tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48100750942942855832024-03-04T21:13:49.169-08:00Columbus Day 07: The Real DealAnna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-23640168538946015682008-01-20T17:36:00.000-08:002008-12-08T15:59:21.572-08:00THE FINAL WORD (FOR NOW) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9swbFjtTLSzLwZbjSM4w2NVVzW6XFkRUfNSbTKbvgPzsVynbNEhG4vezvJhljRUxSSV6UMY0tFcZA3xbhBLnhJ75V-Xhm0JrHqHrNwbzILSUyOnEXsY2CuYLvQB_OtD7xqQw4SZ8SfzvD/s1600-h/aztec.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9swbFjtTLSzLwZbjSM4w2NVVzW6XFkRUfNSbTKbvgPzsVynbNEhG4vezvJhljRUxSSV6UMY0tFcZA3xbhBLnhJ75V-Xhm0JrHqHrNwbzILSUyOnEXsY2CuYLvQB_OtD7xqQw4SZ8SfzvD/s200/aztec.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157739410240090514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The closing arguments in the first round of </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200879192_0">Columbus Day</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> Hate Speech trials will begin at 8:30 am in District Court courtroom 186L (this is a shift from the original courtroom of 117M). Closing arguments for the defenders, Julie Todd, Koreena Montoya, and Glenn Morris, will be led by our outstanding attorneys David Lane and Mark Brandes. Our other amazing legal team members, Thom Cincotta, Qusair Mohammedbai, and Lonn Heymann, will assist in the closing arguments and jury instructions. </span><div style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> </div> <div style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">After closing arguments by both sides, the case will go the jury, and a verdict is expected to be reached sometime on Tuesday. All TCD members and supporters are invited and encourages to attend the proceedings. The outcome of the case may have a determinative effect on the remaining 70+ cases, remaining from the C-Day arrests. </div> <div style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> </div> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Among some of the amazing developments in the case last week, which took up all of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, was the testimony of Rev. Todd and Ms. Montoya, accompanied by videos of misogynist police brutality in both cases. The jury was visibly shaken by the torture administered by the Denver police through what it euphemistically calls "pain compliance" techniques. Glenn Morris was on the witness stand for over two hours, recounting the racist history and legacy of Columbus, and going toe-to-toe with Denver city prosecutor Melissa Drazen-Smith during cross-examination. Morris' testimony concluded with defense attorney David Lane demonstrating for the jury the sound and the power of the AIM/Four Winds drum singing the AIM song, as it was done in the streets on October 6th, this time in open court. An amazing and very powerful day of testimony. </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-54831091328239631412008-01-19T20:53:00.000-08:002008-01-19T20:58:22.228-08:00SHARED IMPRESSIONS~~~~<pre><tt><span style="font-weight: bold;">Towanda invites people to read about the trial at:</span><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://towandasnewwindow.blogspot.com/2008/01/trial-update.html"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200804382_0">http://towandasnewwindow.blogspot.com/2008/01/trial-update.html</span></a></tt></pre>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-16192502855733301872008-01-19T14:37:00.000-08:002008-01-19T14:40:41.514-08:00TRIAL MOMENTS. . .<o:p></o:p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">(I wanted to be there for the whole trial but—as for some others, I suspect—inescapable obligations prevented that. <span style=""> </span>Others weren’t able to attend at all. <span style=""> </span>I’m only going to describe what I felt were some of the key points in the consolidated trial of Glenn Morris, Rev. JulieTodd, and Kareena Montoya before Judge Claudia Jordan in Denver County Court from Wednesday through Friday this week during the time I was able to be there.<span style=""> </span>I’m sure others will be posting, as well).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Early on, the city tried to rein in the ambiguity present in justice (and in reality) and press for the most rigid kind of “law and order.” <span style=""> </span>Conduct, not content, was the rallying cry of assistant city attorney Melissa Drazen-Smith and it mattered not one whit whether the content was Nazi hate-speech or moving oratory by MLK.<span style=""> </span>“Don’t listen to their opinion.<span style=""> </span>Don’t listen to their words,” she said.<span style=""> </span>After all, there was always the option to picket, petition, lobby, write letters, call your Congressperson, etc.—none of the lunch-counter liberation of the civil rights era or the tactics of a Gandhi or Lech Walesa or the impassioned plea of Native activists for the truth about the Columbian holocaust and legacy to be heard.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">Lead defense attorney David Lane swept this from the board by asking whether, in the letter of the law, it made sense for police to follow a motorist traveling one mile over the speed limit—technically a violation--in order to issue a ticket.<span style=""> </span>And, as the Nuremberg trials showed, Nazis were “just following orders.” He pointed out that MLK “technically” broke the law, but that the criminal justice system is, after all, to do justice.<span style=""> </span>“No case anywhere is more important than this case,” he said, because the relationship between the government and its citizens is the most important thing anywhere.<span style=""> </span>Jurors should not be “computerized robots doing a computerized robot job.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The city repeatedly raised the specter of “violent” protest, ignoring the fact that in many years of confronting the Columbus Day parade there have <u>been</u> no violent incidents or convictions for physical violence by demonstrators—but this year, if not in other years, police used batons and pain compliance (even after compliance had been achieved), not to mention the implicit violence of hate speech.