Anarchists promise to sit out DNC — with a catch
By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 28, 2008 at 5:13 p.m.
Updated July 28, 2008 at 5:13 p.m.
A group of anarchists that plans to disrupt the Democratic National Convention is promising to go away if the $50 million federal grant that Denver received to pay for convention security is invested in the community instead.
"As anarchists, we feel the greatest problem with government is how its primary interest is to protect the profits of those in power, even when it comes at the expense of the general public," Clayton Dewey, an organizer with Unconventional Denver, said in a statement.
"Spending $50 million dollars on weaponry to attack people voicing their opinion and flooding the streets with riot police while schools close down, children go without health care and people lose their homes is exactly the problem with the corrupt two-party system we're opposing this August," he said.
Unconventional Denver is the local organizing body of a national network of anarchists who are mobilizing against the DNC, said Tim Simons, another organizer.
Simons said the group's offer to sit out the convention if the city, the federal government and the DNC all agree to "redirect" the $50 million to things like health care is not a publicity stunt.
"We understand that it's farfetched, but it's a sincere offer, and the goal of doing this is to really show what our priorities are," said Simons, who grew up in Boulder and recently returned to the metro area, where he has family, to help plan the group's efforts.
"Again and again, we're asked, 'Why are you protesting?' We're protesting because the priorities of this country are so perfectly exemplified by the DNC," he said. "It's about militarizing our communities and protecting big business. We're about health care, schools, basically meeting people's basic needs."
Should the group's offer be accepted, "they will call off all protests which include street parties, rallies, marches, protesting fundraisers and nonviolent direct action aimed at disrupting what they're calling the 'spectacle of a sham democracy,'" the group said in a statement.
Simons said the group doesn't do demonstrations, which he called a symbolic act to get media attention.
"We're going to physically stand in the way of what's going to happen," he said.
"The anarchists who are interested in confronting the Democratic National Convention are interested in doing more than just marching. We're interested in disrupting the spectacle of the DNC," he said.
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July 28, 2008
5:23 p.m.
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sheepherder writes:
Simons is a moron. The reason they have to spend the money is because of groups like his who advocate violence. They wouldn't have to have a police presence if it weren't for people like him. The cops will be there to protect the peaceful protestors from him, and other thugs like him.
July 28, 2008
5:28 p.m.
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Cowboy63 writes:
I got a better idea. Why don't the police just keep the money and be sure to bust punks like this at every opportunity.
July 28, 2008
6:07 p.m.
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RoadtoPurgatory writes:
The classic paradox. Without civilized society, cretins like this would have nothing to protest.
A little anarchy could become useful in their permitting process, with the caveat that imprisonment is indeed, rather anarchic.
July 28, 2008
6:16 p.m.
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Arioch writes:
"Unconventional Denver is the local organizing body of a national network of anarchists..."
You're doing it wrong.
July 28, 2008
6:23 p.m.
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Creative_N_Denver writes:
If the police are ill prepared then the convention should be held somewhere else. Or have the organizers of the convention add the costs to their budget. What happened to getting the reserves to help offset the needed support. That kind of grant money could be put to better use. Hopefully the protesters will do it peacefully!
July 28, 2008
6:23 p.m.
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Miss_Kitty_Kat_Girl writes:
Simons said, "We're going to physically stand in the way of what's going to happen".
And if I physically stand in your way of standing-in-the-way, what will happen to me and my group?
The police are not just going to"attack people" because they're voicing their opinion, they'll attack if you're in my face antagonizing me from voicing my opinion.
July 28, 2008
6:42 p.m.
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GILPINMAN writes:
Crap cannons are a great idea, so are tent city jails, most of the $ will be fore DPD overtime and paperwork. Those idiots will destroy denver just like they did in seattle. they created a mess or the city, I was there at the time and they were there just to protest the protesters and didn't care what side who was on. they were breaking glass on buisnesses for the hell of it. I think alot of people will end up in jail "rightly so" I think i should put a tv in my shop and invite some people to watch. I'm surprised it's not on pay per view.
July 28, 2008
6:47 p.m.
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Mike846 writes:
Anarchists? Organizing Committee? Uh...isn't that a sort of oxymoron? It never ceases to amaze me that people who owe this country everything get involved with idiots like these. Its sort of like Barack Obama saying "This is the greatest country in the world; now lets all work together to change it." (or words to that effect) Forget the no-details platitudes, the no specifics plans and all the rhetoric about "hope" and "change". If the Dems take the White House and Congress, the only change you're going to see is higher energy costs, higher taxes on your personal income (don't believe that "tax only the rich" stuff, they'll hit everyone in the interest of "fairness"), higher health care costs to somehow provide coverage for the imaginary 40 million "uninsured" (try to validate that number anywhere unless you count illegal aliens) and higher amounts of intrustion into your personal liberties. And, God forbid, we are attacked again with them in power, they'll take measures that will make the Patriot Act look like a set of minor traffic rules. Woodrow Wilson did it; Franklin Roosevelt did it; Harry Truman did it; Lyndon Johnson did it. Real your history before you vote, folks. Mike
July 28, 2008
6:48 p.m.
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Mike846 writes:
How about "read your history". Darn I hate looking illiterate. LOL. Mike
July 28, 2008
7:34 p.m.
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Shut_it_down writes:
Dear Miss_Kitty,
If you think the police won't arrest you for simply voicing your opinions, you obviously have not had much contact with them. Police will in fact arrest you for voicing your opinions, even if done in a legal, constitutionally-protected manner. Lest we forget the examples our own history puts forth: those involved in the civil rights movement in the 60's were repeatedly arrested, beaten and brutalized for non-violently voicing their opinions.
