As wars rage around the world for oil, natural gas and lithium among other things we sit at home wondering why all the lives and money is wasted while the economy forcefully widens the chasm between America's rich and poor. As protests spread from state to state and go global we hear the all too familiar three words from politicians “I get it.” They are among the first signs from certain politicians and their parties proving the exact opposite is true. As jobs become harder to find, politicians launch and extend conflicts meant to enrich wealthy corporations overseas all the while bringing us stagnation and regression back home. Oh that's what they meant by change.

Traditions can be good things giving an anchor in life providing a measure of social and communal stability. They may be occasions for immediate and extended family to come together and bond over history, familial creed and ethos. They can be a time for larger groupings of people, however spread out they may be, to remember what they have in common. They can even inform us a bit as to our place in the world, where we fit in and maybe who we are.

Of course, they aren't always exactly what we need all the time to help us find our way. Traditions can wear themselves out and become counterproductive. At such times things once counted on to be one way can morph before we realize it. As we return to comfortable traditions we may find ourselves confronted with the reality of a situation now useful to forces no longer aligned with our best interests.

http://denverabc.wordpress.com/2...

UPDATE: DPD Raids Squat, Support Needed
Posted on October 24, 2011 by denverabc

Please Post and Forward Widely

Background

Sunday afternoon a squat in the Jefferson Park Neighborhood of Northwest Denver was raided by over a dozen officers from District 1 of the Denver Police Department.

Witnesses report that the raid was very violent, with at least 8 officers repeatedly beating one of the arrestees, and eventually using paramedics to sedate them while they laid face down, bleeding, in the street.

Four people were arrested, one being sent to a hospital in an ambulance to receive medical care. As of Sunday night, three of the arrestees are facing 2nd degree Burglary (a class 3 felony) and $10,000 bonds. The fourth arrestee’s charges remain unknown because she is still hospitalized. All four have been active participants of Occupy Denver.

How to Help

•Contribute to our bail fund! Contact DenverABC at DenverABC@Rocketmail.com for information on how to donate to the fund.

•Courtroom solidarity! Bond hearings will be Monday (10/24), 10am, at the Van Cise- Simonet Detention Facility (Colfax and Delaware). Future hearings will be posted on denverabc.wordpress.com

•The first solidarity action will be Monday (10/24), 5pm, at the Van Cise facility.

•Stay in the loop for future solidarity actions and opportunities at denverabc.wordpress.com. We are also on Twitter and Facebook. Also request to be on our announcement list by emailing us.

Frustrated with the way the so called “occupation” is going? Tired of self important politico assholes telling us how we can or can’t resist the tyranny of capitalism? Appalled by the vague and confused list of demands of self appointed leader-activists, who only seem to want to perpetuate the status quo? Sick of the divisive false dichotomy of violence vs. nonviolence? Feel disconnected from a toothless movement so scared of confrontation that they call us agent provocateurs for saying “Fuck The Police!”, and meaning it? Tickled by a movement which calls itself an occupation but refuses to occupy? Well you’re not alone! We are everywhere! All around this (illegitimate) country (and world) right now there are people just like you and me, people who’ve been fighting colonization, repression, and exploitation for some time now, all the while wondering when discontent will manifest on this kind of popular scale. Some of us have recognized these “occupations” like the one in our city as empty rhetoric which serves only to take momentum away from a true resistance effort. In Denver alone we are many, and we have yet to realize and unleash the potential of our empowered discontent. We want nothing to do with talking to the mayor about patching up the economy, and we know with tears in our eyes and fire in our hearts that only those blind to police violence can ever put themselves in the same social category as these pig thugs. And we WILL NOT settle for powerless resistance. Denver can do better! This is a call for a new kind of occupation, not in opposition to the current “occupy wall street” charade, but in spite of it. To be fair, some of these occupations have not fallen in the same bullshit ideological traps as this one.

http://westdenvercopwatch.wordpr...

Thanks to West Denver Copwatch for this video.

Per Denver ABC, there were a total of 50 arrests. 46 individuals have
been arrested, four of them twice. All were charged with misdemeanors--none with felonies.

One person was hospitalized, though several others were injured by pepper spray, pepper balls, and blunt weapons used by police.

It was late afternoon when I learned that the protesters of the Occupy Denver movement would be evicted tonight and so I made my way to Lincoln Park to see what was going to happen. I have covered a lot of demonstrations for COIMC over the years but this was the largest since the DNC three years ago. It also seemed to have good public support with passing cars laying into their horns to show support and people waving to the demonstrators as they passed. It was a good thing to see so many people from all walks of life gather together to let the unhappiness and dissatisfaction with the capitalist greed and the conservative base in American politics that has done so much harm to so many.

