In October of 2002, during the Tranform Columbus Day protests in Denver,
Colorado, I was taken prisoner by the local police. My crimes? Failure to
obey the lawful order of a police officer, and "loitering." The actual
offense? I refused to leave the scene of a detention of nearly thirty of my
anarchist comrades as police illegally (by their own laws) and immorally
questioned and held them in a parking garage in downtown Denver. We had
taken actions against the Columbus Day Parade and its celebration of
genocide and imperialism. We were chased through downtown Denver, and
herded into the garage of the Adam's Mark Hotel. The scene was straight out
of a war movie. We were ordered to place our hands on our heads and kneel
against a wall, while police looked on, rubber bullet guns and pepper spray
at the ready. They slowly started asking us for our IDs, and taking down
the information. They were running our identities through there system,
checking to see how dangerous to their system of domination we really were.
A young woman sitting beside me was one of the first to have her name and
address taken by police. But moments later, after police started letting go
nearly half of us being held, she was still in custody. I made a decision
that I would not leave until she was released. It then came my turn to go.
A verbal battle ensued with one of the officers, and soon thereafter, I was
being dragged out of the crowd by four of the armored cops. I was thrown to
the ground, forcibly cuffed, had my head stood on, my neck crushed by the
weight of several boots, and then hauled away. On March 4, I will be going
to trial for these acts of solidarity. These are minor charges, but the
incidents that surround my arrest are important. Ultimately I face jail
time, due to my record, and for being a resident of another state. If it is
any indication of what the prosecution might push for, I was offered a year
of supervised probation as a "bargain". A year of supervised probation in a
state I don't live in. I would have to report daily to an officer nearly 12
hours away, and possibly arrange visits back to Denver at my own expense.
This was what they could offer me as my grand deal for pleading guilty to
an act of solidarity. I ask now for the support of any and all in the
Denver area. I wish just for friendly faces to be there at the court. Any
donations for travel expenses would be greatly appreciated as well, though
Kansas Mutual Aid is supplying much of what is needed. Any donations can be
made to: Kansas Mutual Aid 1305 Tennessee Street Lawrence, KS 66044
www.kansasanarchist.net/ABC Thanks for all the support I've already
received. In hope and solidarity, Dave Strano (Roo), Lawrence Fucking
Kansas. Support the TCD 6!!!
