Police in Riot Gear Surround Protesters

By Magdalena Parker

8/26/2008

Seven o'clock hit and protesters began linking arms, getting ready to march under the evening sky of Denver. They flooded the streets outside of Civic Center Park, moving toward the 16th Street Mall and the Convention Center. Hundreds of police officers were dressed in riot gear and gas masks. They surrounded the protesters along 15th Street between Court Street and Cleveland Place. Reinforcements arrived moments later on horseback and in large armored vehicles.

According to the Denver Post, about 100 people were arrested. The newspaper wrote that a spokeswoman for the convention's Joint Information Center, Lynn Kimbrough, said two officers fired pepper spray after protesters charged the police line and one officer fired pepper balls.

"Nazis followed orders too!" shouted one man, as police got into formation along the street.

Yelling could be heard from all sides. Those who weren't in the surrounded group tried to get the police to release the protesters.

"Speech is free! Let them be!"

It's unclear why the Denver Police reacted so strongly. One onlooker said he was glad the officers were there because he felt the situation could have easily gotten out of control.

Over an hour later, the blocked-in protesters were released. Levy Milarn said "They just stood there and glared at us. They wouldn't let us out. It was ridiculous."

A few hours earlier, the scene at Civic Center Park had been peaceful. About a hundred young people had gathered, sitting on the grass and under trees, discussing politics. At one point, the media actually had outnumbered the demonstrators.