<span style=""> </span>(Why does one have the feeling that Drazen-Smith’s admonition to petition, lobby, or write letters to Congress wouldn’t produce justice against this kind of state violence?)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->There were down-the-rabbit-hole moments galore.<span style=""> </span>The city showed a half-hour video that evidently was to depict the disorder and potential “violence” at the Columbus parade, and to demonstrate that the police issued a command to clear the street three times.<span style=""> </span>In fact, the video portrayed a peaceful but spirited cacophony of banner-waving and drumming, chanting, and singing that essentially drowned out any police bullhorn commands and that depicted a street full of cops, bystanders, and demonstrators mostly just milling about.<span style=""> </span>Nothing about it seemed a “significant” impediment to much of anything, frankly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">Showing of the video also underscored another anomaly—the city was able to talk about past parades and to introduce material not restricted to Morris, Todd, and Montoya, but the defense was told not to do so. Though of direct relevance, the defense was not to mention the fact that U.S. Cavalry-attired horsemen led last year’s parade in an open insult to Native people that speaks directly to a celebration of intimidation as parade (and protest) purpose. Russell Means, initially a defendant, ended up as a witness.<span style=""> </span>Potential witnesses (essentially everyone, including reporters) were told they could not be in the courtroom.<span style=""> </span>And so it went.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Some in the courtroom were moved to tears when Glenn described a (documented) contest engaged in by Columbus’ men, who threw infants into the air and attempted to cut them in half with their swords, and when Julie and Kareena described their treatment during arrest. Kareena, who recoiled from police, was charged with resisting. Police Technician<span style=""> </span>McKibben called Julie a “dumb bitch” when he told her to stand up, Julie said—a contention McKibben, of course, denied under oath.<span style=""> </span>Although she was heard saying, “You’re hurting me,” he maintained that all she did was sing “We Shall Overcome,” which he agreed was not an “angry” song.<span style=""> </span>He acknowledged asking her, “Are you going to get up and walk?” rather than issuing a command.<span style=""> </span>He said the parade protest afforded him an opportunity to use his “technique,” which he described in this case as a wrist-lock, a form of pain compliance he continued to exert after she was walking to the jail bus.<span style=""> </span>Lane noted that film showed some arrestees being escorted with light, upper arm guidance or practically no contact, and some were carried.<span style=""> </span>McKibben agreed that he was a “pain compliance guy” rather than a “pick up and carry guy,” as Lane phrased it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Glenn prevailed in spirited testimony that demolished the city’s attempt to depict him as a collaborator in attempts to “stop” the parade, a term he said was erroneous, since protesters sought rather to confront or transform the parade.<span style=""> </span>He reiterated that AIM/TCD had tried repeatedly over the years to urge the mayor, the governor, the legislature and others toward abolishing the parade, which<span style=""> </span>contains “elements considered to be anti-Indian and ethnically intimidating.”<span style=""> </span>He queried why, if the parade celebrates Italian heritage, it includes Hell’s Angels and faux conquistadors.<span style=""> </span>The parade is not a cultural celebration, but is intended to show whites’ “racial superiority and racial inferiority of Indian people,” via tyranny of the majority.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>He said, “For us in AIM , the parade is the equivalent of the Ku Klux Klan—the same reason burning a cross is ethnic intimidation.”<span style=""> </span>He spoke several times with Police Chief Gerry Whitman—with whom he said he had had a cordial working relationship for several years—and told him, “I’m not the boss here—I don’t control everything.”<span style=""> </span>At 15<sup>th</sup> and Stout Streets the parade was nowhere to be seen and “we did not stop the parade,” he said.<span style=""> </span>He was arrested at 15<sup>th</sup> and Welton after he entered the street carrying sweetgrass, “a sacred element to represent purity,” with which to effect reconciliation with the paraders—a goal that had been sought for many years.<span style=""> </span>He was not told not to go into the street.<span style=""> </span>He parried question after question from Drazen-Smith, pointing out in many instances that he’d already responded to the same points she raised repeatedly.<span style=""> </span>The parade was never stopped, it was started and finished, and the protest—a statement about the parade’s hatefulness—was a minor inconvenience, he said.<span style=""> </span>The parade was a “celebration of the death and destruction of my people,” he said, and the protest was in compliance with basic human rights.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Disrespect was kind of a hallmark of these proceedings, and it showed in several ways.<span style=""> </span>The judge allowed the drum to be brought into the courtroom to replicate the noise of drumming on the street where police bullhorn commands went unheard.<span style=""> </span>But although most people rose in respect for the honor song, the judge and other city employees remained seated.<span style=""> </span>Too, Drazen-Smith refused to allow Irma Little, an elder in a wheelchair, to talk about her experience in being jailed despite age and incapacity, in an incomprehensible display of insensitivity.<span style=""> </span>Irma, from Rosebud, was able to say she entered the street for the younger generations:<span style=""> </span>“Now that I know the truth, I want them to know the truth.”