DNC slaps down those calling for end of occupation

July 29th, 2004 | by aobaoill |

The careful choreography of the Democratic Party convention is leading to lots of coverage commenting on the new-found ‘unity’ of the party, the decision by progressives and others to forego contentious messages for the greater good. One Democracy Now item gives the lie to this interpretation. When a banner reading “End the Occupation of Iraq” was unfurled on the convention floor, during the speech of Teresa Heinz Kerry, police were called and hauled off the protester (though the DNC decided not to ask for the protester, Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, to be arrested).
Of course, media situations like this are always carefully stage-managed. A number of years ago I was, as a guest of a friend of mine, present at the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis (national conference) during the party leader’s address. As anti-abortion activists rose to shout protests from the floor (and another reached the stage) they were pulled out by police, and party goons started patrolling the walkways. This makes sense if disruptive protests occur, since this is essentially a major advertising opportunity for the Party – and in the case of FF, protesters rushing the stage was particularly worrying, given Bertie Ahern’s status as Taoiseach (Prime Minister). However, that a banner opposing the war was seen as sufficiently out-of-key to justify removing someone speaks a lot to the official party stance, and the degree of latitude they are willing to allow.

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