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…
Editor’s note: Kelsey Whipple was at the scene of the former Occupy Denver tent city this morning. She phoned in updates. Update: As we broke from the scene, one protester sat reading Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s The Gulag Archipelago while a drive-by supporter blasted Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” out his…
Update: The latest Occupy Denver Facebook post: “Ground Update: Central camp has been evacuated and the final structures have come down. There were a few arrests of those defending our kitchen. Occupiers have been pushed out to the perimeters of Lincoln park and yet… Occupy Denver lives on. This is…
The break-up of the Occupy Denver tent city just after 3 a.m. this morning was preceded by a 10 p.m. press conference last night at which the swelling forces representing the 99 percent pledged to stand fast. Check out YouTube videos below that capture the scene prior to police action,…
Members of the Occupy Denver movement will hold a press conference at 10 p.m. in the wake of Governor John Hickenlooper and Mayor Michael Hancock’s announcement that the group can no longer camp out on the grounds of the Colorado State Capitol overnight. The group issued a press release this…
The political triumvirate of Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers held a joint news conference this morning aimed firmly at dispersing the ever-growing camp at Occupy Denver. Protesters will no longer be allowed to stay overnight without facing confrontation from the police…
Mother Nature is not making it easy for Lori Phillips. As she attempts to explain her motivation for Occupy Denver, the wind is tossing the informational handouts at the group’s front desk around like leaves. Combined with the constant stream of cars honking in support, it would be easy for…
At 11:30 a.m. today, a rally entitled “America Wants to Work” will take place on the steps of the Denver City & County Building, not far from Occupy Denver’s tent city near the State Capitol. And that’s not the only connection seen by two of the organizers behind the event,…
Even as the last chapter of the three-year-old protests during the Democratic National Convention was closed in federal court, Mayor Michael Hancock and Governor John Hickenlooper were grappling with the challenge of dealing with the the Occupy Denver protesters they can see out their office windows. And yesterday, they issued…
Earlier today, a Colorado State Patrol spokesman said the law-enforcement approach to Occupy Denver’s tent city is evolving, and could be finalized soon. But rather than waiting to see how agencies might try to enforce Governor John Hickenlooper’s apparent wish to end overnight camping near the State Capitol, the Occupy…
Pat Marsden is almost impossibly human, particularly in the sense that he is both focused on his humanity and slightly impossible. The Occupy Denver volunteer identifies as a black-flag anarchist, though that assertion comes with some hesitation: first “Maybe you shouldn’t put that,” then, “Whatever, it’s who I am.” And…
As we reported yesterday, Governor John Hickenlooper said Occupy Denver protesters can’t continue camping overnight near the State Capitol — but he acknowledged that jurisdictional issues have complicated things. Such issues have yet to be resolved, says a Colorado State Patrol spokesman. But various agencies are working on figuring out…
Editor’s note: Much has been written over the past few days about similarities between Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party movement of a few years ago. Some, like Fox News, argue that the two are not the same thing, while others claim they may have more in common than…
The tent city that sprang up in relation to Occupy Denver, the local version of the Occupy Wall Street protests, can’t become a permanent fixture at the State Capitol, Governor John Hickenlooper said today — and the Colorado State Patrol confirms that discussions will be underway soon to determine how…
Today, Keep Denver Competitive, the organization fighting against the Denver Paid Sick Leave Initiative is releasing an ad, on view below, starring one of the measure’s highest-profile detractors: Mayor Michael Hancock. Does that make Hancock the face of No on 300? Not exactly, says campaign spokesman George Merritt…
“I’m a Mormon,” announce billboards currently popping up in Denver — and the timing of their appearance have suggested to some observers that they’re intended to boost the presidential aspirations of Mitt Romney, the present frontrunner in the GOP presidential sweepstakes. But a local spokesman insists that’s not so…
Occupy Wall Street has been taking flak for being vague about its mission and not having a concrete platform. But the growing protest in New York is currently working on a document that will outline the organization’s demands. Because the movement is democratic, with no specific leader, the list is…
“But what do they stand for? I thought this was about Wall Street?” That was the plaintive cry of one woman who’d headed down to the Occupy Denver camp last night and wound up listening to one of the general assembly meetings, where this leaderless group tries to grapple with…
Any way you slice it, the very, very, very strained relationship between Douglas County Coroner Lora Thomas and Sheriff Dave Weaver can’t be good for homicide investigations in the county. Both sides have accused the other of interfering with and jeopardizing their work, and now a backer of the sheriff…
Given its demographics, Boulder would seem to be the ideal spot for a local version of Occupy Wall Street to flourish. But while Occupy Denver appears to be building momentum, a similar movement is just getting started in Boulder — not due to a lack of interest, but because so…
The wet weather over the weekend did nothing to deter the core group of satellite Occupy Wall Street-inspired demonstrators camped out at Broadway and Colfax. Occupy Denver supporters vow to continue the camp-in in rain, shine and even into the snow season. Look below to see a photo essay of…
Saturday had the potential for seeing a collision course of parades and protests: While the annual Columbus Day Parade was gearing up downtown, the anti-Columbus Day protesters were gathering outside the Capitol, right by Occupy Denver. And Occupy Denver was planning its own march through downtown at noon, right as…
