Today the DNC – Democratic National Convention came to downtown Denver.
We walked through the 16th Street Mall searching for action. The crowds filled toward the Weston Hotel when we spotted Joe Biden walking the street. He was surrounded by crowds of people and cars full of secret service.
The city was all decked out with planters over flowing with petunias that sparkled on this warm summer day.
Many people wearing blue shirts sported badges asking if you needed help.
The corners were loaded with police, some with riot gear. Horses had plastic riot masks to protect their eyes. Groups of police were spotted on bicycles. I guess while I was down at the Weston some protesters were at the Federal building across the street from my office. I’ll check there first tomorrow.
Eager delegates filled the city.
The drive home on the bus was long and tedious. It took about half an hour just to go through 6 – 8 city blocks. There were buses backed up for blocks along with tour buses, limos, town cars with blacken windows and a few bicycle rick-shaws.
I didn’t get down to the protesters that were corraled in chain link fence at the Pepsi Center, but saw a plane pulling the Osama (not Obama)sign while waiting for my bus this morning. There were trucks with gigantic signs on their sides with just disgusting photos and sayings that even I can’t describe what they said. (Or I wont describe them).
I spotted a group a McCain supporters gathering in a parking lot with their McCain signs and T-shirts.
Here are some photos you might enjoy.
Day 2 – 8/26/08
The city was quiet. Protesters had been arrested and carried off to a holding cell. The court yard at a federal building on the street behind my building where there was such a ruckus yesterday was quiet as a cemetery. The park benches and round picnic tables where I had enjoyed having my lunch on previous summer days were gone. Only a couple of armored guards stay watch on the walk-ways. The street was lined with police cars.
The delegates were getting in the zone of the convention. Checking their blackberries for important messages and talking on their cell phones.
I ride the bus to work each day. It was surprisingly more crowded. Probably due to the high fuel costs with prices hovering around $3.60/gallon and more visitors to the city clogging the transit systems. A young man dressed in a t-shirt and jeans carrying his back pack sat down next to me. Next to him was an acquaintance that came on with him. Probably his long lost cousin. This man was mid thirties well dressed in a crispy white shirt, khaki pants with a blue blazer neatly placed on his lap. As I read my book and unconsciously listened to their conversations, I found the well dressed man was with the convention in some capacity that involved being on stage for a panel discussion and lots of activities that involved partying past midnight.
Waiting for my bus in the afternoon at 15th and Larimar I noticed just one of those parties going on in Otto’s a local restaurant. People lined the street in front of the place with limos parked along the curb. Journalists sporting heavy camera equipment wheeled questions while juggling the camera and urging out conversation.
From the 8th floor at my office, we all rushed to the window and saw groups of police ready for action. Sirens blared as the motorcade came through the streets in large Tahoe/Yukan type SUVs. Must have been Bill Clinton coming to town. Our office is a few blocks from the Brown Palace where he was staying.
Day 3 – 8/27/08
The Sixteenth Street mall offers so many sights and sounds of the conventioneers. Men dressed in suits and ties mingle with the flip-flop and shorts crowd.
Police patrol the area in force keeping everyone in order. Several SUVs with police in riot gear cruised through town about the time Obama was ready to arrive. Patrols on horse back marched through the city. Some could be found in alley ways taking a break from the hot 85 degree day.
About the time I thought I couldn’t walk another block, I passed by a group handing out free water, compliments of the Democratic National Convention.
Protesters carrying signs wove through crowds on the busy streets. Vendors selling buttons, T-shirts and bags lined the side streets. Restaurants spilled over with people enjoying outdoor seating with plates full of luscious food.
It’s an experience to be in Downtown Denver during this time.
Day 4 – 8/28/08
The city is aglow with anticipation of Barack Obama’s acceptance speech as candidate for the Democratic party for the highest office in this nation for President of the United States. This evening he will accept the nomination in front of eighty thousand supports at Denver’s Invesco Sport arena and tens of millions more tuned in to this historic occasion. He is the first African American to be selected by his political party as a candidate for this high office.
This is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s historic speech “I have a dream”. John McCain, Republican Candidate, took time out on this day from running brutal campaign TV ads to publicly congratulate Barack Obama on this accomplishment with repeated TV spots.
While I waited for my bus a young man was wheeling a stroller with a baby and his young son walking beside him. I over-heard the man say to his son, “Remember this day. It’s an historic occasion for all of us.” The impact of this day to build strength for Americans like that man, an African American, will expand for years to come.
Denver proved a great host for this event that has filled the city for the past four days. It had been a hundred years since Denver last hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1908. A lot has changed since then and a lot remains the same.
The cities light rail and buses system sweep people from place to place in record speed. Corporate offices reach toward the sky. Lofts and apartments are embedded into the city landscape that have revitalized it as a community. Coors stadium brings in crowds to watch and cheer for baseball played by our home team, The Rockies. Since The Rockies moved to this stadium downtown, the lower downtown has become the center of charm and fun, filled with restaurants with big TV screens on every wall and laughter from people.
It is curious to compare to that convention in 1908 when the streets were probably dirt and most transportation was probably by horse and carnage. There may have been key people who owned Ford Model T’s but they are dwarfed in comparison to the stetch limos and giant SUVs that traveled the key political people and celebraties around the city this week.
I would assume that Larimer square was their in 1908 with soda fountains and clothing shops that still stand today update with the trendious of wares. Larimer this week has flags from every state stung across the street in celebration of the DNC.
People are still the same busy, struggling to make life better for our family and friends. Eager to express themselves in this land of democracy and experience the opportunities that await us all. From early beginnings this is a week that marks the opportunities for men and women in America to do and become our hearts desire.
I didn’t have the occasion to see or meet any celebrities. My co-workers had more luck meeting Joe Biden on the street and talking briefly to Michelle Obama at one of the meetings at the convention center. I found out that although the public could not attend any activities at the Pepsi Center unless you were a delegate or had a special invitation, the public could attend any of the presentations and caucuses at the convention center.
The closest my friend Helen and I came to celebrities was to have our photo taken with a cardboard cut out of Obama. Its all good fun and brought vibrancy to our city.
The homeless disappeared for this week. Maybe the DNC or the city bought them a home for a week or paid for all day movies tickets. I’m sure they’ll be back dotting bus stop benches and standing on street corners selling the homeless news for a dollar. I miss that guy that always stood on the corner of 16th and Stout calling out “Help the homeless.” I hope he had a home this week.