Thousands march in Denver
2008-08-28 11:50
Catherine Tsai and Colleen Slevin
Denver - Thousands of anti-war demonstrators converged near security gates outside the Democratic National Convention hall on Wednesday, chanting slogans and asking to talk to party officials about getting US troops out of Iraq.
Police in riot gear ordered the group to disperse, and after about 15 minutes many protesters drifted off. But about 400 gathered several blocks away, still within sight of the Pepsi Centre, where the Democrats were nominating Barack Obama for president.
The protesters wanted to give Obama a letter asking that he agree to an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, provide full health care benefits for returning troops and veterans and provide reparations to the Iraqi people for damage caused by the war.
The protest began with an anti-war concert by Rage Against the Machine and other groups, which drew about 9 000 people to the Denver Coliseum. Afterward, throngs began the six-kilometre march toward the Pepsi Centre.
The veterans, some in uniform, began the march in formation. As marchers went past a line of police officers about three blocks from the Pepsi Centre, they shouted: "Tell me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like."
Jan Critchfield, 24, of Seattle said he served in Iraq in 2004, and after returning home, came to believe that the war was an "unlawful, immoral occupation".
He said now that he is back in the US, he thinks about what it's like for Iraqis living with US forces in their country.
"I just can't imagine driving through my neighbourhood at home and seeing a security checkpoint."
Critchfield said he joined the Army at 17 without much thought about the implications.
Jonny 5, Brer Rabbit and Andy Guerrero of the Denver group Flobots were with the marchers, as was Raymond "Boots" Riley of political hip-hop group The Coup.
- AP