Press Conference Denounces Cop Attacks

The overbearing police presence at a Tuesday press conference calling
out police violence shows just how determined the state is in
suppressing protest at the Democratic National Convention. The night
before, the police began to push people out of Civic Center Park. 
Wearing riot gear, the police disrupted a permitted gathering, using
the reason that they were looking for someone putting a bandana on
their face, the police started kicking and pushing people around. Even
though it is not illegal for someone to wear a bandana on their face in
Denver, the police continued to use physical violence.  Then the people
started chanting “No Justice, No Peace!” which made the police really
mad.

The cops used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets on the youthful protestors.  People ran from the park towards downtown to get away from the police.  Between 250-300 people were detained on the sidewalks.  At least 88 people were arrested.  People who were just walking along the sidewalk were also caught up in the detentions.  Back at the park, permit holder Carlo Garcia was arrested confronting Larry Phelps, the homophobic reverend whose “church” members protest at the funerals of soldiers, who had shown up to disrupt the gathering.  Phelps was allowed to stay. A Code Pink member was hit in the chest with a baton and arrested after inquiring about Garcia.

Glen Spagnuolo, of Recreate 68 said at the press conference that there will be no more negotiations with the police.  “It doesn’t mean that we will be confrontational,” Spagnuolo says. “Any violence that will occur in this city will [be from] the police.”