After arriving at Denver airport I was picked up by kossack NMred's granddaughter. I can not express my gratitude in words appropriately, let me simply say to NMRed "Thank you"
Next, I met up with Colorado is the Shiznit, another wonderful kossack whom I love. We travelled down to OccupyDenver with Shiz, a liberal navy vet and a Republican friend. We all had our eyes opened in a good way.
On my first night at #OccupyDenver it was frozen. Snow fell and I was not dressed appropriately. Having lived in Colorado for a few months last year I should have known. Exhausted from days of travelling I decided to say hello to some of the occupiers and take some pics and video before going to bed. I slept for more than 3 hours that night, my first real chance to sleep anywhere other than on a flight in over a week.
When I woke up the next day there was more snow on the ground. After writing a diary and showering and shaving (and cutting myself with the razor) I went back down to the Colorado capital building where the protests are being staged across the street. There I met a young lady who is involved in the protests. We had lunch and she got me up to speed on the technology side of #OccupyDenver. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag but they are doing some impressive stuff. After a nice vegetarian lunch at we went back to the protests, and that is where I met Crunchy.
Crunchy is a chef and an entrepreneur. He is in his mid 20's and he will be opening his own restaurant (yup, he's a "Job Creator) in Denver soon. He has been involved with #OccupyDenver since Oct 19, 2 days after the protests in Manhattan kicked off! Crunchy told me about the two occupiers who suffered hypothermia in the cold last night and how a determined volunteer medical team worked tirelessly to keep occupiers healthy and safe. No one was seriously injured, thankfully. Crunchy is half African American, half Scottish, and he told me in his own words when I asked him how they were dealing with the Colorado weather, "I'd rather be a frozen free man than a warm slave."
Crunchy feeds everyone, homeless, business men, he doesn't care. We talked about the #ows movement and shared a few laughs about working in the restaurant industry, and then we walked back to the #OccupyDenver protests.
Then 3 dozen police officers arrived . . . .
More below the fold
A homeless veteran of foreign wars had set up a tent after 10pm. Oh the audacity! Governor Hickenlooper has decreed that the 1st Amendment right to freedom of assembly only counts until 10pm, at that point protesters must move their tents to the street away from the park. One man objected. 3 dozen police responded. When they first told the vet that if he did not leave they would evict and arrest him he refused and screamed out "OAKLAND!!!!"
So the police ripped him from his makeshift home. Someone in the crowd called out a MIC CHECK and said "We are Occupy Oakland! We are Occupy Denver! We are Occupy Together!"
I asked a Denver police officer why he would not allow me to video tape the arrest. He said it was none of my business. I told him that I came from NYC to report this news. He told me to go back to NYC.
Another officer who I talked to told me he was cold. You could tell that he didn't want to be there. When the police know this is bullshit you know that we are winning.
After arresting the veteran and throwing him in the back of a police car face first, belly down with his hands cuffed behind his back protesters screamed "HE IS A VET! HE FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY!" Then we decided to march around the capital building. I noted a municipal building with the words "Liberty and Justice for all" written above it's doors. Sad irony.
Afterwards we convened at the General Assembly and I was allowed to speak to the crowd. I called for a moment of silence in honor of Oakland, then I spoke of non violent civil disobedience. I am a big fan of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson and the others who have followed in their footsteps.
Soon after I met up with kossacks ColoTim and UUView. Exhausted physically and emotionally ColoTim and I went to a drinking liberally event for a pint and dinner, and then I retired to his place for some much needed rest.
Now I am in Chicago. I will be heading down to the protests shortly. I apologize for my lack of participation in the comments, but rest assured, I will be back later to reply with mojo in hand.
Now here is my question; when did it become illegal to be homeless in America? When did it become acceptable for police to use swat team violence against unarmed protesters? And how do we reform our corrupt economic and political systems. This is the conversation I want to have.
What kind of screwed up country would prefer that people suffer hypothermia than sleep in a tent?
I find it the height of frustration that while President Obama was only a mile away, American men and women are marching in the street for economic justice. I hope President Obama hears us.
Peace and love to all. Power to the peaceful.
Here is the rest of my travel schedule. As of now I intend on returning to Manhattan and #OccupyWallStreet after this trip, but who knows, plans change.
Oct Thurs 27 - Chicago, Illinois
Oct Fri 28 & Sat 29 - Washington D.C.
If you'd like to support my travelling journalistic road trip, please consider making a donation to WeAreTheOther99%'s media fund
Peace and love to all.
Be a better person to your brothers and sisters around you.
You can follow me on the series of tubes they call Twitter @JesseLaGreca