Code Pink Activist Arrested

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http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/26/code-pink-protester-still-jail/

Only 2 arrests, but one stirs a tempest
Video shows a Code Pink volunteer being knocked to the ground by an officer.

By Jeremy P. Meyer and Christopher N. Osher
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 08/27/2008 01:11:19 AM MDT

Alicia Forrest of Code Pink is arrested Tuesday after a scuffle with police at Civic Center. Several hundred people marched from Civic Center down West Colfax Avenue to Speer Boulevard.

Following a mass arrest of nearly 100 people Monday night, police watching Civic Center made just a couple of arrests through early evening Tuesday — but one of them brought immediate controversy.

In the morning, volunteer Alicia Forrest from the anti-war group Code Pink was arrested when police stepped in as a Kansas pastor tried to seize control of Civic Center to denounce homosexuality.

Watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfISlq1gzK8

Carlo Garcia, a leader of protest group Recreate 68, had asked police to escort the pastor out of the park. Instead, police said Garcia posed a threat and arrested him.

On a video shot by the Rocky Mountain News, Forrest is seen questioning an officer about the arrest of Garcia, and he responds by knocking her to the ground and saying,

"Back it up, b----," according to the tape.

Officers from several departments were working in the park at the time, and it's not clear on the tape what department the officer works for, though Denver police said they would begin a review of complaints about the incident.

Glenn Spagnuolo, a co-founder of Recreate 68, stated: "Since the beginning of this mobilization, we have always said that any violence would not come from us but would come from the police. Our predictions appear to have come true."

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Please call the officials below and tell them to stop the harassment of antiwar activists by police. Forward this announcement to your friends. We need to let the city of Denver know that the "The Whole World is Watching!"

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper
Phone: 720-865-9000 (Denver 311)
Ask for the Mayor's Office

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter
Phone: (303) 866-2471
They say it's the Mayor's responsibility, not theirs, but they still need to feel the heat.

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