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Re-Create 68: An Overview of What's To Come
Beginning on Aug. 24, the day before the Democratic National Convention officially begins, protesters from all over the world intend to make their voices heard loud and clear.
A week long series of protests have been organized by "Re-Create 68," a name which organizer Glen Spagnuolo says was chosen for its effectiveness in drawing attention and capturing a lost spirit.
"We knew that Recreate '68 was a provocative name, but we were very clear that we didn't call ourselves Recreate Chicago '68," Spagnuolo says, referring to the violent clashes between protesters and police. "In 1968, there were mass movements. Young people felt like they could actually change their government. Now, people have gotten so apathetic that they'd rather sit home and watch 'American Idol.' "
After suffering a defeat along with the ACLU in filing a free speech lawsuit against the so-called "Freedom Cage" - a penned-in location designated for protests well away from the Pepsi Center, where the delegates and actual convention will be - Spagnuolo is still very determined to make sure their voices are heard without their rights being trampled.
"We're saying we're not going inside that freedom cage, and we expect to be able to go to the Pepsi Center. We're going to push that limit." he says, "No American should be put inside of a cage and told that's where they're free."
However, reassures Spagnuolo, they will be adhering to a strict code of non-violence and peaceful protest, and have posted on their website a list of ten "Mutual Assurances" from all involved with their organization promising to behave themselves.
"There's a section of Re-create 68 that are more militant minded than other sections. But we've agreed that we are going to tamper down our militancy and act in a nonviolent way because right now nonviolence is the best weapon afforded to us," says Spagnuolo. "Violence is a fool's game. All it does is destroy the message."
All of this seems to be arriving at a boiling point, which both sides are equally bracing for. The Denver Police and City Council have their doubts. They’ve been spending a $50 million dollar security budget to set up a secret arrest processing center to house detainees. Denver has also been bringing in hordes of extra police, and has passed an ordinance barring squirt guns - which officials say can be filled with urine or noxious chemicals to use on police. They have even outlawed buckets, accusing event organizers of threatening to smear themselves with human feces in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Event organizers volunteered to withdraw all protests and vacate the city if the money designated for security was put to use in municipal applications such as education and health care. The city turned that offer down.
Spagnuolo remains obstinate in the face of the swelling circumstances, maintaining they are only observing their constitutional rights.
"We've said this time and time again. Do not blame us for the confrontational situation that is being created by this government and this local administration. We have tried everything we can to make our protests as legal and as nonviolent as possible, but the city has taken every step they can to make this a confrontational situation," insists Spagnuolo. "We don't want this confrontation. We want to be able to exercise our rights as peacefully as possible. But when they're creating a situation where they're training every day for violence, when they have the national guard put on call to come out and surround the Pepsi Center … you ask me about confrontation? You should be asking the city about it."
Beginning on Sunday, Aug. 24 at 9 a.m. the steps of the capitol building in Denver will host the "End All Occupations at Home and Abroad rally". Speakers will include Fred Hampton Jr., son of the slain Black Panther Leader, Ward Churchill, a prominent author and long time activist, and Ron Kovic, whose life and book Born on the Fourth of July was the subject of the Oliver Stone/Tom Cruise film. The rally will kick off with a performance from revolutionary hip-hop group and thorn in the side of authority Dead Prez and David Rovic, and will conclude back at the state capitol with a performance from Seattle-based conscious hip-hop duo Blue Scholars and Jim Page. Also recently added to the bill are the nominees for the Green Party presidential and vice-presidential ticket, Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente, much to the chagrin of the Green Party of Colorado - who has threatened to disassociate itself from them by canceling a fundraiser and even revoking their lodging accommodations. This is the first of five major rallies planned for the convention.
LINK: For more info visit www.recreate68.com
LINK: Are you going to the rally?
A few years ago Tacoma artist Jeremiah Maddock flew the coop for Brooklyn and the rest, as they say, is history. Maddock turned heads with solo shows in New York City, San Francisco and Milan.
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