DNC: Protests kept to small skirmishes

DENVER • Protesters caused sporadic problems in downtown Denver Tuesday, but the incidents on the second day of the Democratic National Convention seemed isolated and were mostly nonviolent.
That was in contrast to Monday night, when police used pepper spray to disperse what they called a crowd of 300 near the Denver's Civic Center Park, some armed with rocks. Police made about 100 arrests, officials said.

Just before noon Tuesday, a small skirmish broke out in the same park - which is next to the state Capitol - as police quickly moved in to break up what appeared to be a shoving match between militant anti-homosexual Christians and anarchist protesters.

Police on horseback and clad in black riot gear quickly moved in and surrounded the officers trying to quell the fight. As they tried to move the protesters they were detaining to the west edge of the park, others quickly started chanting, "Let them go!"

An officer on a golf cart used a megaphone to urge people to "clear space so officers can do their job."
"Welcome to the police state of America!" shouted one man on a bullhorn.

Meanwhile Larry Miller, 49, of Parker held his 8-year-old daughter Jillian - who appeared frightened.

"These are the people who are keeping the peace," Miller explained, pointing to the police. "We all have a right to free speech in the United States."

"It's important for her to see democracy in action. Free speech. Law and order," Miller said. "We came downtown to expose her to marchers and people trying to get their message to the delegates and the DNC. They're trying to shape the country and mold the future.

"I saw them taking some girl," Jillian said, referring to a protester who was led away in plastic blue restraints.

It was hard to tell who was protesting what, and what groups were being represented.

People handed out fliers on environmental movements, transportation issues and anti-abortion issues.
There were protesters espousing "Peace with Iran," and signs reading: "Universal Human Rights," "Nuclear Free World" and "Government Transparency, Truth and Accountability."

A couple of hours later, a group of about 40 Iraq war veterans, clad in their tan camouflage battle dress uniforms, briefly halted traffic on the 16th Street Mall.

"This is Operation First Casualty because the first casualty of war is the truth," said Aaron Hughes, 26, of Chicago.

He said the group wanted to show the people of Denver what it was like to have an "occupying force" in town and what it was like to have a "combat patrol go through their neighborhood."

The protesters, calling themselves Iraq Veterans Against the War, would march for a time, then halt for a while in a ready position shouting "contact," then "right" or "left," then sending "medics" to "casualties."

Riot-gear equipped police walked ahead and on each side of them.
"We want to show how oppressive it can be, for the Iraq people and the soldiers as well," said Hughes, a former member of the Illinois Army National Guard.

The group's message for the Democrats and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who will accept the party's presidential nomination on Thursday: withdraw all troops from Iraq; reparations for the Iraqi people and improved veterans benefits.

"We're going to be on him (Obama) until all of our brothers and sisters are home," Hughes said.
Police also arrested 13 anti-abortion activists, including Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry, who blocked a security gate near the Pepsi Center where the convention is being held and refused officers' requests to move.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.