The tents and info shop like stands where well organized and clean, contrary to reports in the capitalist press to the contrary. Tents with slogans like 99% written on the side. Signs expressing anti war and anti-imperialism sentiments abounded as did signs questioning the capitalist control of government. There where slogans and art work, pastels in crayon and pencil, on the sidewalks. I should also mention that it was a beautiful night and that the capital itself is beautiful.

#OccupyDurango Friday October 14th & Saturday October 15th,

Fassbinder Park, 17th Street & Main Avenue in Durango, CO

Rally at 4PM Friday October 14th, on the corner of 11th Street & Main Avenue.

March North to Fassbinder Park around 5PM to set up occupation.

Bring tents, sleeping bags, warm clothes, camp chairs, blankets, food, water, musical instruments, other camping supplies, signs, banners, flags, boom boxes, noise makers, your friends, family, and lovers, and your indomitable spirit of resistance!

General Assembly at 4PM on Saturday the 15th

@ #OccupyDurango in Fassbinder Park!

facebook.com/groups/OccupyDurango | OccupyDurango@groups.facebook.com

www.occupytogether.org | occupywallst.org

The author, Glenn Spagnuolo, is the cofounder of the Recreate 68 Alliance, a member of the Transform Columbus and All Nations Alliances and a long time social justice activist from Denver, Colorado

“Occupy Together, The Division of a Community”

Writing a critique of the Occupy Together movement has been a difficult task for a radical that continues to work for, and appreciate, a full uprising of the people against an unjust government. Since the beginning, many of us have been watching closely the developments from the “occupation of Wall Street” struggling with our own inner conflict of action or inaction in the face of a movement that is beginning to capture the public’s imagination. I write this from Denver, Colorado with my experience based in the solidarity actions of Occupy Denver in mind and influence of thought.

Dear Governor Deal,

I am writing as the survivor of a murdered family member to ask you to spare the life of Troy Davis. I understand the feelings of people who favor the death penalty, though my religion forbids it, because 29 years ago, my only brother, Paul, was murdered. My entire family narrowly missed my brother's fate. The killers came looking for Paul at my parents' home, while my children were visiting there, just minutes after Paul had left. If Paul's killers had arrived in time to find him, they would have left no witnesses. So I understand the feelings of the McPhail Family, and their friends and supporters. But my loss has taught me something else that is just as important.

Death is the most final thing in this world. Once someone dies, by whatever means, that person is not coming back. Neither Mark McPhail nor my brother will ever be back in our lives or able to continue their own lives. So in taking a human life, we are doing the most serious act anyone can commit. And I use the word "we" for a reason. The execution of any person is the collaborative act of our entire society. It is "we" who kill that person.

It follows that such a radical act, if it is to be done at all, must be done in the complete certainty of the condemned person's guilt. And in the case of Troy Davis, that certainty does not exist.

You are aware of the issues. You know about the witnesses who have retracted their testimony. You know about one of the two witnesses who did not retract--himself a suspect in the murder of Officer McPhail. And you are fully aware that the prosecutor and several of the jurors, who did the best they could at the time of the trial, now say that, in light of all the facts we have today, Mr. Davis should not have been convicted at all.

From the Denver Anarchist Black Cross:

Thursday, September 15 · 1:00pm - 4:00p
Lindsay-Flanigan Courthouse, Room 5G
Colfax and Elati, downtown
Denver, CO

Anti-Police Terror arrestee Amelia Nicol will have her discovery hearing
(postponed from August 22nd) on Thursday September 15th at 1:30pm in
courtroom 5G at the Lindsay-Flanigan Courthouse (the new courthouse at
Colfax and Elati, across from the new jail)

This discovery hearing will be an important hearing, where we expect that
all evidence that the prosecution has against Amelia will be presented
(any physical evidence, photos, video, pre-march surveillance, etc..) and
a judge will determine if the evidence is admissible at trial.

This hearing will be a good way to gauge the current case against Amelia.
Although the most serious of her charges were thrown out in June during a
pre-trial hearing, Amelia still faces a felony count of possession of
explosives, and three misdemeanor counts, including assault on a police
officer and resisting arrest.

Amelia faces several years in prison if convicted.

Please show your solidarity and support by attending this hearing if you
can. If you cannot attend, but still stand in solidarity with Amelia and
want to show some support, please mark your calendars and make plans now
to attend her trial, expected to convene October 4th at 8am.

