Protesters rally outside convention center in Denver

By Abdon M. Pallasch and Dave McKinney

Staff Reporters

DENVER -- Thousands of protesters opposing the war and championing other causes marched from the Colorado State Capital to the Democratic National Convention Sunday.

The convention doesn't officially start until Monday, but staffers and press were setting up shop. Denver police closed down the entrance, stranding hundreds of journalists and staffers for an hour while the protesters sat down, chanted or called police "fascist pigs."

"The whole world is watching," Katie Kloth, 21, a biology student from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, chanted. "It does remind me of '68. In a perfect world these cops would join us -- I'm sure some of them oppose the war."

Kloth referred to the scores of Denver Police officers who carried guns and tear gas canisters, which they did not have to use for today's protest.

While opposing the war in Iraq or the start of a war with Iran was the main focus, some protesters carried signs reading "Immigrants are not criminals" or "Humanity needs revolution and communism."

One chant criticized presidential nominee Barack Obama's vote to permit some government surveillance of telephone calls under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

"When Obama says FISA, we say 'No!'," they chanted.

Kloth said she came her with her school's College Democrats group and was disappointed she couldn't get more of them to come to the protest.

After an hour the protesters moved on, and sunburned journalists and staffers were allowed to enter or exit the convention grounds.