On 144th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre ‘Indigenous Survival Week’ will be held at CU Boulder. All of these events are free.
WEDNESDAY, November 28th
Performances by: The Tortuga Project, REBEL DIAZ and SAVAGE FAMILY
Club 156 on the first floor of the UMC, 6:00 to 11:00
THURSDAY:
Panel on Hip Hop, indigenous resistance, and community self
determination and self-definition.
Glenn Miller Ballroom at the UMC,
6:00 to 8:00
Egyptian Weekly Newspaper, Al-Ahram, covers KKKolumbus Day:
Burying Columbus in Palestine
Indigenous movements in the 21st century understand that the struggle is not about gaining access, but defeating domination. Will the Palestinians take heed, asks Bassem Ahmed*
For more than a decade now, thousands of people in Denver, Colorado, have been spending the first weekend of October in the streets both celebrating and protesting. This year was no exception. Crowds from different national and ethnic backgrounds came out to participate in the Four Directions March; a celebration organised by the Transform Columbus Day Alliance (TCDA), an umbrella group of grassroots organisations that envision a world freed of Columbus’s legacy. Afterwards they took to the streets to protest and block the “Convoy of Conquest”, the name they use to label the Columbus Day Parade, and demand a change of the name of this official holiday. As usual, scores of protesters were arrested for violating the legally sanctioned “right” of the parade organisers to “honour their hero”.What is this fuss all about? After all, wasn’t Columbus, as we were all (mis)educated, a great explorer who “discovered” the “New World” in 1492, the same year that Arab rule in Andalusia came to an end? It is quite striking that Arab commentators who lament the latter often celebrate the former without trying to further interrogate the significance of this coincidence. “Objective” history books usually focus on Columbus’s skills (didn’t he think he was sailing to India?) and resilience. The ensuing systematic destruction of indigenous societies, the establishment of a transatlantic slave trade, and the exploitation of the wealth and resources of the so-called New World are minor details that more often than not go unmentioned.
It is precisely this marginalised narrative that the TCDA wants to bring to the fore. For protesters in Denver, Columbus’s trips and crimes were the opening act in the process that led to the crystallisation of a system of domination that subjected non-white peoples to the power of Europeans…
RAIM-D report from Transform Columbus Day
The AIM/TCD march kicked off once again in Denver, the birthplace of the KKKolumbus Day holiday. This being the 100th anniversary of the celebration of genocide against the native peoples, all out efforts were made for this protest. And it came off as one of the more militant demonstrations against the holiday since protests against it began in the 90’s.
Start off, early morning, Saturday
The demonstrations began early in the morning with the Four Directions March. RAIM-Denver was in the West end of Four Directions March at Auraria campus, with a couple hundred others. All the directions had a color. RAIM-D and their allies were at this direction with a sizable contingent, with banners and sky blue and Mexican flags, including our new one “Turn the World Upside Down.” Pigs were there on red dirtbikes, possibly purchased by Homeland Security money coming for the DNC next year. These dirt bikes gave them great mobility.
The other directions converged at the State Capitol building for a short rally. Over 1000 people showed up to oppose Kolumbus Day. Glenn Morris and Russell Means, among others, spoke to the crowd. Then the march proceeded to downtown to confront the Kolumbus Day parade.
[The above video provided by FeistyAphrodite]
And It’s On!!!
From the capitol steps, the march proceeded down 16th Street Mall stopping one of the bus lanes. At the intersection of Stout and 15th St. the rally gathered to oppose the parade in the streets. The Denver Pig Department and the piglets of the Sheriff’s Department were out in force, many in riot gear. There were also pigs in tan uniforms. Perhaps state police? SWAT-type teams were present as were pigs with some new kind of gun that looked like a modified AR-15 with a bulge on top and a non-standard ammo clip. It may have been some kind of “non-lethal” modification to the weapon. They looked like the occupying army that they are.
[The above video provided by some idiot white trash racist blogger.]
Shortly after gathering at 15th and Stout, there was an odd incident. One participant was almost arrested. Another person was arrested and taken away. Undercover police were seen in the area. They were plain clothed, in bandanas and sunglasses. The undercovers were filmed talking on police radios. We later found out that this was the first arrest of the day.
A bucket of fake blood with baby doll parts was thrown into the street where the “Convoy of Conquest” was to come through.
For those that have not seen the Convoy, it is a sight to see. It is a spectacle of white trash.
