There are many faces to Occupy Denver’s protests, and some of them are legitimately funny. As further proof that not all civil disobedience is illegal or even ultimately that serious, last night the occupation debuted the protest tent. It is exactly what it sounds like, if it sounds to you…
At eight in the morning, solidarity is more than just a word. In the cold, it’s a necessity. Scianda Long’s thermal blanket looks like a giant Hershey bar wrapper, but inside a sleeping bag and a Batman blanket, it is how she slept through the night. The next morning, there’s…
This weekend, in a crowd estimated between 2,000 and 4,000 people, Susan Shepherd managed to stand out. The Denver City council member represents District 1 in an official capacity, but in the few days since her first rally with Occupy Denver, she has stepped out as a staunch supporter of…
After yesterday’s meeting between Occupy Denver reps and Michael Hancock, in which the Denver mayor reiterated his opposition to letting protesters camp, relations between the city and the 99 percent are decidedly chilly. And they got even colder overnight, after those braving the temperatures were reportedly doused by sprinklers…
Update, 5:18 p.m. October 18: When asked to describe Occupy Denver’s meeting with Hancock this afternoon, protester Al (full name withheld) went with, “It was neutral.” The less-than-exciting introduction matches the results, which take neither side any further toward agreement than before the meeting. Attended by Al, Paula Fedyk and…
Jonathan Shepard knew he would be arrested last Friday morning while defending the Thunderdome at Occupy Denver’s previous home across the street from Civic Center Park. Today, he proffers his left arm: On his wrist is a small cut where police officers had to cut into his skin slightly to…
The long-awaited, much-debated Bureau of Land Management plan for oil-and-gas drilling on public lands in northwest Colorado has something in it to annoy everybody. In other words, it’s the kind of classic, middle-of-the-road, concessions-to-all-sides-and-favoritism-toward-none compromise we’ve come to expect from the Department of the Interior under Secretary Ken Salazar –…
The Colorado chapter of the National Lawyers Guild is offering free representation to those arrested in the Occupy Denver protests. The group’s also been sending legal observers to demonstration sites — and several have shared reports with chapter president Charles Nadler about police officers treating them improperly…
A great deal of attention has been lobbed at the number of Occupy Denver arrests made over the weekend: fifty in two days. And though the Denver Anarchist Black Cross has been hugely instrumental in guaranteeing the release of the prisoners on bond, funds are running low. In an effort…
Billy Reno’s first reaction to the Occupy Wall Street movement was a desire to head to New York. But this was quickly squashed when he stopped by the local movement instead. Tonight, Reno, whose last name is spelled on the knuckles of his left hand with a diamond replacing the…
Last week, even as he was helping prepare for Occupy London’s launch, Adam Jung, a prominent figure in the protests associated with the 2008 Democratic National Convention due his role with Tent State University, weighed in on Occupy Denver’s tent city being dismantled — an action for which he blamed…
Corey Donahue has become a grinning face of the Occupy Denver movement, but this also makes him somewhat of a scapegoat. The activist for both marijuana and the occupation is politically fearless in a way that verges on foolhardy roughly as often as it’s impressive. This weekend, it ended in…
Last week, we reported on separate Occupy Boulder groups, and one participant’s hope that upcoming events would help everyone pull together. And while it was overshadowed by Saturday’s Occupy Denver arrest-fest, a Boulder march and rally appears to have accomplished this goal, with around 700 members of the 99 percent,…
Occupy Denver protests present a challenge for mainstream media outlets. The local version of the Occupy Wall Street movement can’t compare in size to the largest assemblies in the U.S. or internationally — at least not yet. But it’s still one of the biggest ongoing stories in these parts over…
After a tumultuous week with police clashes, arrests and strict enforcement of the no-overnight-camping rule, Occupy Denver protestors had a quiet day on Sunday. Around 200 demonstrators occupied Civic Center Park in the afternoon and early evening, and their general assembly at 3 p.m. focused on moving forward with peaceful…
Seven of the 26 people arrested at Occupy Denver’s second run-in with the police last night faced their arraignment this morning at the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center. Seventeen of the volunteers arrested were released prior to this morning’s arraignment, and the final one, Corey Donahue, is scheduled to go to…
Update, 10:11 p.m. Saturday: Mayor Michael Hancock’s office has announced that an additional 24 people were arrested in tonight’s protest. Their arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. tomorrow at the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center. In the meantime, police are present at Civic Center Park with the intention to close it…
Update, 5 p.m. October 15: The names of the final two Occupy Denver protesters charged after Friday night’s protest have come out. Aaron Petrovich was charged with assault, while Scott Greene, the final arrest, was charged with unlawful conduct on state property and made it out of jail only this…
Coverage of the Occupy Denver tent city being dismantled early this morning wasn’t only seen by Denverites. Also watching was London-based Adam Jung, a prominent figure in the protests associated with the 2008 Democratic National Convention owing to his role with Tent State University. And the images didn’t make him…
Patricia Hughes had better be careful. Hughes is the subject of reporter Kelsey Whipple’s third Occupy Denver profile of the week. But this morning, our own Brandon Marshall happened to snap photos of Whipple’s first two subjects, Corey Donahue and Pat Marsden, in police custody. See them below…
As of 5 a.m. today, it’s officially the morning after. The time between 11 p.m. and right about now has left many of the Occupy Denver protesters, particularly those who aren’t accounted for, just a little worse for the wear. Patricia Hughes is nursing her wrist, but the Ace bandages…
Occupy Denver’s tent city was dismantled just after 3 a.m. today — and Westword’s Jenn Wohletz was on the scene before and after the authorities moved in. For instance, she saw the arrests of staffers who’ve been manning the site’s kitchen, dubbed the Thunderdome. Page through below to see her…
