By Jeff Orrok
LPCO Front Range Outreach Director
The protest organizers had shrewdly arranged for an off-site rendezvous in case the clinic was cordoned off, but fortunately that proved unnecessary. We were able to congregate on the sidewalk directly in front of the clinic, on the traffic island immediately to the south, as well as on the other side of Broadway, and around back (where it turned out the motorcade arrived). There were quite a few of us there well in advance of any of the supporters. From my vantage point, it seemed obvious that we protesters outnumbered the supporters, and it was pretty clear from the signage and apparel that we were more grass-roots.
Although the crowd was indeed "raucous", as the Denver Post reported, nearly everyone on both sides was relatively civil, with only a few vulgarities from one or two people. People generally said "excuse me" if they happened to bump into another person regardless of which side they were on, though the Denver Post managed to take a photo of an Obama supporter grabbing at the sign of a protester. In addition to the Denver Post, there were crews from a few of the local TV stations, NPR, and someone from a public access show. People on both sides were interviewed, but I have not tracked these down to see how objectively they turned out. Lu Ann has sent me a link to an edited video sympathetic to us protesters, which can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2NI_Cx9hbs
Nancy Pelosi arrived somewhat after the announced time of 2pm, and the cars in the motorcade parked in such a way as to obscure her and her companions from view both when entering and exiting the clinic's alleyway entrance, earning her several shouts of "coward!" from the crowd. Chants demanding an appearance from DeGette and a town hall were ignored, and both sides had to content themselves with trying to out-chant the other. After somewhat more than an hour inside at the staged photo-op, Pelosi and crew snuck back into their vehicles and were whisked away.
It was encouraging to meet some Libertarians I had never met before at the protest, as well as other people who are seriously considering the Libertarian Party because they are fed up with both the D's and the R's. I was well-stocked with business cards, so everyone I spoke to got one. The sentiment against the two-party system is increasing, and we need to be ready when the tide comes in. I find it very encouraging to discover that, throughout Colorado, we now have at least one registered Libertarian who voted in the last election in 80% of the precincts. We need to have active affiliates in every populous county, and we need to seriously consider our national communication director's call to organize at the precinct level wherever that makes sense.
As with other rallies and protests I have attended, it felt good to take part in this and make my voice heard. I fervently hope that there will be an ever-growing number of Libertarians who will stand up and take action for the critical times yet to come.
Update; Believe it or not, Nancy Pelosi will be returning to the very same clinic tomorrow, August 12, at noon. The 9-12 organizer who sent out the notice of this speculated that she is trying to re-stage her visit in an attempt to get media coverage that is more to her liking. Well, I still have my protest sign, and I'll bring along copies of the Responsible Legislator Pledge http://www.lp.org/files/ReadTheBillPledge.pdf for her, Jared Polis, and Diana DeGette to sign.
Recent Comments