Denver’s DNC: Movement sets marches, rallies to raise key issues

While the nominating conventions of the two major U.S. ruling class parties are fast approaching, the two major candidates posture and spar over who is best capable of managing the imperialist colossus at a time of an expanding economic crisis.

Delegates to the conventions will be expecting lavish parties and speeches of form, with little real content or intent to break with the status quo. What they will see is the anger of thousands who are fed up and want real change—a change that will ultimately have to be systemic.

Vigorous demonstrations are expected at both conventions. In Denver, where the Democratic National Convention is being held, the Recreate 68 Alliance has put together a series of events for the five days of the convention. The group has been organizing protests since the announcement early last year that Denver would host the DNC.

The protests are designed to show the Democratic Party’s complicity with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as expose it as a party of the capitalist class—that is and will continue to be, with scant differences, just as brutal as the Republican Party.

The week begins Aug. 23, with trainings and clinics from noon to 6 p.m. at Lincoln Park, across the street from the State Capitol.

An  Aug. 24 “End the Occupations” rally on the west steps of the Capitol begins at 9 a.m. and a march at 10:30 a.m. kicks off from the Capitol and marches down to the Pepsi Center. Featured speakers at the rally include Ida Audeh, a Palestinian refugee; former Black Panther Kathleen Cleaver; Ward Churchill; Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. of the Prisoners of Conscience Committee; Ron Kovic, author of “Born on the Fourth of July”; and Cynthia McKinney, Green Party presidential candidate. Performances will be given by Blue Scholars, David Rovics, M-1 and stic man of dead prez, and Jim Page.

On Aug. 25 a march and rally for human rights and in solidarity with political prisoners will begin at 10 a.m. at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver and proceed to the federal courthouse.

There will be special messages from Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier. Speakers will include Pam Africa from the MOVE Organization; Rosa Clemente, Green Party vice presidential candidate; King Downing, national coordinator for the ACLU Campaign against Racial Profiling; Ricardo Romero, national coordinator of the Mexican Liberation Organization; Natsu Saito; Jenny Esquiveo, for political prisoner Eric McDavid; and Cha Cha Jiménez, founder of the Young Lords.

And on Aug. 28, the DNC National Mobilization for Just and Humane Immigration Reform will stage a march beginning at Rudy Park, 2855 W. Howard Pl., marching down Colfax Avenue and finishing with a rally at Lincoln Park.

An event being billed as the Festival of Democracy will occur throughout the week, with speakers including Deb Sweet from World Can’t Wait and Ramona Africa from MOVE, as well as many organizations sponsoring and holding events on imperialism, the economic crisis, racism and the prison industrial complex, sexism, homophobia and many of the ills endemic to the capitalist system.

Other musicians and spoken word artists performing throughout the week are Savage Family, Rebel Diaz, Debajo Del Agua, DJ Cavem/Moetavation, Whiskey Blanket, Mindstates Music, Dario Rosa, DJ Asar Heru and Karma, Dinigunim, Slam Nuba and more.

No matter who is elected, the government of either candidate will still do the bidding of the capitalist class. The state itself will remain repressive and grow more so as people seek a way out of the suffering that comes with a bust cycle in the system.

The real struggle is in the streets. Those who are able should go to both DNC and RNC protests and express the will of those who dream of a better world.