Re-create 68 spinoff has big plans
By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published June 18, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Photo by Preston Gannaway / The Rocky
Zoe Williams, left, Duke Austin, center, and Jojo Pease speak Tuesday at City Park about the Alliance for Real Democracy.
A new coalition of protest groups promises free concerts, art displays, classes for activists and a "massive" anti-war march during this summer's Democratic National Convention.
The Alliance for Real Democracy is made up of 12 groups, many led by activists in their early 20s and 30s.
Organizers said Tuesday their nonviolent events will urge an end to the war in Iraq and raise awareness of "the global climate crisis."
The alliance is open to people of all ages, but will especially target young people. It also plans to invite convention delegates to the events.
"This is as much a part of the process as going to a very formal convention," said Jojo Pease, an organizer with Students for a Democratic Society.
Some of the groups were previously affiliated with the Re-Create 68 Alliance, but split off after a disagreement over tactics.
Re-Create 68 has promised demonstrations that will rival those at the notorious Democratic convention in Chicago held in 1968, which was accompanied by street battles between police and anti-Vietnam War demonstrators.
Members of the Alliance for Real Democracy wouldn't talk Tuesday about Re-Create 68 or the split.
But they released bylaws that say the group "will not use or return violence - verbal or physical - toward any person or other creature," and will not damage property, bring weapons to protests or use illegal drugs or alcohol during events.
Re-Create 68, meanwhile, has said that if confronted with violence by police, members will defend themselves.
The Alliance for Real Democracy includes groups such as CODEPINK, the Green Party, Tent State University, the Denver International Socialist Organization and Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Members declined to say how many people they are expecting at their events, and some details - such as dates and locations of concerts - have not been finalized.
The anti-war parade is scheduled for the Sunday before the convention, which starts Aug. 25 and runs through Aug. 28 at the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver.
The concerts will include a guitarist who played in protest of the Vietnam War during the 1968 convention in Chicago, as well as a local hip-hop group, according to organizers.
Among other events planned is an "aerial image," in which thousands of people will use their bodies to form a message to release detainees at Guantanamo Bay and to stop torture, said Zoe Williams, a member of CODEPINK, an anti-war group whose name is a play on President Bush's color-coded terror alert level.
burnetts@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5343
The lineup
The Alliance for Real Democracy is planning free concerts during the Democratic National Convention. Among the featured artists:
* Wayne Kramer: His group, MC5 (Motor City 5) played an eight-hour concert in Chicago's Lincoln Park at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
* Flobots: Denver hip-hop group also has a nonprofit organization aimed at volunteerism and activism.
* The Coup: Self-described "funkateers" ran into controversy when an album cover, created three months before 9/11, depicted the band setting off an explosion in the World Trade Center. The label pulled the cover.
* Blue Scholars: The name is a play on "blue collar." Their music includes themes of youth empowerment and challenging authority.
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Holiday Lights
Is your house the jolliest on the block? Submit your holiday lights display.
-
Holiday Gift Guide
Looking to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season?
-
Mount Crushmore
Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's midweek rant on the Chiefs.
-
Broncos Video
Get the latest from Dove Valley as the Broncos prepare for Sunday's matchup.
-
Calendar wallpaper
Download this month's desktop wallpaper calendar
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Stirrin' the Soup with Matt Iseman
-
The Rocky @ 150 Years
Read the Rocky's coverage of Colorado's cannibal, Alfred Packer, in 1886.
June 18, 2008
12:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
get_a_grip writes:
I think I read this article about a year ago. Oh, thats right, it was about that other group, Recreate 68. Aren't they the ones planning an anti-war march on Sunday before the convention and bringing music acts from around the country.
This new group sounds really creative. Hey let's give them an A for effort though, they are, after-all, not Recreate 68 or Glenn Spagnuolo for once. Maybe that's it, the other left wing-nuts want their name in the paper too. So sad the lack of solidarity amongst the left. And they wonder why Republicans keep winning.
Maybe they are fooling us all, this does sound exactly like the same thing Glenn and the other moonbats have been planning for awhile, that would be just like him to think we are all stupid and he can pull the wool over our eyes. Let me guess what's next, a nude peace sign, renaming the parks, ignoring legal permit holder's rights, maybe they can try to stop someone else's parade, what else has Recreate 68 done already? What is that Spagnoodle, we don't believe you are non-violent so you went and formed a front group. Tricky, Tricky. Nice try!
June 18, 2008
4:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
With the scale back of plans due to fundraising problems for the Democratic National Convention, sounds like the real party is on the otherside of the fence. Beads, LSD, and Jesus...oh, and don't forget the Vietnam baby killers, Jane Fonda sitting on that North Vietimease artillary piece while our soldiers were dying. Yeah, let's truly recreate '68..., I'm sure there are some veterans still around with a score to settle with those who digraced thier service to this nation. Hinkenlooper makes a poor Mayor Daley.
