#OccupyDenver Has Gov. Hickenlooper In A Tent Tizzy; Reactions Spread Across Facebook And Twitter (UPDATE)

Now home to hundreds of supporters of the Occupy Denver movement, Civic Center Park is sprouting a multitude of tents and, as of this morning on conservative KOA host Mike Rosen's show, Governor Hickenlooper has publicly stated that he wants them gone.

On Rosen's show, Hickenlooper was asked if the state had told protestors that campers were violating the law. The governor responded:

We’ve absolutely told them that. You can’t stay here. About six years ago, five years ago, we had a group that wanted to do a tent city to dramatize the situation of homelessness. We told them, 'It's unsafe... If we let you do it, we have to let everyone else do it'.

...we'd like them to leave every night by, like, nine o'clock, and then come back at, say, 6:30.

The Governor added that he is worried about setting a precedent allowing people to camp in parks without rules, but that he hasn't drawn a line in the sand for protestors yet because it's "not a burgeoning metropolis."

However as of Tuesday afternoon, the movement has garnered at least 40 tents and the Colorado State Patrol has yet to announce plans to remove them.

Occupy Denver's Facebook page responded hours later:

Hickenlooper wants us gone! Come down to the occupation ASAP for a march over to talk to him! 2:30. We're not going anywhere!

The reaction on Twitter and Facebook to the Governor’s statements from the Denver occupiers has been overwhelmingly critical. Hickenlooper’s Facebook page has been flooded with angry and disappointed comments. At the time of publication there were well over 100 comments on the governor’s page alone.

Many like Dakota Lee Payton brought up the political risks of evicting this peaceful demonstration:

As governor you should decide what is best for the people of Colorado correct? By trying to enforce the removal of the Occupy Denver movement, that is not listening to the voice of the people. How to you plan on winning votes in the future by doing such a thing? Do you realize that over 9,000 people (9,744 exactly) support the occupy Denver movement. This is only 2 and a half weeks into the movement... realize by stopping the protest in Denver you may lose the 9,744 votes, the people who don't have a Facebook who support the movement,as well as the uninformed who will later learn about the movement? Not is it only morally wrong, but against the constitution.

Catherine Lavender reminded the governor of his background and the legacy of Edward Wynkoop:

I met you long before you entered politics, and you impressed me as a thoughtful man for celebrating the legacy of Edward Wynkoop. Wynkoop was a man who stood for what he believed in -- for justice, for fairness, for what was right. I hope that you will live up to his example by remembering Occupy Denver's constitutional rights to free speech and peaceable assembly, represented by the Occupy Denver encampment. Peace and Justice for my home state of Colorado. Be brave and be right.

Some like Ariana Oppegard even called out the Governor to join the protesters on the ground:

Mr. Governor, I urge you not only to allow the peaceful protesters on Denver's capitol to remain, but to commend and join us. As liberals, we must stand in solidarity against the forces who wish to corrupt and tarnish our nation's ideals. The voices of the 99% are spreading in strength and numbers, please align yours. Thank you.

And on Twitter and the blogosphere the reaction was similar with supporters of the #OccupyDenver movement posting Hickenlopper’s office phone number asking people to make a call to the governor and express their solidarity.

Others called on Hickenlooper to look towards Mayor Bloomberg’s reasonable stance on letting the Wall Street protesters remain “indefinitely” in the park as long as they abide by the law.

So far, as of Wednesday morning, the protesters remained at the Capitol building’s tent city. In fact, they have several peaceful events scheduled for the day that seem well-timed given Hickenlooper's reaction. There is a calming Yoga and stretching class at 9:30 a.m. and then a discussion about how fear-based thinking impacts our physical, intellectual and emotional well-being at noon, and more discussions rolling throughout the day.

A call to the Denver Mayor's office was not immediately returned.

LISTEN to the radio segment, via 850 KOA (skip ahead to about 13:00 to hear the governor)

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Comments

[JavaManiac]

06:04 AM on 10/14/2011

If they remove these tents, I am sure there will be 100s more tomorrow. Go Occupy Denver.

[REMEMBER2050]

04:49 PM on 10/12/2011

Hey, Hick, how about doing something constructive?? Like figuring out how to get rid of our Republican Attorney General, who is doing his utmost to strip as many Coloradans as possible of voting rights, including those of our troops serving overseas?

There's a coordinated national effort to disenfranchise voters that has been undertaken by the Republican Party. Hick, you are registered as a Democrat. Prove it, because after your petty tent city debacle, some proof would be good.

[galvestonguy68]

02:23 PM on 10/12/2011

I find it odd that they ignore the homeless in the park for years and when people protest it is a big deal. I guess if you sleep there without a tent it is ok.

[beerbagger]

01:52 PM on 10/12/2011

Hick's apparently not a smart man. The US parks service charges a modest fee. He should do the same. Just ask for a modest $5 a week from individuals. Then he can take that money and stuff it up his state house golden dome he's on TV begging for funds to repair.

[gouko787]

01:50 PM on 10/12/2011

Camping Permit

Dated 1776

The First Amendment (Amendment I)
The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, INTERFERING WITH THE RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE OR PROHIBITING THE PETITIONING FOR A GOVERNMENTAL REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.

Granted by We The People
Expires: WHEN FREEDOM ENDS

[pinkyboo]

01:44 PM on 10/12/2011

HIckenlooper is a faux democrat.

If I had any other option I would not have voted for him.

