Julio 30, 2008

DNC and Protests: Security or Justice?

Unconventional Denver, the group of radical activists that has been organizing protests against the Democratic National Convention this September, has issued an offer, which contains the best idea I've heard of in a while regarding this upcoming act of political theater and associated protest theater: They're offering to "call off all protests during the convention if the city, federal government and the DNC agree to redirect the current $50 million earmarked for heightened security during the DNC and invest it in Denver communities."

What a great concept! Better yet, how about calling it off ANYWAY, and using the money you WOULD have spent on bus tickets, gasoline, spraypaint, sign materials, pot, beer, cool activist t-shirts, black hoodies, black bandanas, etc, and funnel THAT cash into Denver communities, and/or your own communities if you plan on travelling to Denver from afar?

And wouldn't it be hilarious if all the riot pigs showed up armed for a superrumble, and the streets were completely empty? Wouldn't the city feel stupid for spending that 50 million?

But no, you'll probably go ahead and run around the streets chanting and yelling and dancing and sewing new patches on your Carharts, and give our overlords all a reason to make people feel so glad that they spent that money on more guns and tear gas. A win-win situation: the rulers get to point at another excuse for strict security measures, and y'all get another huge summer street party and formative experience.

Rock on, everyone!

Posted by steev at Julio 30, 2008 07:17 PM
Comments
Interesting proposal. Although I blogged today on the value of demonstration, what you suggest here makes sense, too. Come to think of it, what exactly is the point of these conventions whose conclusions are almost entirely already concluded? Let's cancel them, too, and divert that unnecessary spending on transportation, balloons/trinkets/signage, food, hotel, security, rent, etc. (ad nauseum) toward a justice distribution of resources. Posted by: Border Explorer at Julio 31, 2008 07:56 AM