DNC, August 27, 2008.  Please pardon the poor quality of the picture - we (we; the people’s press collective) only took our cell phones into the free Rage against the Machine Concert in Denver Colorado because we didn’t think cameras would be allowed. (You can click on the picture for a larger view)  Members of Rage salute members of Veterans of Iraq against the War and the crowd went wild.

After the concert, we marched with antiwar protesters from the Denver Coliseum to the Pepsi Center where “demands” were made to meet with an Obama representative.  Amongst the protester stipulations were the  immediate withdrawal of our troops, reparations to Iraqis, and full benefits and care for returning vets.

We estimate between three and four thousand protesters were involved in the march.  Chants included:

Tell me what democracy looks like - THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!

Tell me what democracy smells like - THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY SMELLS LIKE!

(Really?  Democracy smells like pot and B.O.?  Who knew??!!!)

Spare our brothers

Spare our sisters

We support War Resistors

and

DNC we’ve got you beat

Out of the halls and into the streets!

and

Whose got the power?

We’ve got the power!

What kind of power?

People Power!

and

War Machine?

TEAR IT DOWN!

Capitalism?

TEAR IT DOWN!

Materialism?

TEAR IT DOWN!

(etc.)

Perhaps one of the funniest quotes of the day was a reporter behind us that said “This is the smell of freedom on a hot day - I’m getting whiffs of civil rights all over the place.”

And the clever sign award goes to a group of young men in black bandannas who carried a sign which read “How did our oil get under their sand?”

Again, pardon the poor quality, but I wanted to praise Denver law enforcement and the emergency crews  - these are actually handsome firemen who posed for my “calendar” after the concert.  (It could happen - remember we are trying to “blend in”)  As we’ve been out on the streets and mingling amongst the protesters, radical groups and moonbats, the police have been remarkable.  Even when taunted and harassed by disrespectful idiots (I saw this first hand yesterday over and over) the police have maintained professionalism and integrity.  My kudos to these guys and gals for an extraordinary job of protecting everyone’s constitutional right to free speech and the right to assemble.

The highlight of my day?  Well besides the long soapy shower at the end of a hot, dirty and crowded protest (I’ve never been so happy to take a shower!) I was amused at the nostalgic use of lighters at the end of the concert.  Did the old chick’s heart good.

For more DNC coverage - see peoplespresscollective.org.