Rocky Mountain Antifa is a crew of dedicated antifascists operating in Colorado. We are dedicated to confronting and fighting fascism, racism, and oppression in the Rocky Mountain region. We have no formal membership or organizational structure, nor any ties with any established networks. We do support the ARA points of unity. Active antifascists in Colorado, provided they follow the points of unity, will be supported and embraced by Rocky Mountain Antifa.

After a confrontation last September (more about that later), we have been keeping tabs on several Nazis, particularly Blood & Honour Colorado members... Oh wait, ex-Blood & Honour Colorado members. We heard the group disbanded months ago, among a slew of other problems, because they just couldn't come to consensus about whether or not women should be allowed to become full-fledged members or remain in "supporter" roles. The evils of patriarchy do some good for once, apparently.

A pair that really grossed us out are Rob and Janette Clement, or as we've fondly nicknamed them "Robnette, the Arvada Neo-Nazi Power Couple." According to some of Rob's posts on Stormfront, a popular web forum for white supremacists and other pieces of shit, the couple have "two beautiful white daughters" and live in Arvada, a suburb outside Denver. Area antifascists report encountering the two at a White Nationalist Coalition recruitment BBQ-turned-antifa-disruption last September at Chatfield Lake, before the official inception of RMAF.

Rest of story, including home addresses of the fascist scum, available here:  http://rockymountainantifa.blogs...

Hi!

So some of us put together an anarchist-minded newspaper for Denver and Colorado. We plan to publish in the first week of every month, and you can find a .PDF of the paper on our website, ignitedenver.wordpress.com or get it in print at the 27 Social Centre. If you'd like to contribute, comment, or whatever email us at ignitedenver@riseup.net. Our first issue has some communiques we found on the web, a piece on Sacco and Vanzetti we stole from the Worker's Solidarity Movement, some reporting from The Red Pill up in Grand Junction, and some other stuff. Check it out here: http://ignitedenver.wordpress.co...

Thanks! Love and Solidarity!

-Ignite! editorial monkey

Amelia Nicol had another court date on the 22nd of August that turned out to be quite non-eventful.  Her lawers had failed to file the motions on time, and so had to ask the court for a continuance, which was granted. The lawer representing Amelia has filed a constitutionary motion against the state regarding the statute concearning possession of an expendiary device, which in the Colorado law states that anything from a nuclear weapon to something as small as, say, a firework, are charged under the exact same precedence. 

The next court date is set for September 15th at 1:30pm at the Denver court house, which will consist of the discovery hearing, as well as the motions filed hearing. Thank you all for the tremendous support throughout this, and we hope to see you at the next court date.

from the Denver Anarchist Black Cross:

It’s been more than a month since a demonstration commemorating the year anniversary of the murder of homeless street preacher Marvin Booker resulted in the arrest of three protesters. All three have attended court in the last few weeks, bringing about new updates in the context of anti-policing struggles in Denver.

The first person arrested that day turned out to be a minor and was released after a short period of detention. He had no prior criminal record and was given a deferred sentence on the condition that he completes anger management courses. There is an obvious irony in all of this: While a person who is upset about the police’s indiscriminate and brutal violence against people in this city is required to take classes to “manage their emotions,” the cops that murdered Marvin Booker were never required to take anything of the sort. Those who deal out beatings or fly off the handle towards mere traffic violation witnesses throughout Denver never found themselves being patronized by some “sensitivity coordinator.”

The other two arrestees, who were released after eight hours in custody after the Denver Anarchist Black Cross raised more than $700 for bond, have been arraigned on various charges relating to the “illegal posting of bills” and defacement of private and public property. An August 9th hearing went off routinely, with the exception of a constant police escort for the defendants and their supporters.

On July 18th, Denver Police took human life once again. The victim in this case was Alonzo Ashley, a 29 year old man visiting the Denver Zoo during one of the summer's hottest days. As the visit went on, he suffered increasingly from heat exhaustion and decided to cool off by sticking his head in a water fountain, after which Zoo Security tried forcefully to remove him. What followed is still debated, though the police story continues to be debunked detail by detail, but the event resulted in 18 police cars being called, 5 tasings of Ashley and ultimately the death of an innocent man.

A couple weeks later, on July 31st, the International Day of Action Against Fascism and Racism, 160 city parking meters were sabotaged in retaliation for the murder. This action was chosen for numerous reasons - it being a clear attack on the same city government responsible for the Ashley murder, that also benefits the general populace in the form of a free parking spot, to draw a connection between the racism of the far right and that of the police forces; and above all to deliver a significant financial blow to the city responsible for this death in an extremely easy, simple way. The exact damage is unknown, but repairs on one defaulting meter alone averages out at a little more than $200, not to mention the money missed out on over the course of it being down or the fact that many of these meters were brand new, high tech ones. Each meter filled, bonded, jammed, sealed, welded, or otherwise destroyed can cause the government the same amount as say, a broken window, but with the advantage of being able to be repeatedly carried out one after another after another without detection. In other words, over the course of a minute the damage adds up real quick in a way that nosier attacks make nearly impossible.

