MEDIA ACCOUNTABILITY MARCH

After the noon performance there was a panel discussion on the Palestine/Israel Conflict with Metropolitan State College Political Science Department Chair Robert Hazan and University of Colorado at Denver Professor Amin Kazak.

Over 3,500 Coloradoans and activists from several states converged on Denver to protest President's Bush's march to war on the Iraqi people. One of the largest protest rallies in Denver for some time.

At first several hundred amassed at the City & County Building. When the march began to greet Pres. Bush at the nearby Adam's Mark Hotel, hundreds turned into thousands. West Colfax Avenue and the 16th Street Mall were temporarily shut down by the protestors.

"We were thinking that we would have about 200 people. We were thinking that would be good," said Remy Kachadourian, a member of the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace. "The feeling is starting to get out that this is a truly dangerous war."

“I strongly hope and pray that the innocent life of the Iraqis will not be put in jeopardy and the American people will not be put through the indignity of losing their loved ones simply because we need votes,” said Ibrahim Kazerooni, Colorado Against War in Iraq.

According to the Denver Post, "When the group arrived at the Adam's Mark, they encountered a small group of Bush supporters. 'We thought we were the majority, until this army showed up,' said Bush supporter Kevin Keeling, 19, of Boulder, who studies political science at the University of Colorado."

The protest sponsored by Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace, the Colorado Friends Service Organization and the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center.

There were over a dozen media reports before, during and after the rally and march, from local TV stations and Newspapers to radio stations and newspapers in South Africa and Australia.

More photo galleries of the rally: [1] by B. Klocke, [2] by W. Dungey, [3] by Burrito Boy. Columbush - a music sound collage (5 min)

Fifty-Seven years ago residents of Hiroshima, Japan were the first humans to experience the horror of nuclear warfare.

Denverites remembered Hiroshima and pledged not to let it happen again in Iraq. Over 125 people turned out to the state Capitol to say loud and clear: "NOT IN OUR NAME!" Holding banners, symbolic coffins, chalking the sidewalk and filling a box of questions for Rep. Diana DeGette (quiet on this topic these days) and her opponents (Ramona Martinez, Ken Seaman) in the upcoming election.

Speakers included: Hiroshima survivor, Mrs. Fusako Kawahara, Marge Taniwaki from Making Waves: Asians in Action, Imam Kazarooni from the Islamic Center of Ahl-Al-Beit, Vern Remple from First Mennonite Church, and Ron Forthofer, Green Party Candidate for Governor.

Joining hundreds of international activists for Palestine Freedom Summer, two Coloradans, Jill Dreier and Sam Messier, traveled to Palestine to use nonviolent direct action to end Israel's illegal military occupation of Palestine.

“Living in the United States, I cannot sit back and watch the U.S. Government’s role in the Israel/Palestine conflict," said Jill prior to leaving. "The U.S. is giving an average of sixteen million a day to the Israeli Government in aid. It is important to let the American public know how their money is being spent.”

“I want to bring with me the message that not all Americans have forgotten the Palestinians," Sam told friends before departing. "The real heroes of Palestine are the Palestinians and Israelis who are opposing the occupation every day through non-violent means at great risk to themselves."

Over 100 people came out to be in solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israel's illegal military occupation and to bring attention to Israel's recent bombing of a residential area in Gaza that killed more than a dozen people. Though the turn-out was decent for a last-minute organized rally, no media bothered to show up.

Wearing look-a-like masks of Ehud Barak, serving appetizers of swiss cheese (the Israeli labor and likud parties plans for Palestine - get it?) and offering a color brochure illuminating Ehud Barak's infamous "generous offer," over 75 local activists met with hundreds of admirers of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak who was speaking at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (as part of its "distinguished" lectures series).

As the anti-occupation activist community welcomed Barak, the Denver police attempted to force protestors off the public sidewalk. When confronted with the actual first amendment law (freedom of speech and assembly), police officers relented.

KCNC Channel 4 and KCNC Channel 9 both covered the demonstration and the Rocky Mountain News did a story that appeared the next day.

