Final post for today... DU meetup, protesters, and a special treat for DC DUers!

[Elad]

So, on our way out of the Pepsi Center security perimeter on our way to the DU meetup, what do we see, other than the anti-war protesters gathered right outside our parking garage. The police were very obviously preparing for the worst. They were rolling in vans, buses and other methods of transporting detainees on the other side of the security perimeter. They had squads and squads of officers in riot gear waiting at various points near the Pepsi Center, inside the security perimeter, ready to deploy. Luckily, I hear the anti-war marchers were told that a representative for Obama would meet with them and everything cooled down.

Here are some of the preparations the police were making behind the security perimeter of the Pepsi Center. I asked one of the officers if they were preparing for the anti-war marchers, he responded "Yes sir."



This is a large squad of horseback cops heading to stand next to the security gate as the marchers gathered just outside the gate



Assembled horseback cops..



SUVs full of cops in riot gear sitting behind the horseback cops... squads like this were positioned on virtually every portion of the security perimeter.



The protesters started moving to a new location, and the cops followed at a respectable distance



The officers guarding the entrance where you need credentials to pass suddenly increased in number and looked a lot more intimidating...



Anyway, on to merrier things!

The DU meetup was great! It was so nice to meet so many local DU posters, you all made me feel great. DU wouldn't be possible without all of you. Hissyspit, Ava and others took more pictures than I did, but here are a couple...





And finally, I saw this tree near the Pepsi Center and thought it was kind of amusing... It's a young tree, and on it is a plague that says, "This tree was planted in honor of the delegation from District of Columbia"... So rest assured guys, you may not have a vote in congress, but you have a tree in Denver with a plague on it.





Till tomorrow!

[goodgd_yall]

1. I hope they get it under control

"So rest assured guys, you may not have a vote in congress, but you have a tree in Denver with a plague on it."

[TexasObserver]

2. Cool photos. Thanks.

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. Are you SERIES!!1!??? - I hope that plague doesn't spread!!!

lol

Did you mean plaque?

[Withywindle]

5. Is it Dutch Elm disease or the chestnut blight?

[Samurai_Writer]

4. More Photos from the Meetup

It was great to meet you, Elad, and everyone else, too! I posted a link to my photos in the photography group, here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[DFW]

6. Sorry I missed it!!!!!!!!!

But Bill Clinton and Joe Biden were just mesmerizing tonight. Even John Kerry was great.
Watching Hillary put Obama "over the top" with visible enthusiasm was a turning point
as well. If she hasn't "gotten over it" and moved on by now, then she deserves an Oscar.

Afterward at one of the receptions, I got to meet Joe Biden, too! Met up with a LOT of
old friends, too, that I didn't even know were here.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a nightmare. They said get ti Invesco by 1 PM and wait for Obama's
speech at 8:30 PM, and then expect to take 3 hours to get back to town, and then I have
to be in a taxi on the way to the airport by 6:30 AM Friday.

There is no rest for the weary, but this is one time I'm willing to be weary!!

Edit--2 pics of mine:
1.) the floor the moment Hillary makes it official--a few thousand happy Democrats!

2.) Joe Biden, tired but happy, talking at the reception afterwards. I couldn't
hold my camera and shake his hand at the same time (that was about 1 minute after
I took this pic), so you'll have to take my word for it (or not! LOL)

[barbtries]

8. how exciting!

wish i was there. on the other hand: WAIT 7 1/2 HOURS? that seems a tad excessive.

so it's not until 8:30 in denver, which means i have plenty of time to work a full day, get home, relax, and will probably pass out about 2 minutes before obama begins speaking. mmmm lol

[DFW]

13. I just hope I don't pass out in the stadium!

[mcctatas]

7. I may regret this...

but who put a plague on the D of C's tree? "you have a tree in Denver with a plague on it."

I know, I'm rotten...

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. A tree with a plague?

Do you mean plaque?

Those cops are so creepy. Denver should be ashamed by how they have treated the protesters this week. Thanks for the pics.

[blondie58]

10. thanks for the posting and the pictures, Elad!

and it was so nice meeting several other DUers last night. Yeah, that the thing about Democrats, we're all really open and friends are made easily.

[DWilliamsamh]

11. What a slap in the face that DC got a tree with a plague!

Once again DC gets the short end of the STICK!!

Thanks for the pics

[nc4bo]

12. Just love seeing on the ground photos! Thanks to you 2 for sharing them. nt

[Voice for Peace]

14. How appropriate.. a plague from DC

[DesertFlower]

15. thanks for the pics.

you guys must be exhausted.

[mmonk]

16. Thanks very much for sharing.

[Symarip]

17. OH NOES!!!!11

There's a plague on the tree!!!

I live in/near DC and I'm DEEPLY offended we plagued this poor tree.