The Kolumbus Day parade, supposedly a celebration of “Italian Pride,” is symbolic of the parasitism of cracker Amerikkka. It began with the Sons of Italy on motorcycles, racist bikers (it was nice that they found time between beating their wives and cooking meth to attend the parade), followed by Denver cops on their motorcycles. How appropriate, pigs on hogs. Then it followed with a procession of gas-guzzling Hummer vehicles and other cars that looked right off the dealership. Lots of flat bed semis with empty floats and shitty cover bands. A handful of paraders with signs of cities named after Kolumbus was led by two people dressed like a mascot Indian, with feathers and dress, and a Spanish conquistador — how nice. There were U$ military personnel and/or ROTC there. And, the libertarian party was there to defend white property rights. The many vehicles were needed to make up for the lack of actual people for this pathetic white garbage dump of a parade. If you needed any more reason to hate Amerikkka, this parade will do it. Most of the paraders were very old, so it is encouraging sign to know that these crackers will leave this earth very soon.
Several people placed their bodies between the Convoy and the parade route. There were several groups of people and many random individual acts to stop the racist parade. The Denver pigs used pain compliance methods against the protesters who blocked the street. In one instance, pigs may have sprayed mace into some of the arrestees eyes at close quarters — we are not sure about this yet. The pigs also beat and manhandled many individuals.
[Demented and abusive pigs smile. Photo from The Metropolitian, October 11, 2007.]
RAIM-D did not witness every brave act of that day. RAIM-D did see one woman in the first circle of arrestees badly hurt by the pigs. Her arms were twisted very badly. Another woman was hit in the face. In another group of arrests, two women got manhandled and hurt with pain compliance by the demented pigs. One of these women was dropped on her head. She looked injured. Russell Means and Glenn Morris were arrested in the streets. One elder in a wheelchair was arrested. The pigs took the AIM staff from one person in the streets. Individuals with a banner walked into the street and were arrested. The police arrested another pile of people who put their bodies on the line. One Indian had his face smashed up, swollen and bloodied by the pigs’ use of force. Pigs refused this individual medical treatment. The favorite tactics of the Denver pigs were pain compliance and dog piling the protesters with brute force.
[Photo provided by the Colorado Daily]
These brave efforts delayed the parade for over an hour.
A white-trash blogger or similar scum was in the protest crowd trying to stir up people. RAIM-D members and others confronted them many times. RAIM-D did its share of agitation to give balance to the regular liberal sentiment and chants. RAIM-D is tired of the lame “hey hey ho ho chant fill-in-the-blank has got to go” and tried to mix it up a bit with “down with all settler states, down with the united snakes.” Many asked us to tone it down, but many others appreciated our efforts.
[Photo provided by RAIM-D, please credit when using.]
After the parade, the marchers went to the City and County building to await word on their comrades arrested earlier. While gathered there, a number of people took down the Amerikan flag flying above and turned it upside down and secured it in its new position with a lock. It was flying that way for hours.
We later regrouped at the county jail awaiting releases. The sheriff piglets were dragging their feet in releasing people, even those that made bail. RAIM-D and others marched around all sides of the jail. We signaled to our comrades and friends with flags, signs, and our hands. People released said it was a big morale boost seeing us from the jail windows.
Everyone was finally released by the end of Sunday, 88 people were arrested last time we checked. Much abuse went on. Those with injuries did not receive medical treatment. One blind detainee had his cane taken away and was left without assistance. Many detainees reported their property stolen by the jailers. Lawsuits against the city and police are planned by the arrestees.
RAIM-D was happy that so many people of good conscience took a stand. We saw many of our friends and allies there.
Overall, this event was more confrontational than those of previous years. The pigs were taken by surprise by the actions of the demonstrators, not expecting this level of protest. The pigs had lots of new toys and techniques, likely to prepare them for the DNC next year. The media coverage was abysmal, no surprise to anyone here. As tryworks reported, the pig media released the arrest reports, making it easier for vigilantes to harass people. Typical.
The celebration of Kolumbus Day is one symptom of Amerikan imperialism, and the only way to end Kolumbus Day is to end Amerika.
Check out tryworks’ excellent coverage here and here.
Support the Denver 88 by TCD on Fire Witch Rising’s blog.
RAIM-D will eventually try to put up some of our video of the events.
