Group seeks common issues among protestors - August 24, 2008
Allison Bryce
Civic Center – While there is no paucity of opinions wandering through Denver this week for the Democratic National Convention, there aren’t always those who want to take the time to listen.
Protesters wave fliers in front of faces as passers-by wave them off and shrug off attempts to engage them in conversations about human rights abuses, the war, the economy or anything else.
But then there are the people in the bright pink shirts. They are there to listen. Even their shirts say so.
The group, called “The World is Listening,” is out to gather the issues most important to people and share them online at http://www.worldislistening.blogspot.com. It’s an attempt to show those standing on opposite sides of the street that what they want isn’t so different after all.
Francisco Subiadur was standing on the corner talking with protesters and scribbling notes in a small black notebook. The front of his shirt asked, “What is your Vision,” the back told people “i am here to listen.”
“We’re not contradicting anyone,” he said. “We’re listening to what they have to say.”
Here are some of the things people have said are important to them:
Being a kindhearted human race;
Promoting human rights;
Protecting the environment;
Equality and prosperity;
Improved world health;
More abortion control;
More money for education;
Stop the preaching and discrimination;
Kindness and love;
A day when we don’t need soldiers.
The last is from someone on the pro-military protest side of the street. Many of the ideas overlapped no matter what people were protesting, said Stephanie Phibbs, who also was circulating with pink shirt and notebook.
She said she tells groups they have similar visions and people often respond that they will get to those visions in different ways, she said. But, “a sense of unity and oneness is emerging,” she said.
_______________________________________
Tensions flare briefly as anarchists block 16th Street Mall buses, tangle with cops - August 25, 2008
Patti Thorn
Protesters shouted, sang, danced, chanted, partied, meditated - and even shopped - Sunday in what was generally a peaceful show of diversity.
But a few skirmishes with police left no question that any infraction would be met with a serious show of force.
After a day in which thousands protested everything from the war in Iraq to the need for more love and kindness in the world, there were reports of only two arrests - both for protesters giving false information to officers.
Meanwhile, tension ignited between police and protesters only briefly when a group of anarchists, some wearing bandannas over their faces to conceal their identities, blocked shuttle buses on the 16th Street Mall and later amassed on Broadway between Colfax Avenue and 14th Ave.
Their actions prompted a sea of black uniforms to swarm on each situation and quickly disperse the crowds. The anarchists later snaked their way through downtown, meeting a large police presence at Stout and 15th streets.
The display of force did little to dampen the group's enthusiasm. In fact, considering the cause, it only added to it.
"It was a street party," said Tim Simons, organizer of the anarchist group dubbed Unconventional Denver. "That's what we did today. . . . Our goal was to keep the party in the street, to make sure we weren't confined to permit areas and to make sure that the energy and the noise and the spirit of social movement was felt throughout downtown and couldn't be missed. . . . We accomplished what we wanted."
Simons noted that his group's goal is to "highlight the power of grass-roots movements as a real force for society."
War and peace
His wasn't the only group flexing its grass-roots chops. Throughout the day, members of all kinds of organizations roamed downtown - some even stopping to shop at carts along the 16th Street Mall.
They were colorful - and contradictory: Anti-war groups faced off with troop supporters; anarchists shared real estate with women peacemakers supporting "joy and humor."
One of the first events of the day was an anti-war rally at the state Capitol. Mother-turned-activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in the Iraq war, addressed a group of around 200, exhorting onlookers to oppose war.
"Three years ago today, we were sweltering in Crawford, Texas, camping outside George Bush's ranch," she said. "Three years later, our country is still mired in the Middle East. They're talking about more war."
Sheehan, who spoke for about six minutes, urged protesters to make their voices heard.
When the activist finished, she received rock star treatment, with people swarming around her to shake her hand or take her picture. The group then marched down Colfax, passing a cluster of pro-troop demonstrators on the side of the road. As the anti-war protesters walked by, their signs seemed to shout at each other.
"Who Would Jesus Bomb?" read one. "Land of the Free, Because of the Brave," read another, as if in retort.
Some just listening
Many of the protests centered on war, but one group sat in a circle, eyes closed as they performed meditative excercises in support of the Falun Gong, a spiritual group that has been persecuted in China.
