Everything written by me thus far on the Democratic National Convention and what’s happening outside has involved events or episodes that already happened. Today, it is worth notifying everyone before a specific event takes place that could further define the terms for “hope and change” in this country: Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will be marching down to the Pepsi Center at 3 pm MT if Barack Obama has not responded favorably to IVAW’s call to embrace IVAW’s “three points of unity.”
First, let me thank Linda Milazzo for posting video and reports from the DNC here on Denver. I cannot emphasize the fact enough that what’s happening on the outside of the Pepsi Center is more important than anything happening inside the Pepsi Center right now.
Today is the big day for IVAW. At the Denver Coliseum, their sponsored concert with Rage Against the Machine is to be held at 11 am MT.
For those unaware of the music and lyrics of Rage, let me share a few verses with you:
“So called facts are fraud
They want us to allege and pledge
And bow down to their God
Lost the culture, the culture lost
Spun our minds and through time
Ignorance has taken over
Yo, we gotta take the power back!”-“Take the Power Back” by Rage Against the Machine
If we don't take action now
We settle for nothing later
Settle for nothing now
And we'll settle for nothing later
If we don't take action now
We settle for nothing later
We'll settle for nothing now
And we'll settle for nothing later-“Settle for Nothing” by Rage Against the Machine
The lie is my expense
The scope with my desire
The party blessed me with its future
And i protect it with fire
I am the nina, the pinta, the santa maria
The noose and the rapist, the fields overseer
The agents of orange
The priests of hiroshima
The cost of my desire
Sleep now in the fire-“Sleep Now in the Fire” by Rage Against the Machine
The concert is expected to conclude and be followed by a march. Rage Against the Machine and other artists performing at the concert like The Coup and The Flobots will be joining IVAW when they march down to confront the Democrats at the DNC. (*Note: There is no indication that IVAW will not march if Obama does respond.)
The march route is 4 miles long and the possibility of civil disobedience is very high. This is the event IVAW members have been readying themselves for since they arrived in Denver.
The march will not be a permitted one. That makes the possibility of acts of nonviolent resistance or civil disobedience even higher.
The press should be out in droves and curb the amount of police interference. Their presence on Sunday enabled protesters to actually go right up to the security gates of the Pepsi Center, which the permit for the march did not allow.
The world will be watching to see what Obama, the so-called antiwar candidate, has to say about IVAW’s “three points of unity.”
Ron Kovic was at the memorial with IVAW yesterday and could join the march. And Cindy Sheehan is still in Denver.
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