3/27 - 5/20/02: SEVEN MEMBERS OF CCMEP GO TO PALESTINE TO HELP END ISRAELI OCCUPATION

During Israel's single-most destructive invasion since the 1967 war (Israel conquered the West Bank and Gaza), seven CCMEP members went to Palestine in solidarity with the Palestinian people before, during and after the invasion. Two members, Gary Anderson and Nancy Stohlman, were in Bethlehem when Israel's tanks and F-16 bomber jets began the invasion; at times both stayed in refugee camp homes that were under constant threat.

Read all their journals here. For dozens of pictures from these delegations, click here.

Over 400 people turned out for a unique benefit concert hosted by The Denver Zen Center that had an eclectic mix of four local bands (Shackdaddys, The Speedholes, Sin Desires Marie, The Reals), speakers (including Alternative Radio's David Barsamian), theatres, food and literature. Over $2,700 was raised for CCMEP and an Afghan hospital, operated by RAWA (Revolutionary Afghan Women's Association), recently bombed by the US. Special thanks to co-sponsors: American Friends Service Committee, Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center, Denver Green Party and The Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

1/16/02: MOCK ISRAELI CHECKPOINT PROTEST OF BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S VISIT TO DENVER

50 Coloradans came out on wintry night to protest the visit of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (1996-99), a member of the right-wing Israeli Likud Party. Demonstrators created a mock Israeli checkpoint to give Coloradans, and especially those who spent $10 to hear the coarse-words of Netanyahu, a taste of what life is like for the three million Palestinians enduring 35 years of illegal Israeli military occupation. Activists playing the role of Israeli soldier demanded IDs and Passports from those arriving for Netanyahu's talk. Hundreds of factual fliers were handed out that revealed the true nature of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's "generous offer" to the Palestinians.

12/15/01 - 1/10/02: FIVE MEMBERS GO TO PALESTINE, TAKE PART IN DIRECT ACTION TO END OCCUPATION

Invited by the Palestinian-led International Solidarity Movement, five CCMEP members went to Palestine and joined hundreds of internationals in weeks of nonviolent direct action to both end Israel's illegal military occupation of Palestine and expose the US role in supporting Israel's occupation.

150 people from Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver converged on the Cherry Creek Shopping Center for a mid-day Sunday Funeral March in solidarity with the Afghan people as well as for our civil liberties, the truth, honest media, etc... that have suffered so greatly from this war.

After a brief gathering at 1st & University, the funeral march headed down 1st Avenue with several black coffins in the front and many noisy drummers and percussionists right behind. For nearly an hour the march snaked through Cherry Creek, ending at a park near Bayaud & Steele Street where there were two brief speakers (Emamudin Ghiasi & Dan James) and then an open mic period.

Media covering the action included Channels 31 and 7, as well as The Denver Post. Also, there are several great photos at Rocky Mountain IndyMedia (scroll down right column - IMC News Wire)

About 50 people came out to continue the protest-boycott of Circuit City. Hundreds of bright pink "Boycott Circuit City" flyers were passed to would-be Circuit City customers, with many turning around. Channel 31 covered the event as well.

In negotiations last week a Circuit City corporate representative refused to come to an agreement with CCMEP, telling CCMEP's Reema Wahdan that Circuit City is unable to say anything public about how they've handled the 10/7 incident. Because of this intransigence, the boycott will go on and CCMEP plans to enlist the support of other organizations and communities and look to spread the boycott nationwide.

Click here to read letters (with details of the original incident) sent to Circuit City; Click here to read the proposed agreement between CCMEP & Circuit City.

500 people turned out for a spirited peace march and rally. Spanning nearly three blocks along the 16th Street Mall, many noon-time shoppers were surprised and intrigued by the marchers. Special thanks to the Radical Cheerleaders for keeping up the spirit and volume! Great speakers ranged from Middle Eastern Studies Professor Dr. Akbarali Thobhani, Alternative Radio's David Barsamian, Nell Geiser of Student Worker, Human Rights Lawyer Jennifer Harbury, Felicia Hilton with Jobs With Justice and the American Indian Movement's Glenn Morris.

The Rocky Mountain IndyMedia had the best media coverage. Other coverage included four TV stations (2, 4, 7, 31), the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, The Metropolitan and the Boulder Weekly.