Another group, calling themselves The World Is Listening, showed up to support, well, listening. "We are not contradicting anyone," Francisco Subiadur said. "We're listening to what they have to say."
Among the ideas they listened to others express? The importance of being kindhearted and protecting the environment, and a longing for the day when soldiers would no longer be needed.
Obviously unaware of all the ideas swirling around her downtown, member Stephanie Phibbs noted that "a sense of unity and oneness is emerging."
A sense of ennui seemed to be the only thing emerging at the area set up outside the Pepsi Center for protesters, dubbed the "Freedom Cage." It remained empty all Sunday afternoon.
At night, the action picked up - slightly. While protesters with Tent State, an anti-war group, planned for thousands to march from City of Cuernavaca Park to spend the night in the protest zone, only three protesters - and three reporters - had made their way to the area by 11 p.m.
The small group was entertained by Dead Kennedys' singer Jello Biafra, who delivered a 30-second history on the spoken word.
* Staff writers Allison Bruce, Daniel J. Chacon, Abigail Curtis, Jeff Kass, Dan Kelley, Sue Lindsay, Steve Myers, Ashleigh Oldland and Judi Villa contributed to this report.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Hitting the streets of Denver for visions
Today we went on the streets, collecting visions and engaging people in what they see....we ended up at the Mercury Cafe where the code pink ladies were gathering(if you didn't know the Mercury Cafe is going to be the central gathering place for many protestors...and it definitely has an ambiance to it)...anyhow it was GREAT!!...everybody wanted to express themselves...and they wrote and wrote and wrote..and talked and talked and talked...I was amazed at how easy it was and how generous everybody was...there were alot of women from all over the country..really committed and passionate about peace...some of them got tears in their eyes...all kinds of emotions were present...and their visions were strong and thought out...they really really appreciated us listening and being there...anybody that does listening is in for a very wonderful treat and surprise...it is definitely being on the "court" of life...thanks for your joy and your commitment...love marie
We look sooo good in our t-shirts!
Not only that - everyone will be able to see us and what we are up to! In the picture you see, clockwise from top left: Marie, Corey, Deb, Craig, Babs and Stephanie.On the back the t-shirts say: The World is Listening and i am here to listen.
During the DNC we will have matching pink balloons with the words My Vision for the World... that we will give to people so that they can write their vision on them.
We want you to know that in consideration to birds and other wildlife, we are using short term helium (10 hours) and we will ask people not to release them.
TO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR OWN T-SHIRT, CALL STEPHANIE ON 720-319-0434 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND LET HER KNOW YOU WANT ONE! SIZES RANGE FROM S-XXL.
More opportunities to share your vision
The World is Listening is not the only group that collects people's visions. There is a group called Let us rise that works with Visioning Circles and Leadership Circles. Check out their website:
http://www.letusrise.org/
This is what they stand for: Bringing people together to create a society rooted in love, personal responsibility and democracy.
http://www.letusrise.org/
This is what they stand for: Bringing people together to create a society rooted in love, personal responsibility and democracy.
Schedule for Network of Spiritual Progressives
Network of Spiritual Progressives
Conference in Denver at the Democratic National Convention
St. Paul Church & Curtis Hotel
August 24-25, 2008
The NSP is excited to be at the Democratic National Convention. We will be holding our events at St.Paul's United Methodist church. There will be charge for the Sunday afternoon and Monday morning Events.
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Matthew Fox, Sharon Salzberg, Cong. Keith Ellison
Editor of Tikkun Magazine Author of 24 Books,
incl. Buddhist Teacher, Democrat – Minnesota
Author of The Left Hand of God The A.W.E. Project:
Activist, and Author of Sponsor of the Global
Co-Founder of NSP Reinventing Education
Lovingkindness Marshall Plan
Space is Limited: Advance Registration Encouraged
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/525/t/3999/event/checkOut.jsp?event_KEY=42732
Register Now
If you are interested in volunteer please contact our local Denver
chapter.
$15/per day or $25 for both days
SUNDAY MORNING: INTERFAITH SERVICE - August 24, 10:30 am
Speaker: Rabbi Michael Lerner
Worship Leaders: Rev. Toni Cook, Prof.
