Anti-Kolumbus Day 2010

Anti-Kolumbus Day 2010

(www.raimd.wordpress.com)

Kolumbus Day, amongst Amerika’s quaintest celebrations of its founding genocide, rolled through again throughout Occupied North America. In Denver, the usual crowd of fake Italians and flag-waving crackers put on another grosteque display of parasitism and reaction. In absence of any evident protest plans, RAIM put a call-out to protest against the chauvinist Killumbus celebrators.

Behind the scenes we discussed the issue with interested parties and decided two protests were a good idea: first a rally and demonstration against the parade itself; then a protest across the street from their after-parade lunch.

Our efforts resulted in around 50 protesting the celebration of conquest and genocide. RAIM made a number of signs and banners. Some examples included, “End Amerika’s Longest Running Genocide: 1492-2010,” “I Hate the USA (there, I said it),” “Kick Cracker Bum$ Off Stolen Indian Lands,” and “No Amnesty for Pilgrims or Their ‘Anchor Babies.”

The protest slowly warmed up and was diverse and energetic, especially as the plunder parade drew near. There was no shortage to opposition this blatant display of reaction.

The actual Kolumbus Day parade was as trashy as usual.  It was both a celebration of past imperialism and genocide and a reflection of that which goes on today.  As usual, the parade was made up of motorcycles, muscle cars, some Hummers, and semis with empty flatbed trucks: all toys for Amerikan parasites. The parade featured Amerikan military troops, who are imitating Kolumbus in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere today.

Tom Tancredo, who was scheduled to appear in the convoy of conquest, didn’t show because he supposedly had a cold. The popular right-wing candidate in Kolorado’s 2010 governor campaign, his politics include: defining unborn Amerikans as living people and abortion as murder; advocating bombing Mecca and other Muslim holy sites; describing Spanish-speaking migrants as “illegal;” and claiming that Hezbollah has activist “terrorist” cells in Mexico. Even though Tankkkredo was too sick to sit in the passenger seat of a slow moving vehicle for 40 minutes, plenty of his racist supporters were there to represent.

The protesters’ chants included “Kolumbus Go to Hell,” “Kolumbus Go Home” “Yankee [and Gringo] Go Home,” and “Face It, You’re Racists, Your Claims On This Land Are Baseless.” These chants reflected the fact that Amerika is in fact a settler-empire founded on stolen land. Many of the protesters wanted to change that.  Many people took the opportunity to give the parade-goers  history lessons. Some suggested a wider range of other Italian history figures to celebrate besides Kolumbus.  RAIMers asked through megaphones, “Where are your hoods, you racists?”

The second protest was even more charged. This was the first year that protesters showed up to the Kolumbus beneficiaries’ after-party. There, many of racists tried to piggishly provoke fights with protesters in front of the cops. Others challenged protesters to back-alley brawls. Some asserted we were lucky the Denver police were near by, suggesting we would be physically harmed if not. For the protesters, this merely confirmed the Kolumbus Day gathering was just another lynch mob.

Some of the krackers called protesters ‘faggots.’ This was met by a wide range of responses. Some protesters admitted to not conforming to traditional gender or sex roles. Others suggested the krackers themselves might by projecting their own repressed desires onto the anti-imperialist opposition before them. George Vendegnia, head of the ‘Sons of Italy,’ with all the grace of a drunken date-rapist at a honky-tonk bar, gestured simultaneously to his genitalia and various protesters numerous times.

A moment of comedy for the protesters occurred when some of the racists again tried to look tough. A large groups of biker-krackers pulled near the intersection next to the protesters and began revving their obscenely loud engines. The protesters’ chants of “Pigs On Hogs” were muffled out by the noise. However, when the biker klan was order by the cops to move along, one kracker’s bike slid out from underneath him, resulting in him dropping it and scratching his multi-thousand-dollar custom paint job. Laughter largely overtook the protest crowd. However, one protester’s effort to help the pig recover his motorcycle from the pavement sent 10 or so more racists running over expecting a fight.