And to Mike846,
The idea that anarchy and organization are compatible is in no way an oxymoron. In fact, the only 'moron' in the equation would be you kind sir for lacking the intelligence to think outside of your preconceived, indoctrinated ideas about what each term truly embodies. The lack of an oppressive government in no way hinders the ability of people to organize themselves, although that is what they'd like us to think. Anarchy is not chaos. In fact, I'd venture to posit the question "When has the world seen more chaos than it has at the hands of governments who wage countless wars and murder and exploit the poor and working-class people of the world in the interest of appropriating wealth?"
July 28, 2008
8:06 p.m.
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Cowboy63 writes:
Shut_it_down - Sorry, buddy.
Definitions of anarchy on the Web:
a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Mike846 is exactly right. "Anarchists" such as these who despise government, yet are more than happy to step into the gap and tell YOU how to live are not anarchists at all. Just another case of "meet the new boss - same as the old boss".
We'll have some nice comfy holding cells for them. Enjoy the convention.
July 28, 2008
8:26 p.m.
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Shut_it_down writes:
Cowboy63 - Sorry sweetcakes!
Despite the fact that some institutions (many of them capitalist by nature) propose one definition of anarchy as such, one need only use one's own capacity to analyze the etymology of the word.
"Anarchy" comes from the ancient Greek ἀναρχία (anarchía) from ἀν meaning "no, not" and ἀρχός meaning "authority, ruler".
There is no implication from the word itself of any chaos or disorder; simply the lack of ruler or authority (i.e. government). That certain people or institutions attach extra meanings and implications while defining the word, is wholly separate and irrelevant.
But hey, thanks for playing!
July 28, 2008
8:37 p.m.
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tunaman65 writes:
This is going to be fun......to watch.
July 28, 2008
8:44 p.m.
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Yankee writes:
How about if instead giving you the $50 million we just print up some really cool "Unconventional Denver" t-shirts for with a nice picture of Hicks on the front?
How many of you are there?
July 28, 2008
8:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Arioch writes:
"There is no implication from the word itself of any chaos or disorder...."
- Sure there is. No government means everyone is free to do exactly what they want, and as a species, we're not advanced enough to collectively mind our own business. Until we're all a lot more mature, a complete lack of government equals disorder.
"...simply the lack of ruler or authority (i.e. government)."
- Which is an extremely fragile state. True anarchy lasts until somebody realizes he wants something that someone else has, and remembers that he has bigger muscles. Then it's just a short stroll from anarchy to petty despots all over the landscape.
July 28, 2008
9:14 p.m.
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Cowboy63 writes:
Any way you cut it, these "anarchists" seem just as adept at extortion as the forces they rail against. I'm pretty sure they will accomplish exactly what all the other anarchists have accomplished before them - nothing. Well at least they will "feel" like the did something and I'm sure that's all they truly want. I don't think these garden variety hotheads have any idea what true anarchy would look like. (Afghanistan, perhaps?)
Hey! Here's a "radical" idea for you... Take a shower and get a job.
July 28, 2008
9:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
cooperjtd writes:
"Spending $50 million dollars on weaponry to attack people voicing their opinion and flooding the streets with riot police while schools close down, children go without health care and people lose their homes is exactly the problem with the corrupt two-party system we're opposing this August,"
Again and again, we're asked, 'Why are you protesting?' We're protesting because the priorities of this country are so perfectly exemplified by the DNC," he said. "It's about militarizing our communities and protecting big business. We're about health care, schools, basically meeting people's basic needs."
I think the guy makes some good points. By their own admission, the group is putting the proposal out there to draw attention to the warped sense of priorities the government has. If he was part of the boy scouts doing the same thing, people would be honoring him, but instead he is part of a group with a bad stigma to narrow minded people.
So why all of you people out there argue the meaning of anarchist/anarchy, or make simple minded quips, maybe you should actually take into consideration the actual purpose of the demonstration. I know I’d rather put money into the schools and healthcare. But that’s just me.
July 28, 2008
9:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
sldfkd writes:
I don't like the idea of no security...but neither do I like the idea of 50 million being wasted on security. Seriously, is that really necessary? I would think that 1 million would be much more than enough. I would really like to see some of this money redirected to other more profitable things. Maybe we could even replace that awful Wadsworth interchange at Hwy 36. That would be something I'd much rather see the 50 million go to.
July 28, 2008
10:33 p.m.
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timeandagain writes:
I just wonder if Simons and Dewey live in Highlands Ranch like that toolbag Glenn Spangnuolo?
July 28, 2008
10:57 p.m.
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tfooq writes:
I'm so happy someone is pointing out the absurdity of the $50 million "security" funds that each the DNC and RNC have received. A little speech-censoring back scratching that is just the most obvious problem with our two party system.
Neither party is going to get us out of this mess. They are both there to maintain the status quo (except for a few minor superficial changes).
If $100 million to suppress free speech does not make America a police state, then what does? Where exactly is that line? Do you know all the good you could do for people with $100 million? People are facing some terrible times, losing their houses and running out of money just to get to work, and our government spends that kind of money on suppressing speech in public streets?
If you don't help these brave protesters, at least support them. They are really putting themselves on the line for you. The police will hurt them if they don't have the support of the people.
July 29, 2008
12:31 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Wow, now they want to blackmail the city; spend the money the way we decide or else. Whatever happens to our city, remember the people who brought them here.
July 29, 2008
4:42 a.m.
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NeilT writes:
So most of you are cool with $100,000,000.00 of public money being spent on a couple of private parties?
And drop the post 9/11 B.S. Will a crap cannon incapacitate a commercial jet?
July 29, 2008
5:57 a.m.
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Alive writes:
If those anarchist girls don't start wearing bras, they will be sporting flap jacks before they are 35.
Isn't that what really needs to be addressed here? Wake up people!