<span style=""> </span>She also said the only violence she saw was not from protesters, but from police officers making arrests, when those being arrested “yelled in pain.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Russell, who spoke from the perspective of an elder who is also a long-time activist for Indian people, said that years ago his daughter, then a first-grader, asked, “Daddy, where were the Indians before Columbus discovered America?”<span style=""> </span>He said that from then on he tried for many years and in many ways “to tell our story.”<span style=""> </span>He described today’s reality for Native people in the Dakotas, where life expectancy is 44 years and where his youngest son, age 22, is “already middle-aged.”<span style=""> </span>American Indians have no constitutional rights and no protection against the police, the government, non-Indians, or corporations, he said; Natives cannot own our own land because it is held in trust by the government.<span style=""> </span>“The Doctrine of Discovery that Columbus brought to this country was murderous to my people,” he said.<span style=""> </span>Polio and TB have returned to the reservation, where there is abuse of all types.<span style=""> </span>“When do we get to tell our story?” he said.<span style=""> </span>“In the 21<sup>st</sup> Century we don’t exist.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-2719543407188373292008-01-18T21:23:00.000-08:002008-01-18T21:27:44.188-08:00FRIDAY UPDATETHE DEFENSE RESTED ITS CASE TODAY. CLOSING ARGUMENTS WILL BE HEARD TUESDAY MORNING IN COURTROOM 186-L. (More to come).Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-39441982206547648312008-01-15T12:55:00.000-08:002008-12-08T15:59:21.720-08:00AIM/TCD PRESS RELEASE - JANUARY 14<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxE9oJtuDbvZ1d2n_bFgzz983ZDnFzMMk9Lja8Behnz4vq08qypae_VR0u8CttnkfTnHBHYPj4zd9hytkvwM_z2LyUxIdK65o2y94pXZyT-hb1DrtdiHiFeJY5K-3eUs9-3Tf2EANTJrc9/s1600-h/cday06cavalrylead.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxE9oJtuDbvZ1d2n_bFgzz983ZDnFzMMk9Lja8Behnz4vq08qypae_VR0u8CttnkfTnHBHYPj4zd9hytkvwM_z2LyUxIdK65o2y94pXZyT-hb1DrtdiHiFeJY5K-3eUs9-3Tf2EANTJrc9/s200/cday06cavalrylead.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155811889047187842" border="0" /></a> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b> ~~~~~~~<br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>OUR TRANSFORM COLUMBUS DAY DEFENDERS HOLD COURT THIS WEEK TO PRESENT CASE AGAINST THE CITY</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;"><b>CHARGES AGAINST AMERICAN INDIAN ACTIVIST RUSSELL MEANS REINSTATED</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;"><b>Trial is set to begin Wednesday, January 16, 2008, 8 a.m., Courtroom 117M, City and County Building, Denver and is expected to last three days. Media are welcome to attend.</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;font-size:100%;" >Glenn Morris, Julie Todd and Koreena Montoya will be in court on Wednesday, January 16, to put Columbus, the City of Denver, and the U.S. legacy of anti-Indian racism on trial. Evidence will support that the city acted inappropriately by ignoring the rights of protestors, applying excessive pain compliance holds on protestors, particularly the women, and permitting an unlawful parade that celebrates the genocide of indigenous peoples. </span> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;font-size:100%;" >In a peculiar twist, the city’s case against Russell Means, dismissed by Judge Claudia Jordan on January 4, 2008, was reinstated at the request of city attorneys, but all evidence was suppressed against Mr. Means. City attorneys are appealing the Means suppression decision by the judge so that they may proceed with their “vindictive prosecution” and include Mr. Means in the January 16 trial of Morris, Todd and Montoya. </span> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;font-size:100%;" >Subpoenas have been issued to Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver Chief of Police Gerry Whitman, and Columbus Day parade ringleader George Vendegnia to testify at the trial.</span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;"><br /> ~~~~~~~<br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;" align="center"><br /></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhyphenhyphenMPK74uhF_VnydNp3Ty3c-KQDVZoXWPiaf2MHfmQF3YJ5Xo3TGCXBb71YP2N2nX0CN2Z1jq2mLVYKJQFpCsTH-cwMShYO4WIExCCk8DEOtfq9h-zM06rmGZSPgK1TIXkOUektVwDvO7/s1600-h/tipicapitolorangecopy.jpg"><br /></a>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-89839961758180798362008-01-06T16:24:00.001-08:002008-01-06T16:33:47.997-08:00TOPSY-TURVY (Court update Jan. 4)The Columbus Day parade protest case against activist Russell Means was on-again, off-again Friday in Denver City and County Court.<br /><br />Judge Claudia Jordan initially dismissed the case against him because the city failed to show "due diligence" in subpoenaing the arresting officer to appear, and the officer was absent.<br /><br />The judge later reinstated the case because apparently she could not dismiss the case at a hearing called merely to determine whether certain evidence gathered at the time of arrest should be suppressed.<br /><br />In addition to reinstating the case, however, she suppressed all evidence against Means, effectively foreclosing any conviction.<br /><br />Charges were also dropped against arrestees Shannon Francis and Glenn Spagnuolo because the city couldn't determine which police officers arrested them.<br /><br />The city issued a general accusation of the defense that "they are trying to make this into a media spectacle."<br /><br />The city's method of issuing subpoenas and the police department's method of complying with them was called into question, and two officers who had received subpoenas still could not appear until mid-afternoon Friday because they said there were sick children at home.<br /><br />At that time, the officers did identify Glenn Morris, Julie Todd, and Kareena Montoya, so they (and, technically, Russell) will be on trial at 8:30 a.m. January 16 in Courtroom 117M, City and County Building, 1437 Bannock.