June 18, 2008
4:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
Hope both sides truly show up and work out the anger of 1968 once and for all. My dentist loves me...I have a lot of issues I'd like to resolve, where do I get a ticket? I wonder if it'll get real like it did in the joint back in those days. Will the protesters have long hair? Ya, lets all do this, it sounds good; make it a gladiators arena. Lets sling steel...damn if I couldn't get rid of a lot of baggage and pain...I don't support any party, I just want to party!
June 18, 2008
4:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
You know, "Recreate '69" writes this big check of intimidation, what if there were enough Americans to cash it? I sat with many a Vietnam vet, was raised on an strategic airbase in 1968, this country has a debt it can never repay those who served and returned to the ridicule of thier nation people. Does "Recreate '68" really want to stir this dark cauldron of bloody memories? Why?
June 18, 2008
5:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
"..so your brothers found a gag, and they chained them to chair, won't you please come to Chicago...", Graham Nash.
June 18, 2008
5:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
drkenne writes:
Don't you think it might be about the "spirit of 68" when people really cared enough to demonstrate and have their collective voices heard? I don't disagree that returning soldiers were treated poorly durning the Vietnam era. Now it's time to support the troops and work to bring them all home NOW. The long term damage that this administration has inflicted on the military and this country has to stopped/reversed. The billions wasted on Iraq could be spent to boost the economy, provide health care, invest in alternative energy, the list goes on. The money can also be used to honor those who serve by providing better benefits (education and health) when they return. We have yet to see the full cost of this trumped up war Bush and his bumbling busload of bozos got the US into.
June 18, 2008
5:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
Oh_Wise_One writes:
"Some of the groups were previously affiliated with the Re-Create 68 Alliance, but split off after a disagreement over tactics."
Tactics. Hmmmmm. Since Glenn thinks we are all stupid and is supreme ruler, what could that possibly mean.....
June 18, 2008
6:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
You know after the rumble, we can all get naked like Woodstock, change our names to Wavy Gravy, and wait for the Butterfield Blues Band to soothe our cuts and scrapes...maybe one day like ole Wavy own a chain of restaurants to show how capitalistic we really are. Where do I get tickets?
June 18, 2008
7:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
sheepherder writes:
Looks like everyone is breaking away from R68! Thats awsome! Glenn and his ilk are really not welcome, go cause your problems somewhere else!
June 18, 2008
7:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
sheepherder writes:
Looks like everyone is breaking away from R68! Thats awsome! Glenn and his ilk are really not welcome, go cause your problems somewhere else!
June 18, 2008
7:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
LingLingfor_prez writes:
"The Alliance for Real Democracy includes groups such as CODEPINK, the Green Party, Tent State University, the Denver International Socialist Organization and Iraq Veterans Against the War."
Ok, so if they disagreed on tactics, must have been pretty bad with this lineup of socialists. No wonder they are playing with the helicopters.
June 18, 2008
12:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
SockRayBlue writes:
Dear Recreate '68,
I'm just writing this quick note to let you all know that any hijinks similiar to the 1968 Democratic convention will not be tolerated by Denver residents. You are all too young to remember the issues of the day back then. Your life has been made immeasurably easier because of the changes made to society since then. So if any psuedo-hippies want to cause a problem in Denver I'm sure the local residents will clean the streets with your butts long before the police and military show up. Think long and hard about your intentions and your role in life.
June 18, 2008
5:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
drkenne writes:
You know the student protest of the 60/70's helped end the war sooner and empowered other groups (women, seniors, gays, disabled) to speak out and march for justice and equality, and the right to be heard. Granted the civil rights movement provided the blue print. I remember the issues of the day back in the 60's quite well and think it was an exhilarating time in America. A real time of change and great awakening. If I recall, it wasn’t the student protesters who actually started the riots during the 68 DNC. They just responded to the unjust actions of the Chicago police.
It’s still about change, and equality. The right to dissent and still be patriotic. The right to question and hold politicians accountable. I don’t condone violent protest, but encourage peaceful protests and the right to dissent, and the right to vocalize opinions. After all, America's birth began with protests against injustice. Sometimes I wonder if we’ll wake up someday and realize the liberties and freedoms earned with blood of patriots and defended by soldiers are no longer there because they slowly eroded in the name of protecting America.
June 28, 2008
6:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
7_ogNiOj writes:
"I sat with many a Vietnam vet, was raised on an strategic airbase in 1968, this country has a debt it can never repay those who served and returned to the ridicule of thier nation people."
Yeah, LOU, we, i.e. anti-war wing nuts, can hardly repay their killing millions. Thanks a ton.
June 28, 2008
6:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
7_ogNiOj writes:
I don't know which part of privileged Denver you're part of, SockRayBlue, but everywhere I know *will* most certainly tolerate the protests. In fact, I believe Denver will be rather pissed once it sinks in that the Feds, via the DPD, are using the DNC protests as an excuse to militarize our city (using R68 as the next WMD.) I've been here all my life and one thing Denverites and westerners generally have always valued is privacy. Giving a $50 million dollar slush fund to the Stasi in Colorado isn't going to fly for long.