I will be writing a lot about the Democratic Convention even though it ended August 28 and the Republican event is about to begin. There was so much going on and I’m not just referring to the political wheeling and dealing and the pageantry. I’m going to provide a kind of behind-the-scenes look. Journalism technology, for example, was on awesome display.
Denver’s Civic Center Park was a metropolis of activism during the DNC. If there is an issue out there, it was represented by one of the radical groups in the park. Yesterday, I ran into a couple of war veterans who were straight up pissed off at the American government. They wanted just enough resources to survive day-to-day life in the United States after risking their lives because of Bush administration’s awful decision to invade Iraq.
After leaving the Colorado Convention Center August  26, I headed to the Pepsi Center for Hillary Clinton’s prime time speech. The excitement started to build. What would I see? Would there be an uprising from Clinton supporters? Maybe they would lash out during her speech and demand that Obama select her as a Vice President. All of these thoughts and more started poured into my head. I was anticipating the story or blog that I would write and literally, it was right in front of my nose.
Police in full swat gear with fully automatic rifles and secret service agents can been seen around the downtown streets of Denver for days. The highway that runs parallel to the Invesco Field will be blocked and shut down the day Obama’s accepts the nomination. A Homeland Security agent whom I interviewed and who asked to remain anonymous called the Invesco Field, “a soft target” which could be attacked with explosives, “causing mass causalities.”
[Editor's Note: Because of enormous deadline pressure, names and identities will be added later]
By WORD Special Correspondent Jacqueline Fernandez
When I attended the Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus on the first day of the Democratic National Convention, I was surprised to see so many congressional representatives and grassroots organizers. However, there was one AAPI I wanted to meet — actually, I had been chasing him: John Liu, the first and only Asian American New York City Council Member.
I had contacted his office several times requesting an interview but didn’t receive a response. I wrote a blog about my experience entitled, “Desperately Seeking John Liu†and emailed it to his offices. I didn’t think anything would come of it.
After Liu finished speaking at the caucus, I went to introduce myself.
“Hi I’m Jackie Fernandez.â€
“I know you. I read your blog.â€
by WORD Special Correspodent Jacqueline Fernandez
Today, the first day of the Democratic National Convention, Jonathan, Kisha, and I focused on the caucuses that we believed were important: Black, Hispanic, and Asian American Pacific Islander.
Our press credentials to the Speciality Media Lounge at the Colorado Convention Center opened the door to a plethora of food, snacks, drinks, and chocolate at our disposal. At the lounge, I spoke to Randy Stelly, who is the Co-Publisher and Co-Editor of The Real Views, a premiere multicultural newspaper of Louisiana.
By WORD Special Correspondent Jonathan Mena
On the eve of the Democratic National Convention the atmosphere in Denver was ripe with protest. Since Friday the city of Denver has seen a steady influx of protesters filling the streets. The sentiment was the same for the protestors who want and end to the Iraq war. I followed a large group of protesters who marched throughout the downtown Denver area for nearly 2 hours. The group consisted mostly of twenty something college students from throughout the country. Closely following the protesters, were Denver police in full swat equipment followed by officers on motorcycles and horses.
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The truth is the term African-American leaves out many brothers and sisters of the African Diaspora. What about the Jamaicans, Trinis, Bajans and other Afro-Caribbean islands? The Guyanese and Brazilians are also left out. Did we forget about their substantial Black populations? Why do we struggle between the two terms?
For the sake of political correctness?
