"How not to protest"

On this third day in Denver Michael and I went out looking for protests.

But what we found was a combination of the most annoying person in Denver and the most impatient group of on lookers.

An anti-abortion protest raged on the 16th street Mall. Complete with brutal, and graphic pictures of abortion victims. It was very unsettling and I had to leave because I just couldn't take protesters shoving pictures of mutilated babies. It was too much.

I am sorry for the camera wrap around. I don't have to much time to edit the video and I didn't want to put the graphic pictures circling the area on display.

So we left and headed for a store we had both been hoping to go to, 400. When we stepped inside the smell of new sneaker circled around me like an intoxicating perfume. I checked everything out they had some 10xDeep, Kidrobot, Upper Playground, Married to the Mob, and most important of all Undercrwn.

I had never heard of Undrcrwn until I went 400. But now I own a piece of their apparel. And that is this beautiful t-shirt:

Undrcrwn X Obama X The400

I bought the gray one. I love this t-shirt and I'm probably going to be one of the only people on the east coast with one because they are sold exclusively at 400.

Well aside from Spike Lee that is. The guy at the store told us Spike Lee came in earlier and bought 8 of these shirts. Too bad we missed him even though I did see him last night and hopefully I'll see him again tonight.

Well we are about to catch the shuttle back to the Pepsi Center for Day 2!
Stay Posted.
Peace.
-Graham

A Big ol' Convention

2008 Democratic National Convention in The Pepsi Center

So there are comic book conventions, racial conventions, ventions, and divine interventions. None of these things have anything to do with the Democratic National Convention. This year's DNC does not stand for Demorcratic National Convention but for Denver's Non-stop Crazy-party. I walked into the Pepsi Center in Denver and was immediatley overwhelmed by the amount of people.

Flustered, we asked someone where the "digital dark room" was. In the hall on the way I got my first taste of stardom when I saw the Dan Rather. That is where we were to meet Mark and recieve our assignment.

Once there he sent us with an associate name Jon Sachs, the "Student Body President" of the University of Maryland, or at least that is what his business card indicates. He led us through a long hall way and into this:

The energy in the room was ridiculous. Stunned, I stood there in the wide expanse that was the Democratic National Convention, Earth Wind and Fire blasting. I was taken to my group of photographers (for whom I would run pictures for only one of them).

Michael went to the opposite side of the auditorium and so it began.

The big speakers of the night were Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama.

Nancy Pelosi did her thing, talking about her being the first woman speaker of the house and first Italian American speaker of the house. She also emphasized her message "John McCain is wrong" Which had the whole crowd repeating her at every utterance of "John McCain".









Then Jimmy Carter made an appearence, walking across the stage and waving to the crowd after a video of an interview with him had played on the big screens around the auditorium.









It was soon time to run my first compact flash card to the editor of AFP. This I did so sucessfully, or so I thought. When I brought the card to the digital darkroom the editor told me that the photos had been corrupted. Downtrodden and distessed I headed back to the photographer, Robin. But to my dismay I was not allowed enterance to the floor due to someone being escorted from the "garage" to the floor. This angered me especially because I had specifically asked all the guards at the entrances to the floor if this would occur and they all told me they didn't know anything about keeping people with the proper passes out. Yet it still happend. Now I am at the highest level of distress of the night.

But I did see someone who would bring my spirits up, Kumar!

When I got back to the camera stand it became smooth sailing in the delivery department, well sort of.

On my way to deliver another card back from the editor I got caught in, what would be the first of many, human traffic jams. So I'm waiting there and I'm pressed up against a bunch of people when I look down and see this guy in a white hat and jacket, I take a closer look and it is none other than....Spike Lee!

When it sunk in that I was standing next to the Spike Lee I hurriedly ripped out my camera and said "Mr. Lee-' this is where I begin to think, what would separate me from other fanboys (something I'm not) "What's up?" Well it wasn't very clever and I wish I could say it worked but it didn't. So I guess that was kind of a failure. Then I asked him if I could get a picture and extended my hand to him. Mind you he was now at an odd diagonal angle to me. He took no notice and tried to shrug me off.
Oh well.
It was still awesome.

Back to some hard politics The Man of the hour took his place center stage shortly after what was the worst of the human traffic jams. That is right, Ted Kennedy, the man being called Obama's most important endorsement.

But right before he went on a girl approached me as I waited in the traffic jam due to Ted Kennedy's upcoming appearance. She introduced herself as a student journalist (whose name slips my mind) for Colorado State University. She asked if I was a student journalist and I told her that I wasn't, that I was here to run pictures from the photographers to the editors. (I am the life blood of AFP, The life blood!) When I told her I was 15 she flipped out.

She told me that she was 21 and it was overwhelming for her, she couldn't imagine what it would be like for someone as young as myself. She proceeded to ask for an interview and how could I says no.

She asked what I was feeling and what I thought of "all this". I told her it was the most overwhelming, exciting expierience of my life. That I could not have anticipated the energy and up beat tempo of this convention.

