People Take to the Street on 100th Anniversary of Columbus Day

People Take to the Street on 100th Anniversary of Columbus Day
by Clayton Dewey
Colorado Indymedia

On Saturday, October 6th, over 500 people marched against the legacy of Columbus and in favor of a world based on respect for all peoples and honor for the earth.

The day started in the morning with a Four Directions March, each direction representing a color from the Medicine Wheel. The marches converged at the State Capitol which was followed by a lively rally.

People then proceeded to the parade route where hundreds stood in the street to defy what people have dubbed the "convoy of conquest."

The police attempted to give dispersal orders but the crowd continually cheered to the point that their deafening chants would drown out the police commands. Finally those willing to risk arrest were left in the street, linking arms and chanting while supporters cheered them on and heckled the police.

Despite the fact that all of the protesters participating in the civil disobedience acted in a non-violent manner the entire time the Denver Police escalated their tactics by putting protesters in pain compliance holds, something that was not used in past civil disobedience situations. At least one person was also beaten to the point of bleeding after someone opened a fire hydrant. Denver Copwatch, a local police monitoring group, commented that "The use of force by police, particularly the extended periods those detained endured pain compliance holds, constitutes a significant human rights violation."

In addition to excessive force and intimidation by the police, there were also undercover cops dressed in stereotypical anarchist garb wearing bandannas and attempting to spark disruptions, possibly to provoke a police riot. These actions are supported by several witnesses and were even videotaped. Materials will be released as soon as possible.

Many suspect that the trumped up police presence and heavy handed approach to the peaceful demonstrators was meant as a message to those planning on protesting the Democratic National Convention that is scheduled to be held in Denver in August.

While the police dragged protesters onto buses, a handful of parade supporters were there engagin in several shouting matches. Some of the more interesting exchanges were when a man told protesters to "go learn about your country." To which someone responded, have you ever been on a reservation? Pine Ridge is a Third World Country. The man said he would refuse to ever visit a reservation and that the reason so many Native Americans live in poverty is because they drink away their money and waste it on casinos.

The parade itself was marked by the same in your face racism. One contingent was lead by a man dressed in a caricatured Native American costume while the other wore a Conquistador outfit. The people trailing them held up signs of all the different cities and townships that take their name from Columbus. While the parade goers may not have recognized it, the display was one of the most pointed analyses of how deep the Columbus legacy has been institutionalized in our country.

A couple politicians were there to show their support for the slave trader Columbus, including Tom Tancredo, the infamous Colorado Congressman and Republican candidate for President who has speerheaded the fight against immigrant communities, Muslims and just about anyone who isn't white. Some of the many racist positions he holds include advocating the bombing of Mecca and other holy sites if the US were attacked by Islamic militants, opposing the fact that Denver Public Library has books in Spanish and classes for Spanish-speakers, and calling for the end to race-based caucuses in Congress.

The parade was interuppted several times by protesters entering the street and the crowd watching the spectacle was overwhelmingly there to voice their opposition to the hate speech going on.

The Christopher Columbus statue in downtown Denver was also defaced. A banner was draped over the body decrying over 515 years of colonialism. His hands were spray painted red to signify the genocide of the Taino people Columbus began.

After the protests, people rallied outside the Denver City and County Building where 88 people were held.
Protesters were released slowly, one by one, Saturday night, each receiving an applause from those rallying in solidarity outside the city jail. Police still harassed a couple of people as they left the city jail, including one man who was pulled over for a suspicious reason, and supposedly because his plates didn’t match his car. Some suspect racial intimidation because the car had indigenous symbols on it.

At least one person is still in custody, being charged with assaulting an officer, which is considered a felony. He was apprehended when he entered the street to stop the parade as it was moving but it is still unclear what actually happened. Updates will be posted to the colorado.indymedia.org as they develop.