Page Two, What Do (Democratic) Women Want? Hillary.... and Obama
Emily's List has a pretty good donor base, as was evident from its big convention event held right after WomenCount (but many blocks away). All 2500 tickets sold out almost as soon as they became available, so no one who hadn't already forked out $50 to $5,000 per person got in (including me). Emily's List kindly fed the rejects by putting out a nice dessert spread in the reception area where those who could get in picked up their tickets, and those who couldn't get in were invited to watch on big screen TVs.
I left to go watch a dozen CodePinkers, the women's anti-war group, face off the police outside the hotel. "Mothers Say No to WAR" and "Impeach NOW" said their signs. Their pink attire was a nice contrast to the black-clad cops, who didn't want them going into the hotel, but otherwise didn't know what to do with a group that was neither loud nor obstreperous.
At the corner, anti-choice protestors had put up their 3' X 5' signs and were being both loud (with a bullhorn) and obstreperous. However, the cops were no where near. Apparently anti-war protestors are more of a threat than anti-choice protestors.
Women's events are the targets of choice for the anti-choice protestors who have been putting up their signs on city sidewalks all over the convention. Even at the DNC women's caucus a man dressed in a ministerial collar walked in front of the audience to yell "Let's not forget the rights of unborn women." He was escorted out by three cops as the crowd roared its disapproval.
About a dozen antis showed up an hour early for Monday's Equali-Tea. As they set up shop right in front of the entrance, NOW members took out "Feminist Majority" rounds and stood in front of them. The anti's (one very aggressive man in particular) fought back by moving their signs in front of the feminist rounds.
This is a lightly traveled sidewalk, so there were no passers-by to watch either group. Thus, it was a turf battle more than a protest, or counter protest. However, the jousting for space did make it difficult for Tea-goers to disembark from taxis, or even get to the door from the sidewalk, so the University Club managers called the police.
Police have been everywhere at this convention, but they didn't flock to this conflict. Finally, one lone police officer with a badge saying Golden Police (it's a town, not a position) came to talk to both sides. He told Club managers that he couldn't do anything because they (the antis) had a right to free speech on the public sidewalk.
He was wrong. I've been the police liaison at many confrontations between pro- and anti -choice demonstrators. The New York City police would have demarcated protest zones where each side could communicate its message without blocking traffic or interfering with each other. The antis would probably have been compelled to set up their signs across the street. If that's Constitutional in NYC, it's Constitutional in Denver, but the Golden policeman didn't seem to know that.
The anti-choicers missed the National Women's Political Caucus reception on Tuesday. Founded in 1971, it's the oldest of the current crop of feminist political organizations. About 75 women paid $20 to hear a panel on "Women, Politics and the Media" featuring former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin, who was there to sell her book.
There's more going on at the convention specifically for women, but a lot of it is in the evening for those who don't have passes to the Pepsi Center.
Those who do packed the hall to hear Hillary give her stump speech on why they should support Obama (among other things). I've heard different versions of it several times since her non-concession concession speech at the Washington, DC Building Museum on June 6. She was at her most eloquent Tuesday night. A sea of "Hillary" and "Unity" signs, passed out by DNC volunteers, greeted her words."Unity" is what the Democratic Party wants right now so it can win in November.
Jo's other Democratic convention articles:
Recreate 68? — A Protesters' Pipe Dream
At the Convention: Diversity In Play in the Caucuses
What Do (Democratic) Women Want? Hillary.... and Obama
A Sad Ending to an Historic Campaign? And a Look Behind the Scenes at the Democratic Convention
Return to Page One of What Do (Democratic) Women Want?<<
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