For the third straight Saturday, Occupy Denver protesters marched through downtown, shouting and waving signs with the message that they are here to stay.
At least 1,000 marchers left Civic Center around noon. The crowd passed downtown cafes and shops, and some people waved and flashed thumbs-up. At several points during the march, organizers corralled several protesters trying to break away from the group.
As the protesters marched along the 16th Street Mall, they ran into the Zombie Crawl, momentarily mingling with men and women covered in face paint and wearing shredded suits.
At the end of the march, the group of protesters returned to the Greek Amphitheatre in Civic Center for a series of speeches and bands, scheduled to last until the park’s 11 p.m. curfew.
Before 8 p.m., while the music continued and many people stayed in the park, a group of several dozen protesters marched back toward the mall, monitored by police SWAT teams.
At least one arrest was made, near 16th and Curtis streets, but the protesters had mostly dispersed by 9:30 p.m.
After the noontime march, speakers encouraged demonstrators to return next Saturday and the one after that, and to bring friends.
Hours after last Saturday’s march, 24 people were arrested when they refused to get out of the street and take down a food tent. But this weekend, a cordial mood lingered.
Several people said they had demonstrated for the first time this Saturday.
Stacey Smith, 27, of Denver carried a sign that read, “My mind is not for sale” and said she was disappointed more people were not marching.
“I’m supporting this movement, and there’s no point in supporting it just sitting on my couch,” Smith said.
During the march, the crowd, led by a band of drummers, chanted slogans like “Whose streets? Our streets!”
Joey Pace was one of many wearing a name tag that read, “Hello my name is: 99%.” Pace said this is his second march; his first was last Saturday.
“The beauty of the movement is the safe space it creates for people to express their frustration,” Pace said.
JR Gonzalez waited in his car to pull onto 15th Street, patiently watching protesters pass. He said they were marching in the wrong place.
“I think they’re on the wrong end; they should be at the White House. That’s where it starts — the government,” Gonzalez said.
Denver Post staff writer Felisa Cardona contributed to this report.