<br /><br />Lead defense attorney David Lane was sustained repeatedly over objections by the city during his examination of SWAT officer Tom McKibben, who arrested Julie Todd.<br /><br />McKibben was questioned about his interaction with Todd, whom he denied calling an obscene name. She didn't talk to him, he said, but was singing "We Shall Overcome."<br /><br />A wrist-lock--a form of pain compliance--was used to "pull her" apart from others, he said, and she was told that, because of the compliance hold, she could break her hand if she insisted on being carried rather than walking.<br /><br />McKibben said he didn't know whether Todd heard a bullhorn command he said was repeated three times ordering people to leave the street. He also said he asked her three times, "Are you going to get up and leave?" which, Lane noted, was a question, not an order.<br /><br />The judge cut off Lane's line of inquiry about evidence showing that the officer did or did not know whether the Columbus Day parade was a "lawful parade," and she denied the motion to suppress the police evidence.<br /><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-12563969515655712252008-01-04T13:10:00.000-08:002008-01-04T13:16:19.479-08:00POTLUCK FUND-RAISER ~ ~ ~ ~ ~<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">P</span><span style="font-size:130%;">ut the old culinary skills to good use for a good cause:<br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Potluck fund-raiser<br />for the Legal Defense Fund<br />2 p.m. Sunday January 13<br />Four Winds<br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bring friends!<br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-84859435818918522072008-01-04T12:58:00.000-08:002008-01-05T07:57:37.148-08:00THE NEXT AGENDA ~ ~ ~ ~ ~<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">TCD <span style="font-family:georgia;">will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 9, at Four Winds. </span></span>The agenda will include updates on the consolidated trial for four defendants scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 16, in Judge Jordan's courtroom (117M) and expected to last three days. Other scheduled trials are vacated, and a decision about future legal action will be made at a status conference January 25.Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-87658710008973736902007-12-27T15:41:00.000-08:002008-12-08T15:59:21.903-08:00COURT HIGHLIGHTS DECEMBER 24 ~ ~ ~ ~<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtEDDw_n5SMcjkMVwyhDM0EYm6Ks3rVOtEufgcomNy4kC6-jzi8Ov46EIBdSFxQdqvjckoPOFmSAywthQTrWPErU1s-TKRfM7Rq0bhKRvyDyvZrWrUGbd52PkLY3fPdkYoNKkt2JGKJy0/s1600-h/cdaybanner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtEDDw_n5SMcjkMVwyhDM0EYm6Ks3rVOtEufgcomNy4kC6-jzi8Ov46EIBdSFxQdqvjckoPOFmSAywthQTrWPErU1s-TKRfM7Rq0bhKRvyDyvZrWrUGbd52PkLY3fPdkYoNKkt2JGKJy0/s200/cdaybanner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148804241881870690" border="0" /></a><b style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /></b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">of the major points in hearings before Judges Jordan and Bohning in </span></span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1198798741_0">Denver City</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> and County Court:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><li>The <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1198798741_1">Columbus Day</span> cases will be consolidated and four or six (the number has not been determined) defenders will appear before Judge Jordan on January 16. Judge Jordan seemed pretty adamant about it being four. Our attorneys will still have to negotiate with the city attorneys about which four, so the consolidated trial may not quite be a done deal. Assuming it is, other trial dates will be vacated. </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><li>The defense’s request for Internal Affairs documents was limited, and a request to subpoena communications between the Mayor’s office, Denver Police, and the Sheriff’s Office was denied by Judge Bohning, who said they were “not relevant.” </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><li>Motions citing violations of international law were denied and the violations were disallowed as a defense by Judge Bohning, although he termed them “interesting reading.” Judge Jordan said she would allow discussion of international law at trial. </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><li>The defense’s motion to use a Choice of Evils defense was declined for failure to meet the threshold test. (The motion argues that protesting the parade was a lesser evil than allowing a hate crime to be committed). </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><li>Defenders should be aware that while these motions were denied, there is nothing to prevent a defender from testifying at trial that she or he was motivated to oppose the parade by their understanding that the parade was a violation of international law, or that they felt they had to act as they did to prevent a greater evil. In any case, David Lane pointed the judges to a recent Supreme Court case, Holmes v. <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1198798741_2">South Carolina</span>, which he believes is precedent for allowing those defenses in any of the trials. </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><li>Speedy trial will not be waived for those in Courtroom 151P, but will be waived for those in 117M. Cases without waiver will have a status review January 25. Suppression hearings will be January 4. </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><li>A reminder: the next TCD meeting will be WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 6:30 PM, FOUR WINDS. The consolidated trial and these other issues will be discussed at that meeting. </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /><div align="center"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-44804053256312332572007-12-06T20:33:00.000-08:002007-12-06T20:44:52.244-08:00TIME TO RALLY ~ ~ ~Press release December 6:<a rel="nofollow" title="blocked::mailto:gtm303@gmail.com" ymailto="mailto:gtm303@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:gtm303@gmail.com"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT--TRANSFORM COLUMBUS DAY ALLIANCE WAGES BATTLE WITH THE CITY OF DENVER <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197002220_4">ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7</span>.