There was a cop car window smashed in the Denver area in solidarity with the cop car burnings in London today.

A few anarchists dropped a banner over I-25 downtown last night. The banner read "Anarchy Lives."

from Rocky Mountain Antifa:

We are pleased to state that our inaugural post as Rocky Mountain Antifa is a post of substance and action. A report and several pictures informed us of a rash of Nazi graffiti in East Arvada. Targets included the Lutz soccer field, Vanderhoof elementary school, a park adjacent to Vanderhoof, a wall dividing the nearby neighborhood from 58th Avenue, and the Arvada Plaza. Two antifascists took it upon themselves to cover up the filth and leave an antifascist message, and several members of the neighborhood were reportedly overheard talking about how slow the city was to respond and that it was a good thing people had taken the initiative to cover it up themselves.

August 12th - 14th, 2011

This August, Earth First! Durango's monthly Full Moon open public meeting will be held in the woods of La Plata Canyon, West of Durango, CO up County Road 124 off Highway 160. Join us and other concerned community members for a weekend of fun, education, hiking, wild foraging, and of course, (safe, legal, low-risk) reconnaissance of Wildcat Mining Corporation's locally infamous Mayday mine/mill site(s), hopefully with the help of local Mayday & La Plata Canyon residents already active in resisting the destruction wrought by the mine.

Bring adequate camping gear and clothing for August monsoon Colorado (heat and) rain, any supply donations you can (money, food, fuel, camping gear, etc.), maps of the area, cameras, video cameras, binoculars (etc.), your friends and family, and your indomitable spirit of resistance!

We also ask those planning to come to the canyon to please read the Basic Recon Skills primer:

"Basic Recon Skills" Readable (non-collated) version (.pdf) | "Basic Recon Skills" Printable (collated) version (.pdf)

With so much urgently needing to be addressed in America right now why are our leaders in Washington so seemingly centered on reelection? We have two wars that need sorting out and an economy that was slowly recovering as of a month ago, now maybe sputtering. The wars themselves drain economic resources to protect the “interests” of companies that have no interest in everyday Americans at all many of which aren't even American. Yet in Washington once again we are subjected to another long drawn out piece of “hey look at me I'm doing nothing signifying I'm important to you, so you better remember that come election time or you'll be even worse off” drama being played out and for what?

The same thing happened over health care in 2009 and 2010 and really didn't sit well with people. It is perhaps hard for people to see how petulant they can seem from the inside of things when they believe their behaviors as seen by the public to be more important than meaningful actions. They believe the nation seeing them tussling and fighting it out after hanging loose and joking like they had a hundred inside jokes just a short time ago is going to reinforce the idea they stand for separate things.

Both sides of the political machine are threatened now. A poll taken in 2008 showed, “the proportion of voters who identify with the Democratic Party outright has not increased in recent years. Currently, 36% say they think of themselves as a Democrat, virtually unchanged from 2004 (35%) and 2000 (35%). Instead, as the proportion of self-identified Republicans has decreased, the percentage of independents has grown substantially, from 32% in 2004 to 37% [as of 2008].” (http://pewresearch.org/pubs/773/...)

The use of undercover police and paid informants is a notorious area for graft and corruption. Since these undercover operations are secret there is little or no oversight of their actions.

A glimpse into the secret world of the Drug War is available by looking at the Arrest Affidavit for Steven Anthony Valles, who was convicted of selling meth in 2007.

GJPD Officer and Drug Task Force member David Arcady swore under oath in the affidavit that he used an unwitting accomplice, Jennifer Williams, to make meth buys. Williams, according to Arcady, was three months pregnant when they bought meth from Valles. Arcady swore that after the buy “Williams then opened the bag and took some methamphetamine out of the bag as payment for the completion of the deal,” but that “the general rule is not to allow any drug to get away.”

Arcady states under oath that during the buy, “Williams advised that she used a hypodermic needle and it was good (meth).” William then showed UC (undercover) Arcady “where she used the needle and the UC in turn showed her where he used the needle.” They then discussed “how and where ‘they shot up’ at and how to avoid a knot on the vein.”

So peace Officer Arcady, is using a pregnant woman to make meth buys. He is paying her in meth, and he is shooting up. Hmmm. Law and order at its finest.