 

After a time of letting the paraders know they were racists, we headed out, fired up from confronting racial hate in the town. Over the course of the day, RAIMers had handed most of the protesters copies of the ‘Troublemaker’ DVD, from which we still get positive feedback, and our recent programmatic statement, ‘The Anti-Kolumbus Day Manifesto.’

Some local media made note of the declining number of protesters at the first protest, but failed to report on the second protest, which drew additional people. The media also noted the declining participation of the parade.  Even with the better weather from last year, the parade was still pathetic at barely 200 participants.

The Kolumbus myth is a center of the official narrative of Amerika as a beacon of freedom and democracy, and glosses over the legacy of imperialism that is at the heart of Amerika. Beginning after the anti-colonial movements, this narrative has been challenged internationally. In many countries and regions, Indigenous Peoples Day or Indigenous Resistance Day has replaced Kolumbus Day: a step in the right direction. Kolumbus Day is not part of a celebration of Italian or Italian-America history or heritage. It is a celebration of US and Western supremacy based on aggression and exploitation. It must be opposed along with imperialism itself.

It is worth noting that in Occupied America, anti-imperialist forces are a vast minority. We are ‘behind enemy lines.’ This was evident at the second protest, which was more of a stand-off at times. The racists were correct in one clear sense. Were the cops not present, they could have easily overran the diverse, smaller crowd of protesters. The 200 or so krackers present represented 200 or so potential modern brownshirts in a future fascist movement; 200 out of many more. To underscore the fascistic nature of the Kolumbus Day paraders and the danger they represent would be an error of underestimating the nature of the enemy. Already, Kolumbus Day has become a rallying cry for those who champion the reassertion of global Amerikan supremacy. (1)

Kolumbus Day, like imperialism, will come to an end. However, it will not be through the singular efforts of a small minority of anti-imperialists in western, First World countries. It will only end when the exploited masses of the Third World stand up, assert control over their own lives, beat back the First World and build a world free from imperialism. Standing against our material interests and becoming a traitor to one’s exploiter background; siding with the world’s exploited majority and supporting national liberation for captive, oppressed nations; opposing Amerikan chauvinism and overt celebrations of genocide and supremacy: these things are the least we can do here.

Notes:
(1) http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/28647

Anti-Kolumbus Day Protest Flyers

The Anti-Kolumbus Day Manifesto

The Anti-Kolumbus Day Manifesto

(www.raimd.wordpress.com)

Every year in October, in cities throughout the US and occupied America, celebrations and parades are held on Kolumbus Day, in honor of Khristopher Kolumbus. And every year, though in fewer cities, these celebrations are met with resistance by those concerned with indigenous sovereignty and colonialism. This year, the protests continue.

We oppose Kolumbus Day because it is a de facto celebration of conquest, including the genocide and land theft waged against First Nations. Upon arriving in modern-day Haiti/Dominican Republic and viewing the native Tainos, Kolumbus remarked, “with fifty men, we could subjugate them all.” Thirty years after his arrival, the island’s Native population had declined by 90%. This pattern would be recreated across the Americas, particularly in the United States, where a campaign of genocide was waged against First Nation peoples by White settlers. Kolumbus would also pioneer slavery in the Americas, a phenomenon that would officially last nearly 400 years yet remains in the form of exploitation of the masses south of the militarily-imposed US-Mexico border and throughout the Third World.

We oppose Kolumbus Day because it is a de facto celebration of imperialism, the exploitation of subjugation of many peoples by a handful. Kolumbus’s original voyage was a landmark of Spanish imperialism, yet Kolumbus Day transcends this original meaning. Today, the United States stands above the rest of the world, dominating various peoples, in part by operating over 700 military bases around the globe. Today, over a billion people are faced with undernourishment, yet virtually every Amerikan is part of the world’s richest 15%. Kolumbus Day is a celebration of this ongoing imperial legacy.

We oppose Kolumbus Day because it is a celebration of parasitism and imperialist decadence. The ritualistic Kolumbus Day parade, usually consisting of closing roads for slow-moving processions of large vehicles filled with flags-waving crackers, is one made possible only through the exploitation of various countries, including their oil resources, for benefit of a decadent First World population. We protest Kolumbus Day in solidarity with those who suffer for the luxuries Amerikans receive 365 days a year, not just on this or that imperialist holiday.

