Occupy Denver Protesters Promote Peace After Clashes
Protesters Bonded Out Of Jail With Donations
Posted: 10/31/2011
Last Updated:
566 days ago
After violent clashes with police Saturday, Occupy Denver demonstrators focused Sunday on getting arrested activists out of jail and promoting a peaceful message.By late Sunday night, Occupy Denver organizers said all but one of the 20 protesters arrested Saturday had been bonded out of jail with donations from volunteers.They also said the National Lawyers Guild mobilized more than 45 attorneys willing to represent those arrested for free.David Blessing was one of the protesters who bonded out Sunday night after being arrested for failing to comply with a police order."I hope our actions will help the American people see how determined we are," Blessing said. "The police were under orders. They do their job. The problem isn't with the police. It's with the people who tell the police what to do, and that's the politicians."Meanwhile, protestors held a candlelight peace vigil Sunday night, blaming police for the chaos and accusing officers of excessive force.Denver police said they only responded with force after protestors became aggressive, pushing an officer off his motorcycle and kicking other officers.Al Nesby was arrested Saturday for failing to comply with a police order, but he said that some of the people inciting violence aren't part of the Occupy movement."I don't condone that behavior," said Nesby. "That happens a lot on Saturdays. You end up with a lot of people who come out of nowhere."Occupy Denver organizers said they hope the violence and discord don't overshadow the message of fighting against economic inequality.
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