. That would likely put an end to their obvious need for attention.
January 24, 2008
11:04 p.m.
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jbowen43 writes:
Looks like the price of free speech is $200. That's what the parade permit should cost the organizers. $200 X (the number of participants).
JB