I told her I was from New Jersey and went to school at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City. After concluding with a generic "I'm so lucky to be here" we thanked each other and parted ways.






Pretty soon signs reading "Kennedy" went up all around the room and occasional outbursts of "Teddy Teddy" broke out. When "Teddy" took the podium during his pro Obama, pro health care speech the place exploded. As many know Barack Obama is very concerned in the welfare of the common person. As Ted Kennedy said in his speech. "Health care should be a basic right".

After Ted Kennedy left the stage the next biggest person up was Michelle Obama but there is a story to be told that happened between those time periods.

Thinking back to my recent acquaintance, Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey; Robin, the photographer I was running for told me to take a break so I headed over to the New Jersey delegate area as marked by the tall, square, blue poles holding the name of each state. Sure enough, there in the front row was Cory Booker being interviewed by some young people. I waited until it was over before approaching.

When I got over to him I said "Hey Mr. Booker" and he stood up and came over to me. We began talking about the convention, what I had been up to, if he was going to be at the convention everyday and just to humor my friend Noah, I told him that he said "Hi".

We parted ways and I headed back out to the floor. I went back to the Camera stand and waited for the final speaker, Michelle Obama.

As an interlude to Mrs. Obama her brother, Craig took the podium. "He is a team player and never backs down from a challenge" said Craig Robinson, on Barack Obama on the basketball court and in life.

Then Michelle Obama took to the microphone to give a speech which gave me chills. She told the story of her father and his determination to live during the last few months until he passed. She told how great a man Barack is.
How they met, and what his strong beliefs are.
"Barack Obama will fight for education for every child Pre-k through college" was a clear statement I remember from her speech.

As a black man raised by his grandparents in the South side of Chicago and in Hawaii, Barack Obama is the epitome of a man who has crossed bridges and made something of himself. He is living proof that everyone should be given an equal opportunity in this country.

Obama has two daughters of his own, Malia, 10 and Natasha, 7. As stated many times throughout the speeches by Edward Kennedy and Michelle Obama, Barack Obama is a man for the people. "Barack feels everyone else's feelings of people from all walks of life. Because he has done all of those things and can relate. He is America's president, candidate"

The night concluded with a live video feed of Barack Obama in Kansas City, Missouri. His message was almost none. He simply told his wife what a great job she did and then said "See you guys Thursday" thus bringing forth a huge cheer from the crowd.



I delivered my last flash card and headed back to the hotel with Michael via shuttle.

It became clear to me on the way back that as the days went on the Convention would become progressively bigger and better. With a lot more people and bringing with them a ton more excitement and energy (Like this convention needs any more).

It is rumored that Thursday, where Barack Obama will give his speech in the Mile High Stadium in Denver, that Bruce Springsteen himself will preform. These are rumors and I can not verify them but I have to say, I am one excited...entity.
And in other news Bon Jovi will probably be playing the same night.

Tomorrow I head out for the second day where there is bound to be more celebrities and better speeches, thus incurring more excitement.
I can't wait.
Peace.
-Graham

Did I mention Lil JJ was there?!?!

A quick story

Protests galore on the 16th street mall. Here are some pictures of my favorite:


The arguments were interesting to hear. Of course the "Homo sex is a sin" advocates were all educated in their topic but all those "Offical Street Preachers" (Yes they did spell Official wrong) are just simple fools who had nothing to do with politics, only to spread their hateful message. They claimed they were not hateful, but helpful.




But once the intellectual people arguing the street preachers left, a bunch of offended street kids came up to the group and began to make stupid arguments. They would say things like "your wrong" and "it doesn't say that in the Bible". Well at least their hearts were in the right place.

Well I'm heading over to the Pepsi center momentarily and then the action will really start.

I'll post later.
Peace.

- Graham







My Favorite Protester of The Day

Night Life

I know I said I wasn't going to post again but I figured, why not?

To end such an interesting first day Michael, Mark and I headed to Independent Recolorados in Denver. We picked up about 12 cds! I got
...And Here Come the Wolves by Rancid
Keep it Like a Secret by Built to Spill
Rising Down by The Roots
and my favorite:
The Autono by Machines, which I got for 98 cents and which can not be found on the internet.

But that is for a personal blog. This is Politics!

Denver is a really cool city and looks even better at night when everything is lit up. I will seriously consider coming back here as just a fun trip. We ate at Mario's Two Handed Pizza which had really great pizza so going there again will be a must.

I am getting to personal.

Basically the night life in Denver is great and if the weather keeps up like it has been then the Convention will be all the better.
I am excited for the kick off tomorrow and with musical guests like Rage Against the Machine (who at the last republican convention instigated a riot), Public Enemy, Jakob Dylan, Fall Out Boy, Death Cab for Cutie, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Cold War Kids, and KanYe West I see no reason for me to not be excited!
Well tomorrow is going to be a BIG blog day so I'll save some talk for then.
Peace.

