Iraqi Veterans Against the War

Rage Against the Machine and Iraq Veterans Against the War ROCK DENVER

DENVER - A column of people three blocks long, led by members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War, streamed from the Denver Coliseum on Wednesday in an anti-war protest march to the Pepsi Center, where the Democratic National Convention is being staged.


The protest march began after a reunited Rage Against the Machine ended a concert that drew an estimated 9,000 people to the coliseum. The thousands of protesters were ordered to disperse, and they complied, NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver reported.


As the concert let out at the Denver Coliseum at 3 p.m., the unauthorized march embarked toward the convention site.

About 50 veterans dressed in uniform, who did not have an official permit for the parade, were leading the peaceful protest, which reached the Pepsi Center at 6:15 p.m.


"We are the veterans! The Iraq War veterans! The anti-war veterans!" they chanted.
"We are soldiers! Anti-war soldiers!"

Guards locked the gates to the Pepsi Center and walked away. About 20 war veterans and 1,000 or more protestors remained at the gates. They said they wanted to be arrested and were waiting there peacefully between concrete barriers and the fences.


At 6:45 p.m., police gave the first official order for the group to disperse. Once the order was given, the crowd parted to allow the war veterans space to leave.


After the veterans had gone, the 500 to 600 people who remained at the gates turned and followed the veterans back out onto Speer Boulevard, heading toward downtown, KUSA reported.


NBC News' Tom Costello reported that 3,000 to 5,000 protesters participated.


While the protest was peaceful, Costello said police assumed a "riot position," holding batons and standing shoulder to shoulder, as the demonstrators approached the Pepsi Center, where a sit-in was planned.


Police erected a cherry picker and put officers above the crowds to get a better idea of how many protesters there were, Costello reported, and a police helicopter circled overhead.


Letter sent to Obama
Iraq Veterans Against the War wants Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to agree to an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. They also want full health care benefits for returning troops and veterans, and reparations to the Iraqi people for damage caused by the war.


The group sent a letter to Obama on Monday.


Dozens of veterans, some in uniform, began the march in formation, chanting "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon." It is about 4 miles from the coliseum to the Pepsi Center.


People on motorcycles and bicycles joined those on foot. Some people held signs that said "US out of Iraq" with red handprints and "No War on Iran." A few had the numbers of lawyers written on their bodies in case they were arrested.


Behind the veterans, protesters yelled: "Troops out now!"

Jan Critchfield, 24, of Seattle said he served in Iraq in 2004, and after returning home, came to believe that the war was an "unlawful, immoral occupation.
"

He said now that he's back in the U.S., he thinks about what it's like for Iraqis living with U.S. forces in their country.


"I just can't imagine driving through my neighborhood at home and seeing a security checkpoint.
"

Critchfield said he joined the Army at 17 without much thought about the implications.


Jonny 5, Brer Rabbit and Andy Guerrero of the Denver group Flobots were with the marchers, as was Raymond "Boots" Riley of political hip-hop group The Coup. DENVER - A column of people three blocks long, led by members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War, streamed from the Denver Coliseum ... more

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