</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;">COLUMBUS</span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> DAY TRIALS BEGIN WITH MOTIONS HEARING. <span style=""> </span>Motions to suppress evidence hearing set for <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197002220_5">FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2007. 1:30 P.M</span>., Courtroom 117M, City and County Building, <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197002220_6">Denver</span>. Media are welcome to attend.</span></b></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Attorneys for 83 Transform <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197002220_7">Columbus Day</span> Alliance (TCDA) defendants will be challenging the probable cause to arrest <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197002220_8">Columbus Day</span> protesters on October 6, 2007 at this year's <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197002220_9">Columbus Day</span> parade. Police will be required to justify the reasons for arresting protesters and will be questioned about the use of excessive force that day. TCDA attorneys will assert that unnecessary and even illegal measures were employed by police in making arrests. <span style=""> </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">The TCDA legal team led by David Lane and Mark Brandes will vigorously examine police motives and testimony in the hearing. "We will not be surprised if several of the defendants in this case leave the courtroom with the charges against them dismissed. The city acted in a manner that disregarded the constitutional and human rights of lawful citizens." </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">This hearing begins a series of legal battles with the City of Denver, including challenging the constitutionality of the ordinances under which the defendants are charged. It is expected that Mayor John Hickenlooper and other high city officials will be subpoenaed in these cases. </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></span></p>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-63854023771487110262007-11-29T20:11:00.000-08:002007-11-29T20:18:50.621-08:00EVENTS UPDATE<p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;"><b>CITY DEFIES COURT ORDER IN COLUMBUS DAY TRIALS</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;"><b>Status conference set for Friday, November 30, 12 noon, Courtroom 117M, City and County Building, Denver. Media are welcome to attend.</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;">Columbus Day Protesters have charged Denver city officials with acting arrogantly by disrespecting an order from Denver Judge Bohning and by disregarding the constitutional rights of defendants.<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Attorneys for Transform Columbus Day Alliance (TCDA) defendants are responding to the willful disobedience of the Denver City Attorney's office in contempt of the court’s order to comply.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">City attorneys were ordered to disclose which, if any, of its attorneys were present at a political protest at the Columbus Day parade October 6, 2007. They refused to disclose those names, and a motion for contempt of court was filed by the legal team representing 85 defendants in the case.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If city attorneys were present at the parade, their presence may disqualify them from prosecuting the cases, because they could be called as witnesses. They may have assisted Denver Police in orchestrating the arrests of the defendants.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On a motion made October 26 on behalf of the TCDA defendants, the Denver City Court ordered city attorney Daniel Douglas to provide, by November 9, the names of any city attorneys present at the protest. Douglas failed to comply with the court order, and the defendants' motion to find the city attorney in contempt of court was filed November 15. A hearing date for this motion is pending in Judge Bohning’s courtroom, 151P.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Instead of complying with the court's initial disclosure order, the city attorney filed an objection, contending that he is not required to investigate the matter.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The city attorney's decision to ignore the order was "legally invalid" and "rather disingenuous," said a member of the TCDA legal defense team. Ignoring the order represents a "blatant and willful violation" and the city attorney "should be held in contempt until he complies," he said.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The motion is one of several filed recently in connection with the Columbus Day protest, including a motion for access to Denver Police Internal Affairs documents as well as related e-mails to and from the police or sheriff's offices and the office of the mayor.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has said the police acted "with restraint" at the protest, during which more than 80 arrests took place, some accompanied by the use of pain compliance and other unjustified, violent tactics.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Police officials have referred questions concerning the arrest methods to the Internal Affairs Division or the city's Office of the Independent Monitor, from which no immediate comment was available. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A police spokesperson said the Internal Affairs Division is "aware of issues (concerning allegations of excessive use of force) brought to the attention of Internal Affairs and is looking diligently into the allegations at this time." No further comment will be made at present, the spokesperson said.