Vincent Harding, Yogachara
Hassan Srinidhi, Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni,
Venerable Claude d'Estree,
Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav, Sister Rose
Annette Liddell, & others
Music will be provided by St. Paul Choir,
Kriya Yoga, & soloist: Rene Marie
Admission: Free
SUNDAY AFTERNOON: THE SPIRITUAL COVENANT WITH AMERICA -1:30- 4pm
Led by Rabbi Michael Lerner, Matthew Fox, and Dr. Peter Gabel
NSP members are committed to create the world they believe is possible
and they are guided by the Spritual Covenant with America. Michael Lerner, Peter Gabel and Matthew Fox will discuss this in greater detail, relate these ideas to current political issues and answer questions related to these commitments.
There will also be music and/or a poetry performance during this time by a local artist.
Admission: $15.00
MONDAY MORNING: A MIDDLE EAST STRATEGY FOR ISRAEL & PALESTINE - AND
IRAN August 25. 9am -11 am
Led by Rabbi Michael Lerner and Imam Mohamad Samer Altabaa (Colorado Muslim Society), and Rev. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson (Baptist Minister, Global Security Institute Board), The NSP was founded as a project of Tikkun Community and we care desperately about bringing peace and stability to the Middle East.
Michael and Peter will discuss a Middle East Strategy for Spiritual Progressives. They will be joined by Imam Mohamad from the Colorado Muslim Society.
Admission: $15.00
MONDAY AFTERNOON: THE GLOBAL MARSHALL PLAN 1-3pm , 1405 Curtis, Curtis Hotel
Led by Rabbi Michael Lerner, Congressman Keith Ellison, Sharon Salzberg, and Rev. Tony Campolo
We have been trying to achieve national security for the past five thousand years by dominating others and that has brought us to our current state of affairs. We are at a time when we desperately need to realize the value of each individual and eliminate the unnecessary poverty, homelessness, inadequate healthcare and inadequate education that people experience domestically and globally. By committing 1-2% of our GDP for the next twenty years, we can help uplift all people and demonstrate our care for all beings and make our country safer.
Michael and Congressmen Keith Ellison will elaborate on the ideas behind a Global Marshall Plan and talk about what this world would look like if we embraced this idea.
Admission: Free
From: August 24, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Until: August 25, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Address
St.Paul's Denver
1615 Ogden
Denver CO 80218
Directions
St Paul's United Methodist Church is located near downtown Denver, Colorado, in the historic district of Capitol Hill. St. Paul's U.M.C. can be found at the corner of 16th Avenue and Ogden one block North of Colfax Avenue.
Directions: From I-25, exit Broadway/Lincoln. Drive North on Lincoln Avenue, turn right on Colfax Avenue, heading East. Turn left (North) on Emerson. Turn right (East) on 16th Avenue for 1/2 block.
Parking
* St. Paul's Lot (adjacent to west side of church) - handicap access
* Case Management Lot - across alley west of the church along
16th (alley access)
* Denver Turnverein - southwest corner of 16th & Clarkson (1
1/2 block east, enter south alley into parking)
* Montview Tower Lot - northeast corner of 16th & Downing
(Sunday only) (1 block east)
* St. John's Cathedral Parking - 14th and Washington (3 blocks
west, 2 blocks south)
Conference in Denver at the Democratic National Convention
St. Paul Church & Curtis Hotel
August 24-25, 2008
The NSP is excited to be at the Democratic National Convention. We will be holding our events at St.Paul's United Methodist church. There will be charge for the Sunday afternoon and Monday morning Events.
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Matthew Fox, Sharon Salzberg, Cong. Keith Ellison
Editor of Tikkun Magazine Author of 24 Books,
incl. Buddhist Teacher, Democrat – Minnesota
Author of The Left Hand of God The A.W.E. Project:
Activist, and Author of Sponsor of the Global
Co-Founder of NSP Reinventing Education
Lovingkindness Marshall Plan
Space is Limited: Advance Registration Encouraged
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/525/t/3999/event/checkOut.jsp?event_KEY=42732
Register Now
If you are interested in volunteer please contact our local Denver
chapter.
$15/per day or $25 for both days
SUNDAY MORNING: INTERFAITH SERVICE - August 24, 10:30 am
Speaker: Rabbi Michael Lerner
Worship Leaders: Rev. Toni Cook, Prof.