[gouko787]

02:42 PM on 10/12/2011

I would have to say he is in the 1% but at least sometimes thinks about the 99%.

[cwaged1002]

05:13 PM on 10/12/2011

Is that ever the truth. Many voted for him for the same reason you did.

[gouko787]

01:41 PM on 10/12/2011

Too Big to Fail
means nothing when you are
Too Poor to Eat
Too Sick to Live
Too Scared to Think
and
Too Busy to Vote

[Davep2232]

01:37 PM on 10/12/2011

Was down at Occupy Denver yesterday out of curiosity, and here's what I observed. First of all, it smells really bad. Made up of 25% older hippies and I'd say 75% 20-30 somethings who seem to be down there because it's the "cool" thing to do. Some, but not all seem to even know much about why they're there. I'm 30 and very worried that my generation has bought into victimization, socialism, and has become lazy and passive. Get out there and start your own businesses!! Become entrepreneurs and become wealthy yourselves. YES, there are crooks on Wall St who definitely need to be jailed forever, but your man Obama has refused to send any of the fat cats who lined his pockets in 2008 to jail!! He's even got 14 lobbysts on his administration when he SWORE he would have none!

[gouko787]

02:09 PM on 10/12/2011

Some valid concerns.

I think you should be more afraid of Corpratism than Socialism though.

If Obama does not get the clue that down with him too.

[Davep2232]

08:45 PM on 10/12/2011

I'm afraid of both. One is Fascism and the other has never worked for any length of time. Socialists, please move to France and leave my country alone. Thank you. I'll even pay for your plane ticket out of the country.

[Alt Click]

02:30 PM on 10/12/2011

Interesting. I'm very worried about things as well, although not worried enough to make up my own statistics and stereotype others. Out of curiosity (and assuming you took your own advice), which company did you start?

[gouko787]

01:34 PM on 10/12/2011

A Legal System that favors Justice over Resources and Connections.
A Healthcare system concerned with The People, not profits.
Replace Corporate Funded Elections with Public Funded Elections.
Eliminate tax loop-holes that send jobs overseas.
EPA regulations restored on Fracking and Polluters.
End the Wars of Aggression and make Profiting from War illegal.
Start rebuilding American Infrastructure for the 21st Century.
Invest in an Energy Plan that does not lead to Death and War.
Fund the Education of ALL our children.
End Trickle Down and Start Bubble Up.
Stop Speculating on OUR future for your profits NOW.
Hold the Supreme Court Accountable for Unconstitutional Behavior.
Stop Disenfranchizing Voters and Start Listening to them
Stop Borrowing from OUR Social Security.
Get the money flowing from the Banks to Small Business.
Start making things in America again.
Stop abusing Executive Powers and Parlimentary Procedure.
Make the Federal Reserve “Federal” and “a Reserve.”
Reverse the Citizens United ruling for the benefit of The Citizens.
Stop trying to Legislate Morality.

But if it makes FOX "news" fell better,
they can say it's all about Nothing.

[salsmom]

01:12 PM on 10/12/2011

This is a governor who pretends to be a progressive but all of his behavior is reminiscent of the democrats who are republican lites. They get in with the vote of the democrats and progressive independents and then do everything they can to cater to the republicans. This man either takes positions that are anti-progressive or remains quiet on issues that are important to progressives.

[SusPiShus]

01:42 PM on 10/12/2011

Agree, have thought this from the beginning. He is pro-business at the expense of the average citizen and always has been.

[REMEMBER2050]

04:33 PM on 10/12/2011

He's a blue dog on a good day. He's anti-people and pro-business, which makes about as much sense as "Citizens United:" last time I checked you can't have the latter without the former. And last time I checked a country is nothing but the sum of its citizens--there's no frigging point at all if you elimate those pests.

He was the only choice in the last election, so there you go. Ritter was a great Governor and we're going to feel his influence for years on turning Colorado into a solar state and in many respects the leader in the nation. Hickenlooper? Maybe we'll luck out and Romanoff will run against him next time he's up.

[Cheapthrills]

01:01 PM on 10/12/2011

Maybe the 99/1 ought to move into the state capitol...that is owned by the people, isn't it?

[Republican No More]

12:50 PM on 10/12/2011

Careful Governor Hickenlooper... better call up Mayor Bloomberg and get some tips on how to handle this... mess this up and you'll be famous... not in a good way... you were too late to slow this down... now you're going to have to deal with it...

[P51MUSTANG]

12:05 PM on 10/12/2011

Only in America are our tent cities filled with $500 REI tents.

[Telemachus]

02:06 PM on 10/12/2011

Investment bankers have done so well in the last 10 years they've all traded up to motor homes, so the tents end up at ARC.

[surlyatbest]

11:28 AM on 10/12/2011

I drove by the "demonstration" this morning at 8:00 and saw many protesters sleeping on the ground. I've been up since 4am. It must be nice to keep protesters hours.

[cynical one]

12:28 PM on 10/12/2011

Whine much?

[surlyatbest]

12:50 PM on 10/12/2011

Shh! The Whiners are sleeping.

[pfz]

01:02 PM on 10/12/2011

you poor thing do you need a hanky?

[R A Bows]

11:26 AM on 10/12/2011

Apparently, to become Governor, one must sell out to the Wall Street banks that own the Fed and use it to control the government, military and intelligence services, media, and voting processes.

[TggerJen]

12:29 PM on 10/12/2011

The same for being Senator, House member, President, Mayor, etc. apparently.