CodePink: "This Should Be a Peace Convention!"

If you think that all that is happening in Denver this week is pundit blah blah on CNN, consider that it's only Sunday afternoon, Denver time, and already a wide variety of peace protests have taken place today in the Mile High City.

At noon Sunday a spirited CodePink demonstration set out towards Union Station from CodePink headquarters at the Mercury Cafe. Marchers chanted: "Dems, Pay Attention! This Should Be a Peace Convention!" They were greeted warmly by passing pedestrians and motorists.

The majority of TV pundits may strongly feel otherwise, but there is no reason to believe that the majority of Americans want Democratic leaders to blur distinctions with McCain on issues of peace and war. They surely want Democratic leaders to present and defend clear alternatives, including full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, and the pursuit of serious negotiations with Iran, not a slightly more nuanced version of the Bush/McCain policies of ultimatum and threat, which stand little chance of ending confrontation in the region.

At Union Station the marchers were met by other CodePink activists, and the group proceeded to march through a nearby shopping district. "We're Peaceful, We're Marching, We're Not Going Shopping!" Shoppers and passersby took out cell phones to capture photographs of the colorful pink parade. In the heart of the shopping district, Code Pink activists spread out across the street for a "Stop the Next War Now 'Freeze'". This attracted the close attention of Denver's Finest, whose black Star Wars outfits provided a perfect canvas for the pink splashes of color.

The Code Pink peace marchers were then joined by a contingent organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War. The combined group marched back towards Union Station, chanting, "Support Our Troops: Bring Them Home!"

Back at Union Station, another group of peace activists appeared: a group of Mennonites singing for peace. "There Is An Alternative To War," their banner said.

Wouldn't you like to see a little bit more of these citizen democracy actions on TV, rather than the same old morons recycling conventional pundit "wisdom" with new graphics? Wouldn't that make TV coverage of the conventions more interesting?

Comments

[JXJASON]

Bob, Thanks for this article. I read your foreign policy emails and I send one each week to Congressman Paul Kanjorski, D. PA and Senator Bob Casey's office.

[JXJASON]

Leon, I agree with you. Senator Obama has been talking about the poor economic conditions for many, many months. Get involved in the OBAMA/BIDEN 08 campaign. Get your neighbors involved. Write letters to your Senators and Congressman AND COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW THE IRAQ WAR HAS WASTED MONEY.

I have done this for the past three years. We need to keep doing it. It works. My Congressman admits he was wrong to vote for the war in Iraq. Along with Bob Naiman and others, I have told Senator Specter ( R. PA. ), Senator Casey ( D. PA. ) and congressman Kanjorski ( D. PA. ) NO WAR WITH IRAN.

Vote for DEMOCRATS. The majority of Republicans ( George Bush comes to mind ) don't care.

God Bless all the PEACE ACTIVISTS wherever they may be.

Go to Moveon.org for your free OBAMA/BIDEN 08 button.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[KDelphi]

Go Code Pink!

[LeonBNJ]

There should also be massive marches and protests as to the economic crises of most of Americans. Where is our 'Code PInk' organization?

[BADEN]

They are a small but brave band of people working as fast as they can every day.....They've let the way in enlightening, and FUN ways to protest very serious considerations.

Love ya, ladies!

(Check out your local CodePink group and GET INVOLVED!)

[dexxjones]

this gives me hope. cindy sheehan is a true american.

[BADEN]

My heart sang when you mentioned the Mennonites joining.
They helped the Great Peace March in 1986 by providing camping space.

They weren't quite certain what to make of this ragged bunch of adults in a Peace Cityn on a mission to stop nuclear global war.

To hear that they've come to sing is....well.....glorious!

[Danny]

Yeah Code Pink, yeah Iraq Veterans Against the War, yeah Mennonites!!! There will be more peace groups in attendance. I hope this is not the last day that "Denver's Finest" will step aside to let them express themselves. This is a "Democratic" convention, isn't it? And we are still a Democracy, right? (Unlike China who denied protest permits, period, and were lambasted for it by ... George Bush, today!)

As for television coverage, if only they could see how photogenic the Code Pink street actions are. Why do they feel threatened by a bunch of peace-loving PHOTOGENIC activists? There are ratings to be gained from removing the yoke of oppression and letting the people see what's happening in the streets. The anti-war movement has been invisible for too long.

If I lived in Denver I would join them, with pink garb, today. Men and women are welcome.