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">One Columbus Day arrestee, a student at the University of Denver, contends his Constitutional rights were violated because he was arrested even though he was simply a bystander at the parade and had pointed out an undercover police officer(s). He was "plucked from the crowd" and arrested, according to defense attorneys. After he was released from jail, Denver Police contacted the University of Denver to suggest that academic disciplinary action should be brought against the student, despite the fact that he has not been convicted of any crime.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The misdemeanor charges in connection with the political protest on Columbus Day generally allege disrupting a public assembly or blocking a public street.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Defenses to be employed at the trials of the more than 80 defendants focus in part on the right to free speech, to civil and political rights, and to protection under international laws against genocide and racial discrimination, attorneys said. The constitutionality of the ordinances under which most protesters have been charged, will also be challenged.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><span style="font-weight: bold;">`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````</span><br /></p>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-6810316941502470552007-11-29T16:48:00.000-08:002008-12-08T15:59:22.041-08:00MANO HAS A STORY AND PHOTOS~ ~ ~<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1iUkC-jtaVNkiyoG5oTrZFB9sgp1X5Axiw9QJhMKWhZ8hjeGmcpK0Z258-jcqLb5DxYd6BR8h6TT0fpK9NROwplipeX0-B7szWYl0-83eZ7-_hDV8APJ1iEcJHRfNfO-pbGjRuUEH1kl/s1600-h/donuts3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1iUkC-jtaVNkiyoG5oTrZFB9sgp1X5Axiw9QJhMKWhZ8hjeGmcpK0Z258-jcqLb5DxYd6BR8h6TT0fpK9NROwplipeX0-B7szWYl0-83eZ7-_hDV8APJ1iEcJHRfNfO-pbGjRuUEH1kl/s320/donuts3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138429713996571442" border="0" /></a>This and other great graphics, as well as Mano's account of Columbus Day 07, are at:<br /><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=29121854&blogID=316895797&Mytoken=71163FCF-00D3-4A57-B098ED70E8D5D5845694401"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1196383574_0">http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=</span></a><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=29121854&blogID=316895797&Mytoken=71163FCF-00D3-4A57-B098ED70E8D5D5845694401"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1196383574_0">blog.view&friendID=</span></a><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=29121854&blogID=316895797&Mytoken=71163FCF-00D3-4A57-B098ED70E8D5D5845694401"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1196383574_0">29121854&blogID=31689</span></a><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=29121854&blogID=316895797&Mytoken=71163FCF-00D3-4A57-B098ED70E8D5D5845694401"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1196383574_0">5797&Mytoken=71163FCF-00D3-</span></a><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=29121854&blogID=316895797&Mytoken=71163FCF-00D3-4A57-B098ED70E8D5D5845694401"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1196383574_0">4A57-B098ED70E8D5D5845694401</span></a>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-54707073801586081972007-11-29T15:19:00.000-08:002007-11-29T15:38:25.999-08:00VAL'S EXPERIENCE ~ ~ ~ ~<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">It's been over a month, now, and I realize I've been in denial about the post-traumatic stress response my body and spirit had to the arrest. I haven't wanted to see it because compared to what others suffered, and compared to what I've faced, and what so many others have faced, at other times in other places, this "wasn't so bad." We all carry so much bravado sometimes, such an awareness of how privileged we are compared to much of the world, it can be embarrassing to admit injury, even psychic. Those of you who saw me fall apart at the Copwatch video showing can perhaps see better than I that it had more of an impact on me than I wanted to admit.</span><br /><br /> <div> </div> <div>In the six weeks since the arrest, I've found myself angry and tense, volatile, my body carrying stress in my shoulders and back, my patience with others grown thin. My wrists still hurt from the pain compliance holds. On the upside, I find myself speaking my mind more frequently, clearly, and immediately than I've ever done before in my life. On the downside, I've lost at least one friend and am probably alienating lots of people. I feel more alive. I also feel more outraged at what passes for human behavior in this society, outraged at what passes for pacifism, what passes for activism. Not outraged at us. Outraged at others, with whom I also identify.<br /><br /> </div> <div> </div> <div>I think when you find yourself engaged in protest or civil disobedience in response to injustice and oppression over a period of years, when you find your puny self surrounded by brave, even legendary non-violent warriors on a somewhat regular basis, your perspective on things can get weird. You forget that it's not normal or right for people to treat people cruelly, regardless of what kind of uniform the perpetrator wears. You forget that perpetrators exercising the freedom to choose how many degrees of evil they use against you don't deserve exculpatory self-flagelation ("it's not so bad for them to do this, when you consider they could have done that").<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>One's perspective about oneself can also get cloudy. Hence my breakdown at the Copwatch showing. I'm sorry I made it all about me. It's so not. Even feeling like I didn't do enough is a form of egocentrism. I wanted to be strong, or stronger, to be able to take the hits as hard as some of our other brave warriors did, and I wasn't, and I was ashamed. But that's all about ego, and ego doesn't move the struggle forward. It's a variation of survival guilt, and what moves us forward is a sense of responsibility for the future which we can change, not guilt about the past, which we cannot.