Vincent Harding, Yogachara
Hassan Srinidhi, Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni,
Venerable Claude d'Estree,
Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav, Sister Rose
Annette Liddell, & others
Music will be provided by St. Paul Choir,
Kriya Yoga, & soloist: Rene Marie
Admission: Free
SUNDAY AFTERNOON: THE SPIRITUAL COVENANT WITH AMERICA -1:30- 4pm
Led by Rabbi Michael Lerner, Matthew Fox, and Dr. Peter Gabel
NSP members are committed to create the world they believe is possible
and they are guided by the Spritual Covenant with America. Michael Lerner, Peter Gabel and Matthew Fox will discuss this in greater detail, relate these ideas to current political issues and answer questions related to these commitments.
There will also be music and/or a poetry performance during this time by a local artist.
Admission: $15.00
MONDAY MORNING: A MIDDLE EAST STRATEGY FOR ISRAEL & PALESTINE - AND
IRAN August 25. 9am -11 am
Led by Rabbi Michael Lerner and Imam Mohamad Samer Altabaa (Colorado Muslim Society), and Rev. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson (Baptist Minister, Global Security Institute Board), The NSP was founded as a project of Tikkun Community and we care desperately about bringing peace and stability to the Middle East.
Michael and Peter will discuss a Middle East Strategy for Spiritual Progressives. They will be joined by Imam Mohamad from the Colorado Muslim Society.
Admission: $15.00
MONDAY AFTERNOON: THE GLOBAL MARSHALL PLAN 1-3pm , 1405 Curtis, Curtis Hotel
Led by Rabbi Michael Lerner, Congressman Keith Ellison, Sharon Salzberg, and Rev. Tony Campolo
We have been trying to achieve national security for the past five thousand years by dominating others and that has brought us to our current state of affairs. We are at a time when we desperately need to realize the value of each individual and eliminate the unnecessary poverty, homelessness, inadequate healthcare and inadequate education that people experience domestically and globally. By committing 1-2% of our GDP for the next twenty years, we can help uplift all people and demonstrate our care for all beings and make our country safer.
Michael and Congressmen Keith Ellison will elaborate on the ideas behind a Global Marshall Plan and talk about what this world would look like if we embraced this idea.
Admission: Free
From: August 24, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Until: August 25, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Address
St.Paul's Denver
1615 Ogden
Denver CO 80218
Directions
St Paul's United Methodist Church is located near downtown Denver, Colorado, in the historic district of Capitol Hill. St. Paul's U.M.C. can be found at the corner of 16th Avenue and Ogden one block North of Colfax Avenue.
Directions: From I-25, exit Broadway/Lincoln. Drive North on Lincoln Avenue, turn right on Colfax Avenue, heading East. Turn left (North) on Emerson. Turn right (East) on 16th Avenue for 1/2 block.
Parking
* St. Paul's Lot (adjacent to west side of church) - handicap access
* Case Management Lot - across alley west of the church along
16th (alley access)
* Denver Turnverein - southwest corner of 16th & Clarkson (1
1/2 block east, enter south alley into parking)
* Montview Tower Lot - northeast corner of 16th & Downing
(Sunday only) (1 block east)
* St. John's Cathedral Parking - 14th and Washington (3 blocks
west, 2 blocks south)
Friday, August 22, 2008
Everything you need to know: calendars, maps, parade routes, street closures, transportation etc.
We received an email from the Come Up to Denver Campaign with links to a phenomenal amout of information. Here is everything we need!
If you go the link for Recreate 68, we are listed on their schedule as World IS LISTENING. They didn't quite get what we are up to (they call it relational activism), but that is OK since, after all, we create something that is NEW, and for many people quite mind-boggling. And of course we will be in more places than what they have listed...
Please browse and enjoy!
--------------------------------------
The Come Up to Denver Campaign has compiled some calendars and maps in
easy-to-print PDF formats to help you get the most out of the DNC
Counter-Convention. We hope you find this information useful. Always check
on the website of the group sponsoring the event for updates and changes.
CALENDARS
*** Combo Calendar ***
This is one PDF file (24 pages) that contains the calendars from all the
major protest organizations' websites in one file easy for printing.
Includes the Come Up to Denver calendar, R68, Tent State, World Can't Wait,
Code Pink, We Are Change Colorado, Progressive Democrats and Unconventional
Action.