Though a good start, ending Kolumbus Day alone doesn’t cut deep enough into the problem. Therefore, The Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement presents the following program:

1) The end of all US territorial claims; national liberation for oppressed nations. Return of land to First Nations throughout the US and Klanada. National liberation for Mexicanos on both sides of the militarily-imposed border and reunification. National liberation and sovereignty for Puerto Rico and for the Kanaka Maoli of Hawai’i. National liberation and self-determination for the Black nation. The surrender of all US-controlled land throughout the world.

2) The imposition of a globalized democracy of the world’s oppressed and exploited masses upon the United States and First World. The creation of zones throughout the current US and elsewhere to be used as the global proletariat sees fit.

3) The massive payment of reparations from Amerikans to the Third World, to be accomplished through the redistribution of land, capital and through labor.

4) Relocation of many Whites, including to the Third World, and reeducation for all Amerikans, resulting in the liquidation of much of the White nation and eradication of their parasite culture.

These are the demands of a world that suffers from deep problems and requires truly revolutionary solutions. Until these demands are met, resistance will continue.

The Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement-Denver

The Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement-Seattle

October 1st, 2010

Protest KKKolumbus Day in Denver

Protest KKKolumbus Day:

Saturday, October 9th 9am
Gather at the west steps of the Capitol for a rally followed by a protest of the Kolumbus Day parade

Meet for lunch

11:30am
Gather at 38th and Shoshone to protest their after party

No Kolumbus Day! No Celebrations of Genocide!

No thanks, AmeriKKKa

image courtesy of Shubel Morgan

A Speech by a RAIM Comrade on the 8th Anniversary of the Invasion of Afghanistan

The following was delivered by Comrade Hector of RAIM-Denver on October 7th, 2009, the 8th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan. In the speech, the RAIM comrade tells the audience of anti-war and police brutality activists, anarchists and RAIM supporters that the problem is not Bush or Obama, it is Amerika.

“Leonard Peltier is a political prisoner – an artist, a writer, a father whose life has been stolen. Locked away for defending his land. Locked away in Amerikkka’s dungeons. He just sent an open letter to the president. To paraphrase: ‘I am not Bush’s political prisoner. I am your political prisoner now.’ He is Obama’s responsibility. This is an important point, especially for the liberals here whose politics begin and end with ‘throw out the Bush regime.’ Well, Bush is gone. Surprise, surprise. Amerikkka is still at war. Two wars wasn’t enough. Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Pakistan. And Iran is in the cross hairs. A recent poll shows a majority of Amerikans, Republican and Democrat or “Independent,” want to use force on Iran right now. Iran is in the crosshairs and it’s Obama with his finger on the trigger and your average Joe Amerikan cheering him on.

These wars are not just wars of the ‘right wing,’ or ‘conservative, or ‘Republican’ wars. These aren’t Bush’s wars. They are Obama’s now. More accurately, they are Amerika’s wars. And, it will take more to stop these wars, and the next war and the one after that, than marching in the streets holding signs. This shit goes back to 1492, even earlier. The crusaders, KKKolumbus, Manifest Destiny, chattle slavery, the endless imperialist wars of the last century.

In 1492, KKKolumbus sailed the ocean blue.. then he landed and killed everyone who wasn’t European.  Exterminated the Taino peoples. That’s the real story.

Yesterday, it was the US genocide of South East Asia, the propping-up and financing of death squad states in Latin America, the rape and enslavement of Africa. Today it’s killing Pakistanis with unmanned drones. What will it be tomorrow?

The problem is bigger than Democrats and Republicans. Bigger than Bush and Obama. The problem is Amerika, and Amerikans. We can’t let Amerikans, and the Amerikan working class off the hook. Even the poorest Amerikan benefits from imperialism.

Yet Amerikans have the hypocrisy to point their fingers at the Third World. They call the Iranian president a “holocaust denier.” Yet Amerikans are the biggest holocaust deniers on the planet. It was the US that largely exterminated the whole continent of North America, from sea to shining sea — the largest genocide in history, thousands of civilizations gone forever – tens of millions killed by Uncle Sam.