</div> <div><br />Monica said something to me that night, that really helped me realize how damaged I was (in a good way). She pointed out that what I was feeling was part of their colonization, part of how they hurt and weaken us, to make us think that we're weak because we can't withstand their brutality, that we're wrong because we're vulnerable, when in fact, no one should treat another person like this. And in non-violent struggle, our vulnerability is our strength, and we are not weak. We are human.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I mentioned to Glenn recently that one of the things I appreciate about non-violent action--and particularly an action like this--is how democratic it is. You don't have to be strong, or big, or tall, or male, or "able-bodied," or know how to use high-tech gadgetry or weapons. You just have to be true to yourself, your community, and your values. You have to have a little bit of courage, and a little bit of clarity.<br /><br /> </div> <div> </div> <div>I think of Rachel Corrie, a thin, 23 year old woman, lying under that Israeli bulldozer, saying "my back is broken"--the last words she ever said. She did what she was able to do. She gave her all, she gave her best, and I hope she left this world with no regrets. She wasn't defeated, because her courage and her clarity and spirit outlive her. She is one of our ancestors now, and I really believe she was with us that October day in the street.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>A couple of years ago, my partner Mark and I visited Olympia, Washington, Rachel's home city. We tried to find someone who knew her, and wanted to find a place we could go to pay our respects to her. We were fortunate to speak with a woman who had known her, and she suggested we go down to a place where there was a pipe of water running into the sea, where a creek used to be. Because of it, the salmon couldn't get home anymore, and the friend said that always upset Rachel. She always had a very strong sense of the right to home--to go home, to be at home, safe.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>We paid our respects to Rachel's spirit that day, at that place, and said a prayer for the salmon. And we paid our respects to her, and the salmon, in the street on October 6th. I have no regrets, now. I did what I was able to do. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>And all of us engaged in struggle know that sometimes, even when they kill us, they make us more powerful than they can possibly imagine*. That's because our ancestors walk with us. They see only the bodies of the living, and so they don't fathom our numbers or our strength. Eduardo Galleano said, "When we fight and create, we say to our fallen companeros, `You didn't die when they killed you.'" In return, when we are injured, in body or spirit, our fallen comrades lift us up and hold us close, and help us prepare for next time. We must let them.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Trauma can build scar-tissue over your heart, and that's dangerous. We have to look at the wounds, and heal them properly. If the city's heart, the state's heart, the nation's heart, the parade organizers' hearts remain hardened to historical truth, to morality, to justice, there will be a next time. We will be ready, and we will be stronger. But only if we do the necessary work to heal, and that includes telling the truth--complete and unvarnished--about what they did to us.<br /><br /> </div> <div> </div> <div>Let us help each other. And let us tell the truth about what they did--to anyone who will listen.<br /><br /> </div> <div> </div> <div>*yes, I know I'm quoting <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1196378080_0">Obi-Wan Kenobi</span>, but he was right!</div><p> </p><hr size="1">Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-21986424382179670702007-11-18T08:48:00.000-08:002008-12-08T15:59:22.152-08:00REQUEST TO AUTHORS. . . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mOKusgC1k4tMwCPXnKrGyYtWrDKygguT6K8Qbp8jPuKhoE3JQjKDi1Fiyq3OY7V7kUX8h0LvfnrhtOQn78MY7PgKxKF3VLL_PGpWBshEcGlM42vlGvIzxG0YtynyHwHmdqJShBiHRqAA/s1600-h/marchingtoparade.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mOKusgC1k4tMwCPXnKrGyYtWrDKygguT6K8Qbp8jPuKhoE3JQjKDi1Fiyq3OY7V7kUX8h0LvfnrhtOQn78MY7PgKxKF3VLL_PGpWBshEcGlM42vlGvIzxG0YtynyHwHmdqJShBiHRqAA/s320/marchingtoparade.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134227182986715938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">To TCD defenders and supporters and in order to minimize confusion--This blog was created as a place to share experiences and information from the Columbus Day confrontation. Please feel free to tell your story either as a comment (which can be as lengthy as you like, of course) or by sending to Carol Berry (chickasaw303@yahoo.com) and she will post the narrative for you. (Because of potential security concerns, it seemed unwise to post the password for this blog). Thanks!</span><br /></span>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-43544288024560963402007-11-08T14:12:00.000-08:002007-11-08T15:05:41.415-08:00THIS IS HOW I REMEMBER IT ~~~~~~<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">DENVER—The annual Columbus Day parade protest seemed to have it all—fake blood on the street, colorful banners, drums and eagle staffs, Hummers and Harleys, robocops, a float with Queen Isabella and some guy in faux ermine, 1950s-era swing bands, even a police sniper atop a nearby building.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">What it did not have was violence, with one exception—</b><st1:city><st1:place><b style="">Denver</b></st1:place></st1:city><b style=""> police behavior, according to some arrestees who were in the street to protest the 100th commemoration of </b><st1:city><st1:place><b style="">Columbus</b></st1:place></st1:city><b style=""> in </b><st1:state><st1:place><b style="">Colorado</b></st1:place></st1:state><b style="">, the first state to recognize the holiday.<span style=""> </span>They and other Indian people object to what they regard as a holiday honoring genocide and white supremacy.