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It was 90 degrees out. The police were all in packs. "Where are the guys with the horses?" I asked. "They're all down at the convention center. They'll be up later. Watch out for the horse from Cheyenne. He's mean."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV05fBs9mEef3sNPFzp0Xl-MrIAO0hTlvT0MS7DeKDVocENUXWEiXeEL7gcpvKLSMCovQEr-pxdeKkGPkouAJ7XszBjZBgqBPj42wnFxIzXyh6hUdIewK2idD5TPJsW6GNH6_lA/s400/leopardhead1.jpg)
This guy had awesome hair.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYOURL5-WolvkAoeXGgCNxBqlbXNnIIk_BaWJC5pzgoSuIsMXSj3ArMXgl0LOoc8POKJGEHM2L-vnV8NkOo7Kil-BSdtDeOny2RoIDeaGjbzy1x4IE4vJe2zLO2pjm-mwRmghfw/s400/leopardhead2.jpg)
"We bleached the spots, then died them black."
Him: "This stuff weighs about 60 pounds. You wanna carry it for me? The gun shoots sponge rounds. They're like Nerf bullets."
Her: "I have bruises on my hips."
Fashions ranged from hippie to punk to news teams' suits.
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I practiced my Chinese on the Taiwanese reporter and pointed him toward the Falun Gong band.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCevbKNa5h1F3mvW8LGCH3pVkw1_OE5DJDr6uX5p10efMMiM5kksyqCXgmg0vTyKp5vJ7253iOyqD7wrmjERjLAb7UxR6hEJQXfI1XQb-mMni1-ebeAUgh6U6sogqJhwU01NRUkA/s400/falungong.jpg)
They weren't very good, but they tried hard.
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In the amphitheater hung a banner from the Recreate '68 group, which hoped to stir things up.
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Bands and speakers throughout the day kept everyone entertained.
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Hip-hop inspired cartwheels.
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Most people tried to stay in the shade, hanging out and sharing smokes.
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The cops were pretty bored. "That's good. It means people are behaving."
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But there were copwatchers on hand to record any malfeasance.
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Souvenir-sellers were doing brisk business.
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Many people brought their own signs.
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A choral group performed "Goodnight Bush" (and I discovered a former co-worker was singing with them):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVhCRrTBKypieOtQVNy2nbHJcgPfWK0bqFmw2dQ3rMP64kMVrLF11ZjlPgSjT_vd1zK1r17G_egUgbr-uDmmdIDwVQzQ4D4XZZFvtOqKBjABH0773LlbecA7ZBMiDQaU8UABxVg/s400/goodnightbush.jpg)
But despite the festive atmosphere, many were prepared for contingencies.
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In one corner of the park, protesters were gathering for some action.
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But I missed the beginning of all the excitement. Supposedly a group of protesters moved into the street, blocking traffic, and the police used that as an excuse to surround them and make arrests. I can't say the excessive show of force was necessary. There were three times as many cops as protesters.
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There were cops on bikes, cops on horses and cops in SWAT vans.
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And lots and lots of cops on foot, in full riot mode. (Click on this picture above to see it larger.)
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Outside the cordon, people tried to see what was going on.
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And photographers jostled to get pictures.
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When the order came to "Mask up!" I had to use my flash, because it was getting pretty dark. I heard later that a couple cops did use their pepper spray, but I think the masks were mainly an intimidation tactic. A lot of the onlookers decided to leave after that. I hung around a little longer (and got
that shot I posted earlier) but then my memory card was full, so I called it a night.