In Zimbabwe, a recent report condemned Mugabe because he ‘only’ paid three percent in compensation to the imperialists during his land reform program. Let me get this straight. The imperialist come to Africa, they steal the land from the Africans, they disrupt the African traditional way of life, the imperialists impose white supremacist terrorist states on Africans, then when those Africans take their land back, the imperialists call it ‘theft’ and impose sanctions to strangle Zimbabwe, to punish the Africans, to make them OBEY. When Mugabe turned the tables and gave land to the poor Africans, he is a ‘thief,’ yet the imperialists think nothing about stealing whole countries as was the case in Zimbabwe or whole continents as was the case in the Americas. The only compensation the Africans received was the whites imposing a terroristic white supremacist state to keep them in bondage. The only compensations the Indigenous received in North America was to be killed or herded into reservations on the worst land, to have their children stolen and culture stripped away.

Remember the pigs earlier today who dared us to cross their invisible line on the ground? The pigs told us that we could not stand on parts of the sidewalk in front of the building? Who the fuck are they to say anything about where we can and can’t go on this land? This is Mexican and Indigenous land. It’s Uncle Sam who squats here on borrowed time. This land will be returned to its rightful owners. These crackers will get a taste of socialism – the power of the Third World over the First World. RAIM opposes the war. More than that, RAIM opposes Amerika and Amerikans.

The vast majority of humanity in the Third World barely survives on about $2.50 a day. Yet, Amerikans and the First World as a whole plop themselves down in front of their stupid boxes, one hand glued to a remote controller, the other in a bag of Cheetos. Amerikans waste their lives away on the back of others. RAIM is out to settle the score. RAIM is going to turn the tables.”

Denver Kolumbus Day Reportback

from http://www.examiner.com/x-3907-Downtown-Denver-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Marchers-police-protesters-outnumber-spectators-at-Denvers-Columbus-Day-Parade

Denver Kolumbus Day Reportback

(raimd.wordpress.com)

On Saturday October 10, 2009 there was another wack ass parade of white settlers celebrating Columbus Day, disrespecting Native peoples, and engrossing themselves in settler parasitism. Denver has been an epicenter of resistance to this celebration of genocide and racism, as Colorado was the first state to officially celebrate Columbus Day over 100 years ago.

This year’s protest was different, as the official organized opposition to the parade, Transform Columbus Day, did not put out a call to protest the parade this year.  Colorado AIM put out an advisory for Native elders and children to avoid downtown Denver and the parade.  Nevertheless the controversy over the parade stayed in the news, mainly because of an attempted media prank by a Columbus Day opponent where a press release was sent out saying the parade was canceled. This later turned out to be a hoax.

We at RAIM thought that a bunch of cracker settlers celebrating being cracker settlers couldn’t go off without an anti-imperialist response.  So we issued a call to be out to confront the parade, not to take over leadership of this protest but to show that settler colonialism would not go off in Denver without resistance.  RAIM, along with about 20 other activist allies and others who came to protest the parade, made their presence known.

All of us gathered in this freezing Saturday morning to show opposition.  We chanted “Down With Columbus Day, Settlers (and Occupiers) Go Away!”  To liven up the anti-colonial festivities we brought a pinata of Uncle Sam.  Protesters had whacks at it with a shoe, in honor of Al-Zaidi in Iraq.  The media and parade pigs made a big deal about dwindling numbers at the protests, but the parade itself had fewer numbers too, even factoring in the weather.  As usual, it was made up of mostly gas-guzzling Hummers and empty flat bed semis.  There was lots of pigs out.  Some group of right wing assholes in camo gear stood across the street, one was visibly carrying a sheathed knife.

It seems that the celebration of Columbus Day overall is declining.  A corporate media report states the declining interest in Kolumbus Day, of course not all for reasons of celebrating the beginning of the largest genocide in history.