-Graham Wyville

The day as it was

The day is not even over and I have some interesting things to tell and show! We (Michael and myself) stepped out of the hotel and walked a few blocks and ran into this: A huge protest and as you can see they are protesting a multitude of things. As we continued through the city we found multiple protests and even a counter protest.
















I do have video and it is funny: Yeah the guy in the van was obviously a liberal and the group I was standing in- And let me tell you this I am in no way affiliated with that raging group of conservatives- was retaliating to his "Impeach Bush" attacks with a weak "U-S-A" chant.


So after this we proceed into the park and walk around and pick up the free stuff from the booths. There were some odd people in the theater in the middle of the park who kept leaving and being replaced by even more peculiar people. As seen here: We continued to walk and we saw a band: People's Party They were ok but the dj came over to me and asked me where I was from and I said New Jersey into the mic and I received a small applause.

The rambling ceases here.

Denver is a cool place and tomorrow the convention starts! Which means important pictures, news, and updates! Excited? I am.
I'm going to post some pictures from the day and call it a day.

That's all for now. Peace.

This group of people later went on to kill a group of kittens refusing to "fight the power"

What'd you call me?

DO NOT DRINK

In waiting

It is 10 o' clock on Sunday morning and just browsing around I found a very small article about something we saw yesterday at the welcome party thrown by the DNCC.
This artist Malcolm Farley was up on stage at the Elitch Gardens in Denver painting this picture of Barack Obama live.














Though we showed up later after it was finished it was cool to see such an accurate portrayal of the candidate. I didn't take to it immediately but once I realized that he painted it that day and took into account the accuracy of the painting it really captured my attention.

As you can also see in the background there is what appears to be a tent with three holes in it. It is actually a "green" garbage disposal "station" the Liberals are really showing that they mean business in the department of energy conservation and promoting recycled goods.
That's all for now.

Dies Unus

Hello and welcome to my blog, A View from the Democratic National Convention!

The title is long and the stories will be longer! I hope that I can keep everyone reading entertained and informed. As you may realize I am in Denver Colorado for the Democratic National Convention. I am here with my friends, the Abrahams. Mark Abraham is the head of photographer credential distribution at the Convention and it is because of him that this is even possible. I thank him to no end.

I have come fully equipped with new laptop and camera. In case your unsure how I am going to get you an inside look on the Convention let me tell you now.

I am going to be on the floor at the Pepsi Center in Denver for the next three days running pictures on discs, cards, running papers, letters, everything that the photographers need to get their pictures and get them to their editors. Of course I will always have my own personal camera and will take photos every chance I get. I intend to also post some video blogging which I will start when I get a minute of time.

Now that you've been filled in I can tell you of all my stories that I have to tell all in the first day!

I woke up this morning, packed the rest of my things, ate some breakfast and drove out to Newark Airport. When I got there I got through security alright but was joked at due to my passport picture (which displayed my once full face and large Afro-like red hair). So my mom and I proceed through the airport eating lunch and buying last second necessities. When we finally sit down at gate C-94 my mom over hears a photographer talking about the convention. She goes into conversation with him until I interrupt them and focus on a large man with a shaved head and a large bodyguard and police officer sit down some ways away.

My mom immediately recognizes him as Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark NJ. She gets really excited and goes over and starts talking to him and I come along to meet him. But then we start talking and he became really interested in my story of going to St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City and me going to the DNC. Soon we part ways and he gets on the plane. After saying good bye to my mom I too head on to the plane and take my window seat. Now I know that this isn't too interesting and maybe it's because I'm not used to doing this but it'll will all come together.

The flight was good, nothing went wrong, I sat next to a kind old Frenchman and I even got some work done. Now here is the best part. I get off the plane and start heading to baggage claim when I run into Cory Booker again. I wave to him and he asks me where I'm going and I told him I heard them say something about unaccompanied minors (which entails me). He assures me it is nothing and asks me to join him on his high security route to the baggage claim. Of course I go with him and we talk the whole way about previous DNC's and fun stuff like that. I said a few things which embarrassed me like not knowing Newark's nickname. (The Brick City)

Eventually we must part ways and I follow Mark from baggage check to pick up Michael.

I will be expecting my invitation to the Mayor's banquet in Newark any day now.

Once we get to our hotel, the Hampton Inn we get situated and head to a press party at none other than, you guessed it, Six Flags. When we got there everything was free. There were even fireworks, it was surprisingly fun.

After the fun filled festivities we headed back to the hotel and that is where I am now typing up this first of many blog entries. So that was my first day in Denver and let me tell you I look forward to the rest of it. Denver is a really cool city and I am really psyched about the up coming events!

As I said before the posts to come will be much more serious. I will work on fixing the blog up and putting some videos up. But you will see a lot of pictures and I will include, as I'm sure you've noticed in my writing, every excruciating detail. The convention truly begins Monday the 25th. If you need any info about it until then go here. But as soon as it starts tune into "A view of the Democratic National Convention" Oh and any suggestions or comments? Email me at fuzzy473@gmail.com

Well that is all for tonight, I need my beauty sleep.
Peace

-Graham Wyville