"No Second attempt by the police was made to communicate prior to the first tear gas, and no time limit was given after the only announcement. "
Sat. Feb. 15, 2003
I was amongst 2,000-3,000 peaceful protestors here in Colorado. We all met up in Colorado Springs. The Speakers were all very articulate. The other people that were present but not "speakers" were also articulate with their passion and commitment for peace. After the speakers shared with the crowd most of the people at the rally then moved to the sidewalks on both sides of the adjoining street, Academy.
The idea was to let people in cars that weren't able to partake in the rally to see all the peaceful demonstrators with their signs. The street sidewalk was lined on both sides with people and their signs and banners for several hundred yards. The organizers as well as the police were moving up and down the road along the sidewalk letting people know to stay on the sidewalk for the safety. Some protesters had moved to the median and were soon told by the police not to assemble there and to remain on the sidewalk.
I am not sure why but as I was standing there with another protestor holding a banner it became obvious that the police had stopped traffic. (Well we were standing there to be peacefully visible to the public.) When we all realized that the police had stopped traffic, we all started moving toward an adjacent street that you could see traffic moving. (The police stopped traffic so people started to walk in the street and change sidewalks)! As we got closer to the new street there were police in RIOT GEAR (shields batons, Rubber bullet Riffles, Paint Guns) and I personally as heard no communication from the police as to any instructions.
A friend of mine at the rally was singing with a "pick up" band and had 2 mini megaphones. He handed me one and I joined in with the singing. Another Friend was partaking in the rally as Cop Watch and told me that the police wanted every one on the sidewalk. (The police still had the traffic blocked off and the officers in Riot Gear were blocking the street.) I joined my friend and some rally organizers with the megaphone I had and we walked up and down the sidewalk letting people know the polices instructions. (The police didn't appear to me to have a megaphone at this time.) So as we walked up and down the street a few times we made our way back to where the front of the crowd and the police were. At this time it was about 2:08pm and the rally was scheduled to finish at 2pm. As we (myself ,and the cop watch person) got closer (within 10 feet) of the police they all started putting on their gas masks. So we, Myself and Cop Watch Friend) began to tell the crowd that obviously the police didn't we\ant us here and we could gather at the air force base for the second part of the rally. People started moving back to where all our cars were and the Riot Police brought up the rear.
After we all got back to the parking lot field, the music was all being played just off the sidewalk with many people on the sidewalk listening. (I was just off the side walk making sure with Cop-watch that people were hopefully moving on.
I heard a faint megaphone (which was no more than 30 feet away when I saw where the sound was coming from) and the police officer stated that the people in the rally needed to disperse or the police would gas us. I immediately, with my megaphone tried to let the crowd know, but it was obvious that the "pick up" band over powered my wimpy megaphone. (Roughly a minute and a half went by from the time I heard the police make their announcement till I looked over and saw an officer pull the pin on the first canister of tear gas.) I was still between the police and the crowd when I saw the canister be thrown up along side of the sidewalk. (Tear gas isn't much fun!)
The first canister was pick up by an angry man and thrown back at the police. I think that that man was the same one that I saw a police aim his rubber bullet rifle at and shoot once. (The only part I am not sure about is the person that was hit by the rubber bullet.) After the officer shot the rubber bullet I saw it bounce back on to the street. At this point the tear gas was getting to much for me to bear as I then decided to leave the immediate area.
I then Crossed the street and watched all the commotion from the other side of the street. The police continued to use tear gas and the crow quickly dissipated. I saw a tear gas canister be thrown at under a white SUV as people were trying to get into it to presumably leave.
My opinion is that the police made little attempt to communicate with the crowd. I have heard police in the past talk on the car loud speakers and I know it was louder than the megaphone I heard the one officer use just prior to the first tear gas canister into the crowd. No sirens were used to get the people at the rallies attention that were pleasantly listening to the rally music. No Second attempt by the police was made to communicate prior to the first tear gas. And no time limit was given after the only announcement. I am grateful that there was no greater use of force used and only minor injuries were sustained.
Smile Inside
Greg Cicciu