Despite the smaller turnout at the protest, the parade organizers were spurred to respond to it this year.  From http://www.columbusdayparade.org:

” Columbus Day Parade – Denver, CO

A Message from the President

Written by Richard SaBell

Sunday, 11 October 2009 18:15

Thank you all for your support and participation! The parade was a success despite the weather and the weak attempt at cancellation. The October newsletter will be out shortly with a full recap of the day. The following is copy of the letter sent to all the same people that received the phony cancellation email.

Letter to the Media October 11, 2009

As evidenced by the wonderful but cold Columbus Day Parade on Saturday, the parade was not cancelled and was never in danger of being cancelled. Some have called the attempt to disrupt the parade a hoax but in truth the criminal impersonation of anyone is a serious matter. Denver Police have informed me the investigation is ongoing. As a private citizen, as President of the Columbus Day Parade committee, and as a member of the National Order Sons of Italy in America and Grand Lodge of Colorado, I will pursue this matter to the fullest extent of the law.

It is important to remember that in addition to honoring a brave explorer and acknowledging Italian American contribution to this country, Columbus day commemorates the beginnings of America itself. A National American holiday of great importance. I feel it is long overdue for a close look at who and what opposes this celebration. We have multimedia documentation of protestor signs reading “I hate the U.S.A.,” “Victory to Afghanistan,” “Death to Empire,” and an effigy of Uncle Sam used as a pinata and beaten with a shoe. Shouted slogans over a loudspeaker of “occupier go away,” and “hey little kid, your dad is a racist.” This yearly abuse of the Italian American community at the hands of individuals with no regard for the law of the land or the rights of their fellow citizens is a disgrace. Know that the Columbus Day Parade will take place next year despite any opposition, even Mother Nature.

To avoid any confusion or misunderstanding in the future I suggest you check ou! r website for up to date info and a full contact list of anyone you may need. You may also call me direct 720-323-4260. If you reach my voice mail, please leave a message and I will return your call directly.

G. Richard SaBell

President

Columbus Day Parade Committee”

Sabell does accurately reflect the signs and pinata that were at the protest.  He is wrong to say that all who oppose the parade are against Amerika, but we at RAIM definately are.  He is accurate in saying that the Columbus Day holiday commemorates the legacy of Amerika, that of racism, colonialism, and genocide.  He attacks the supposed unsavory characters who protest the parade but ignores the shady supporters of the celebration that include white supremacists, neo-Nazis, the John Birch Society, and those who honor bringing Western civilization to the so-called New World because it is a “superior culture,” no matter the atrocities it brought.

This year’s protest kept alive a tradition of resistance to the racist parade and holiday, which started in Colorado over 100 years ago.  Worldwide this resistance continues.

Call Out to Oppose KKKolumbus Day and Settler Colonialism

Join RAIM-Denver and other Denver activists as we oppose the annual celebration of genocide, Kolumbus Day.

Saturday, October 10th, 9:30 am

West Steps of the State Capitol building

Upcoming Anti-Imperialist Actions in Denver: No War In Afghanistan, No Kolumbus Day

If you didn’t feel there is enough to do around Denver fighting imperialism, this week will be eventful.

First, this Wednesday a march, rally, and after event to protest U.$. wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. Join RAIM as we do our thing and provide platform for revolutionary, anti-imperialist politics.

Then join us this Saturday as we oppose the celebration of indigenous peoples genocide (aka Kolumbus Day).  This year’s protest will be more low key but just as creative in letting oppressors know they are oppressors.

From the Denver Anti-War Network:

EIGHT YEARS IN AFGHANISTAN IS ENOUGH

March and Rally to Demand US Out of Afghanistan

DENVER, October 5, 2009— On Wednesday, October 7, as part of a month of actions around the country, the Denver Anti War Network will lead a march and rally to call for an end to the illegal US occupation of Afghanistan. The rally will be from 4:30– 5:30 at the Federal Courthouse, 19th & Stout, downtown Denver…

The march will be followed by a Justice and Peace Jamboree at the Mercury Café, 2199 California, at 7:00pm, where participants will enjoy music and poetry and share ideas for continuing opposition to the war…

and:

Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 9:30am

Demonstration at State Capitol

Confront the Racist Kolumbus Day Parade!

Oppose Settler Colonialism!