To listen to Felicia Hilton's speech, click here (thanks to Rocky Mountain IndyMedia!).

About 60 people participated in a spirited two hour protest picket of the Abilene/Florida Circuit City calling on shoppers to boycott the store until Circuit City makes a formal, public apology and guarantees that a new diversity training for its employees will happen within 30 days. During the two hours CCMEP's negotiating team made two attempts to reach an agreement with Circuit City management, to no avail. The Circuit City district manager said he did not have the "authority" to make an agreement and he promised to let the Virginia corporate office know of CCMEP's concerns (which they already knew because CCMEP had, on Friday, Oct. 19th, faxed the letter and proposed agreement to them).

Many shoppers, after talking with protestors and getting information, turned around and boycotted the store. Apparently Circuit City employees told customers they could not talk about the protest going on outside, the racial profiling incident that sparked the protest, nor why the store was so quiet on a normally busy Saturday afternoon. A half-dozen counter-demonstrators (they were FOR racial-profiling of Arab and Muslim-Americans) held flags and a few signs.

Click here to read the letter (with details of the original incident) sent to Circuit City; Click here to read the proposed agreement between CCMEP & Circuit City.

Leading up to the 10/20 picket, three TV stations (2, 7, 31) and both the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post and the Aurora Sentinel had done pretty good stories on the racial profiling incident and included CCMEP's requested changes at Circuit City.

At the 10/20 Saturday protest, four TV stations (2, 4, 9, 31) covered the protest (Channel 9 did a live story during their 5pm News) as well as coverage in the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain Independent Media.

10/7/01: EMERGENCY RESPONSE RALLY AT CAPITOL
About 300 people came out on fairly short notice. Although people are deeply saddened and angered by the US/British bombing of Afghanistan it was fortunate that the at the Capitol the American Indian Movement (AIM) was observing a day of prayer and fasting. AIM welcomed anti-war protestors and shared their time and sunset ceremony with everyone. Several people spoke eloquently on the senselessness of this US retaliation and the need to resist this war, including, Mark Cohen, Danielle Short, Pavlos Stavropoulos, and Reema Wahdan. It should also be noted that at all of the three-day Transform Columbus Day actions there were many many speakers who called for everyone to resist this war. Thousands of people heard the message that all life is sacred. Several TV stations and both dailies covered the rally. Channel 2 gets extra special kudos for a very long interviews with CCMEP's Bob Kinsey and Leila Suleiman.

Over 1500 people turned out for a spirited march and rally. Several area leaders spoke eloquently: AIM leader George Tinker, CU-Boulder MSA leader Amina Nawaz, Dr. Vincent Harding of Iliff School of Theology, Ron Forthofer with Christian Peacemakers Team, Peace Jam leader Dawn Engle, Making Waves: Asians in Action leader Marge Taniwaki, Iman Abraham Kazaroni, and Sean McAllister of the National Lawyers Guild.

Unfortunately and unbelievably, the Denver Police Dept (DPD) arrested and/or cited 10 peaceful protestors, seemingly without any provocation. The last person arrested by the DPD may have been detained because he was carrying over $1000 of money that had just been raised at the rally at the City & County Building -- to be used to bail out the previous 10 people arrested! Click here to read Copwatch's report on the Police actions.

Several hundred people came out to the Colorado Muslim Society Mosque on South Parker Road. With the themes of "Respect Diversity, Unity, Peace, and Solidarity," people from all backgrounds and faiths created three human rings around the mosque. Several leaders spoke, including Reema Wahdan for CCMEP. Mohammed Jodeh, local Muslim leader, thanked everyone assembled by saying "We Love You, We Love You, We Love You!" According to the mosque, this was the first time ever for an interfaith gathering of this kind at a US mosque. Media coverage included: Channels 2, 4, 7, 9, 31 and the Rocky Mountain News.

About 200 people marched and made visits to Channel 4, 7, 9 and 31. A letter asking for a meeting and a list of alternative voices was delivered at each station. Media Coverage included Channels 2 and 50, Boulder Weekly, UCD Advocate and The Voice. As a direct result of this action Channel 2 did a live interview with a CCMEP member in the West Bank. Stay tuned for more...