Today was my first day downtown to experience the Democratic National Convention. Traffic was average during mid-afternoon from the north side using Park Avenue, but due to many protests and parades, between Colfax and the Pepsi Center was delayed.
I came here to attend the world premiere of Hype: The Obama Effect at the Denver Pavilions. The 16th Street mall was quite crowded with tourists and police. Two cars (presumably with Democrat National Convention delegate drivers) turned and drove down the 16th Street pedestrian mall.
The location of the group waiting for Hype: The Obama Effect was quite obvious.
A parade went marching through 16th Street while we waited. Likely, it was an unauthorized one. The banner said "No Hope In Capitalism."
The movie itself was tough but fair with Barack Obama's record. It covered his economic plan extremely well. His tax increases and government expansion will likely bankrupt the country. The movie reached too far when it tried to portray Hamas and Louis Farrakhan endorsements of Barack Obama as a negative association. An idea is not responsible for the people who believe it. However, this film is quite a substinative biography of Barack Obama's political career.
On the way back to the car, I saw one of a multitude of bicycle policemen groups. Here is a picture of one group riding down the 16th Street Mall.
Even the World Trade Center had a private security guard in front of its plaza. There were lots of private security personnel in addition to the increased police presence.
Tomorrow, the Democratic National Convention actually begins. With all of the police downtown (and their apparent hands-off approach to the 16th Street Mall march), perhaps the détente between the protesters and the police will remain throughout convention week.
by Civil Sense
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