Sacred, Indigenous Site Made Into Fill-Dirt for New Sam’s Club, Revolution Needed

https://raimd.wordpress.com

In Oxford, Alabama something awful is happening. A hill, on top of which lies a Native American rock mound, is being destroyed in order to procure fill-dirt for a new Sam’s Club a few miles away.

The rocks were arranged on the 200 foot (60 meter) rise over a millennium ago. The site was fundamental in Indigenous rituals and gatherings in the area. According to Oxford head racist, mayor Leon Smith, the site is the “ugliest old hill in the world.” “Just a pile of old rocks,” he added about the mound. City officials plan to in the future remove the top of the hill, including the rock mound, to create an elevated, eight acre (3.25 hec) commercial development site that will overlook the Choccolocco Valley and city of Oxford. Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart Stores Inc, which is carving into the hill right now, is a growing chain of wholesale megastores. Like Walmart, Sam’s Club markets itself as increasing the purchasing power of First World consumers through low prices.

Oxford, Alabama is one locality in an entirely stolen continent. Since 1492, all ‘development’ in Amerika has occurred hand in glove with the protracted genocide of Indigenous peoples. This genocide continues today. Those few Native Americans left which still have ties to the land are finding their historic claims increasing threatened by the federal and state governments and private interests. In the realm of ideas, Native identity and culture continue to be wiped out by Amerika. In Denver and elsewhere, the Sons of Italy and other racists conduct Kolumbus Day parades: celebrations of their 500 year conquest and occupation of the North American continent. Now in Oxford, Alabama, a clearly sacred site of an all but exterminated people is being destroyed with the intentions of creating more shopping opportunities at discount prices for Amerikans.

More significant is the connection between Amerika’s founding genocide and the system which fuels today’s consumerism: imperialism. It was in fact Amerika’s genocidal occupation of North America which provided a social, cultural and material launching pad for U.S. aggression abroad. It is no coincidence that during the 1890’s, after the ‘closing of the frontier,’ Amerika initiated a war with Spain and acquired through military occupations the colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam. Today this system is still in place and the U.S. virtually occupies the world. And it is precisely this history of aggression towards the Third World– and the resulting militarily imposed exploitation upon Third World peoples– which compels Sam’s Club and Walmart to bring ultra-low prices to ever more First World consumers, even at the cost of a clearly significant site for Native Americans.

While the outgoing scarification of the hill will likely continue, because of the extreme cultural chauvinism at a time when Amerika is attempting to re-invent itself as multi-cultural and pluralistic, the removal of the actual rock mound may be halted through effective campaigning at the reformist level. However, the real solution to this problem is nothing short of revolution. That is because the destruction of the site has a deeper cause than simple racism or cultural chauvinism. Consumer culture, rapid environment degradation, continued annihilation of Indigenous heritage, wars of aggression and systemic Third World poverty are all connected through capitalist-imperialism. Those who want to truly end Amerika’s continued genocide against Indigenous peoples and culture, as well as those who oppose consumerism, poverty and ecocide, should single out First World imperialism as the principal enemy in their related struggles. Those who truly want to create a new, better world must unite with and promote the struggle of the world’s exploited and oppressed majority against the capitalist-imperialist system.

Sources:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009507533_apusindianmounddispute.html?syndication=rss
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072100460.html

KKKolumbus Day 2008: Fight Racism and National Oppression

Transform Columbus Day has several events coming up this week in the Denver area. RAIMD encourages participation against this white supremacist holiday. We will post more info as we get it.

Saturday:

Monday:

Racism 101

Student’s Walkout On Racism!

Join us on the 101^st Anniversary of Columbus Day and make a stand against RACISM!

What: Racism 101 – A street view of history: join the Rally & March through Denver‘s racial history.

Where: Walkout on Auraria Campus Plaza Building Lawn

When: Columbus Day, Monday October 13 at 12:00 noon.

http://www.myspace.com/walkoutonracism

walkoutonracism@gmail.com

KKKolumbus Day: White trash spectacle opposed, over 80 arrests

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

Throwing Wayne Dirty and Madeleine Albright off bridges

Pre-TCD 2 for 1

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