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/calendar/calendars.all.pdf
*** R68 Master Schedule ***
This is another PDF file with extensive events listings of many groups
compiled by Recreate68.
http://www.recreate68.org/masterschedule.pdf
MAPS AND LOCATIONS
*** Major DNC Counter-Convention Sites ***
On Legal Paper (8.5x14)
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/dnc.map3.pdf
On Ledger Paper (11x17)
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/dnc.map3.ledger.pdf
*** Street Closure Map ***
http://www.denverconvention2008.com/Files/Access_and_Mobility_Map.pdf
*** Parade (March) Routes ***
March Route for Mon., Tues. and Wed. to Pepsi Center
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/paraderoute.pdf
March Route for Thursday to Invesco Field
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/paraderoute.0828.pdf
--------------------------------------
Check our website for more informaion and updates:
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/locations.html
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/calendar/
--------------------------------------
Provided as a public service by the:
Come Up to Denver Coalition
"No one else can take your place!"
Check out our video of Crosby, Stills and Nash playing "Denver"
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/
Email: info@comeuptodenver.org
If you go the link for Recreate 68, we are listed on their schedule as World IS LISTENING. They didn't quite get what we are up to (they call it relational activism), but that is OK since, after all, we create something that is NEW, and for many people quite mind-boggling. And of course we will be in more places than what they have listed...
Please browse and enjoy!
--------------------------------------
The Come Up to Denver Campaign has compiled some calendars and maps in
easy-to-print PDF formats to help you get the most out of the DNC
Counter-Convention. We hope you find this information useful. Always check
on the website of the group sponsoring the event for updates and changes.
CALENDARS
*** Combo Calendar ***
This is one PDF file (24 pages) that contains the calendars from all the
major protest organizations' websites in one file easy for printing.
Includes the Come Up to Denver calendar, R68, Tent State, World Can't Wait,
Code Pink, We Are Change Colorado, Progressive Democrats and Unconventional
Action.
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/calendar/calendars.all.pdf
*** R68 Master Schedule ***
This is another PDF file with extensive events listings of many groups
compiled by Recreate68.
http://www.recreate68.org/masterschedule.pdf
MAPS AND LOCATIONS
*** Major DNC Counter-Convention Sites ***
On Legal Paper (8.5x14)
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/dnc.map3.pdf
On Ledger Paper (11x17)
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/dnc.map3.ledger.pdf
*** Street Closure Map ***
http://www.denverconvention2008.com/Files/Access_and_Mobility_Map.pdf
*** Parade (March) Routes ***
March Route for Mon., Tues. and Wed. to Pepsi Center
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/paraderoute.pdf
March Route for Thursday to Invesco Field
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/paraderoute.0828.pdf
--------------------------------------
Check our website for more informaion and updates:
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/logistics/locations.html
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/calendar/
--------------------------------------
Provided as a public service by the:
Come Up to Denver Coalition
"No one else can take your place!"
Check out our video of Crosby, Stills and Nash playing "Denver"
http://www.comeuptodenver.org/
Email: info@comeuptodenver.org
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Opportunity 2 To Listen and Wear T-shirts
Sunday, August 24 DENVER
At 1 P.M.
This march is the same as the one listed under Opportunity 1. See the info below in feeder marches.
'Funk the War: Dance for Peace'. An event during the DNC. Bring your drums, instruments, moves and message. There will be four feeder marches starting at Union Station (17th and Wynkoop), Skate Park (2205 19th Street), MEPS Center (19th & Stout) and Curtis Park (27th and Larimer) and converging on the 16th Street Mall. Concerts will follow in the afternoon and evening.
DROP BEATS, NOT BOMBS!
www.realdemocracy2008.org
At 1 P.M.
This march is the same as the one listed under Opportunity 1. See the info below in feeder marches.
'Funk the War: Dance for Peace'. An event during the DNC. Bring your drums, instruments, moves and message. There will be four feeder marches starting at Union Station (17th and Wynkoop), Skate Park (2205 19th Street), MEPS Center (19th & Stout) and Curtis Park (27th and Larimer) and converging on the 16th Street Mall. Concerts will follow in the afternoon and evening.
DROP BEATS, NOT BOMBS!
www.realdemocracy2008.org
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