Update 1: A video featuring Savage Family on TCD, click here
Update 2: Westword slideshow of the TCD events, click here
Thursday October 4th, 2007 “Rock Out Columbus Day”
1st Annual Indigenous Peoples Fest
Oriental Theater, 44th Ave & Tennyson, All Ages, $5-10 sug. donation
Booths all night, Spoken Word at 7:30pm, Music at 8:30
9:15 Mano and Tit for Tat
10:00 Savage Family
11:00 Debajo Del Agua
Friday October 5th “Columbuscide”
“515 Years of Invasion, Indigenous Resistance and Renewal”
Art Festival, Opening Friday, October 5th,
7pm Laughing Bean Café, 1025 N. Santa Fe Drive
TRANSFORM COLUMBUS DAY- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6TH
Four Directions March
Gather at 7:00am and step off at 7:30am from:
-North (red) - Mercury Cafe, 22nd and California
-East (yellow) - Governor’s Park, 7th and Pearl
-West (black) - Auraria Campus Flagpole <—[RAIM will meet here]
-South (white) - Four Winds, 5th and Bannock
Converge at Lincoln Park at 8:00am
Rally at the State Capitol at 8:30am
Protest Racist Columbus Day Parade 9:30-Noon.
October 6th, 7:00 AM [!]
Before the Transform Columbus Day protest there will be a Four Directions March to the state capitol.
Gather at one of the following places:
North Mercury Café, 22nd and California
East: Governor’s Park, 7th and Pearl
West: Auraria Campus flagpole
South: Four Winds, 5th and Bannock
RAIM-Denver will gather at Auraria Campus and march east towards the capitol building.
Meet at the west steps of the State Capitol building at 8am on October 6th. Bring a friend and your radical passion for justice.
Every Day is Columbus Day in Amerikkka
Final Solution, “Indian Residential Schools”
both videos courtesy of Shubel Morgan
[Special thanks goes out to comrades who helped on this. Your work is appreciated.]
Before the Transform Columbus Day protests there will be a very special pre-event. On August 30th the University of Denver will be will be hosting an awards dinner featuring not one, but two, modern day perpetrators of genocide.
Wayne Murdy, the CEO of Newmont Mining, is being given an award by the University of Denver. Newmont Mining is the second largest gold stealer in the world. It operates mines all over the globe. In the process it plunders the wealth of nations, devastates natural environs and poisons local, often indigenous, populations. Wayne Murdy, Newmont Mining and companies like it are waging systematic economic and ecological warfare against poor peoples of the world in what amounts to a protracted genocide.
But that’s not all. The key-note speaker for this award ceremony will be Madeleine Albright. Madeleine Albright is a psychotic terrorist who during the Clinton presidency was Secretary of State. She implemented a policy of sanctions against Iraq which led to the death of over 500,000 children. When asked about the murderous implications of such a policy she said, on national TV, that the deaths were “worth it”.
What: Protest Newmont Mining for the economic and ecological destruction it’s caused and the deaths that have resulted; Protest Madeleine Albright for being a mass murdering lunatic hiding behind the ‘legitimacy’ of the United Snakes.
Where: The Denver Marriot (17th and California)
When: August 30th at 5:00 PM
The Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement- Denver is a loosely organized local network of dedicated radicals. RAIM-Denver fights for a world free of oppression by nations over nations, groups over groups and people over people. We fight to end imperialism, national oppression, patriarchy youth and class oppression.
We fight against those with power in the interest of those with none. Smashing imperialism is the starting point for ending all oppression. We concentrate our fight against a handful of rich First World nations which live off the exploitation of the majority of peoples in the Third World.
We want to turn the world upside-down. We advocate stripping power from the oppressors and uplifting the oppressed. We advocate overthrowing amerika’s domination of the world and distributing that power amongst the community of poor nations, which make up the vast majority of the world.
The main task of RAIM-Denver is to help build a counterculture of radicalism within imperialist amerika. We use written word, speech, art and action to promote revolutionary thought and practice. We promote a social climate of radicalism as a way to combat and organize against amerika’s empire-driven oppressor culture.
We work outside of typical activist scenes to build a revolutionary undercurrent of anti-imperialism and anti-amerikanism. We intend to lay the foundation for a broad radical underground within amerika. Don’t sit there while the everything gets tipped over and smashed. Join the movement of revolutionary anti-imperialism and help turn the world upside down!
To find out more and about how you can get involved, click on the “Get Involved” page.
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