Denver Colorado November 23, 2011. On the eve of Thanksgiving, Occupy Denver demonstrators and members of the free kitchen, The Thunderdome, gather outside the Denver Rescue Mission to feed the hungry and protest against Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper who were briefly on site as symbolic hosts of a holiday benefit to feed the homeless.
The presence of Hancock and Hickenlooper was regarded as a hypocritical photo opportunity as they are responsible for shutting down The Thunderdome, which was feeding Denver’s homeless 24/7 before being destroyed by the Denver and state police. Police destroyed the kitchen on five separate occasions, throwing away donated food and supplies.
Their presence was also seen as hypocritical by members of Occupy Denver, a segment of which is homeless, because the group has been the target of police who confiscate their food, tents, sleeping bags and other property and forced them to sleep on the city’s sidewalks, endangering them during Denver’s harsh weather.
Hancock specifically was the target of criticism for his recent support of a citywide proposal to enact a law which would prohibit sleeping in public places. The law is aimed at reducing the number of homeless people on the streets, particularly the 16th Street Mall in the core of Denver’s downtown.
Kudos to the Denver Rescue Mission and all those that serve Denver’s homeless population.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)