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">It turns out the blood on the street wasn’t all fake.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Some protesters were roughed up during arrest, with injuries, documented on film, that for one Native man included dark neck bruises from a baton choke-hold and a cut and bloodied mouth.<span style=""> </span>For others, there was tendon, joint, and muscle pain and swelling from the striking, twisting, and contorting of various submission methods used by Denver police, including the SWAT team.<span style=""> </span>An older Native woman in a wheelchair was among those arrested.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">The offenses that triggered the police behavior?<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Protesters had gone into the street as a parade was taking place and thereby committed misdemeanors under the municipal code—loitering-level offenses, on the whole.<span style=""> </span>Some, who tried to fend off forcible arrest, were charged with resisting.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper “did drop by (the parade) to check in with police and get an update on how the parade and protest were progressing,” his communications director said.<span style=""> </span>“The Columbus Day parade is a challenging event for our law enforcement operations.”<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">“We are committed to upholding the right to free speech and the freedom to assemble.<span style=""> </span>At the same time, protecting public safety is paramount.<span style=""> </span>This extends to the safety of the parade participants, the protesters and the general public.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">“Assessing whether safety is being threatened or about to be threatened is very difficult in the midst of an event that becomes increasingly chaotic and during which some protesters are ignoring police orders to disperse from the parade route.<span style=""> </span>Of those who did ignore police orders, some were arrested peacefully, while others resisted arrest,” the spokesperson said.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""> </span>“Fact:<span style=""> </span>In nearly 20 years of protesting the Columbus Day parade in Denver, no one has been charged with a violent offense and no one has been convicted of anything,” said one of the arrestees, who declined to give his name.<span style=""> </span>“We’ll repeat it as often as we can—no charges of violence, and no convictions, period.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">“Only Indians are ever expected to be ‘violent.’<span style=""> </span>Every year they ask us, basically, ‘Are you going to be violent?’<span style=""> </span>They don’t ask that of the Italians, let alone the cops.<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""> </span>“It’s part of the prevailing American myth of marauding Indians and peaceful white settlers.<span style=""> </span>It’s part of a need to reinforce the dominance of white invaders without acknowledging their own use of violence or the reality that Natives who were ‘violent’ in defense of their homeland were actually patriots.”<o:p><br /></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Unintended irony:<span style=""> </span>Parade protesters from families indigenous to this continent were greeted by a sign on one of the floats:<span style=""> </span>“</b><st1:country-region><st1:place><b style="">America</b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b style="">. . .Love It or Leave It.”</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````<br /></o:p></b></p>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810075094294285583.post-41901592759195089872007-11-04T09:03:00.000-08:002008-12-08T15:59:22.301-08:00TRUE STORIES - DENVER'S DAY OF SHAME<div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVu2KbxqMsq2hLNZcXP-jk3nyHsyqAv9tA7oHHHhoCyYZYZ47rnpJdzFGaBYuh50ys8Ub7atE83ubiHyDLa3DB82AoT_E0G9D9vE5pLcPzmiAXjy9tpQ67Kn_XnJ4z00ji-df5b4oqOc_/s1600-h/maskpoliceline.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129045107562682930" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVu2KbxqMsq2hLNZcXP-jk3nyHsyqAv9tA7oHHHhoCyYZYZ47rnpJdzFGaBYuh50ys8Ub7atE83ubiHyDLa3DB82AoT_E0G9D9vE5pLcPzmiAXjy9tpQ67Kn_XnJ4z00ji-df5b4oqOc_/s200/maskpoliceline.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="left">THIS BLOG HAS BEEN CREATED to provide a place for those who were mistreated by police or who had other memorable experiences at the Columbus Day charade in downtown Denver to write about their thoughts or experiences so that others can understand what <em>really </em>took place in Colorado's capital city on October 6, 2007. <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (who was at the parade) said after the event that he felt Denver police had acted "with restraint." He has said repeatedly he is concerned with the safety of both the parade participants and protestors. In 18 years of people's exercising their right to protest this tribute to a murderous invader, no violence has occurred at the parade nor have there been any convictions for unlawful behavior. <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong></strong><p><strong>Yet this year (presumably as a prelude to the DNC) there were riot cops armed with M-16s and the widespread, unnecessary misuse of pain compliance against peaceful protestors. Others, including a Native woman in a wheelchair and a sightless man, were treated disrespectfully and jailed along with the rest of the 88 arrestees.</strong></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><p><em>We hope people will regard this blog as a way of validating their experiences and of penetrating the fog of city propaganda. A single note of caution: If you are an arrestee, check with the legal team before (or if) you use your own name in your account of activities at the Columbus Day parade, or before you provide details of your experience that might identify you personally</em>. </p></div>Anna Dynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065035107828766269noreply@blogger.com0