If you’re a Democrat, the streets of downtown Denver during the Democratic National Convention are like Disney World. The sidewalks are crowded with shops and corner vendors selling Sen. Barack Obama buttons and plush dolls, celebrities appear out of almost nowhere and protesters are in full supply.

The festivities officially started on Aug. 25 and ended the night of Obama’s speech on the Aug. 28, culminating the ceremony that formally announces the democratic presidential nominee.

Though my appearance at the DNC was made possible through YO! Magazine, I knew that my fellow students at SF State could also benefit from getting a small glimpse through my eyes into the chaos that ensued during my four days in Denver.

On the Sunday afternoon before the convention, rows of protesters took to the streets downtown. The hodgepodge ranged from anti-war to anti-Bush/McCain, a very small group of ‘NOBama’s’ and young anarchists chanting, “We will not conform.”

On the night of the Rock the Vote concert with musical guests N.E.R.D., Jakob Dylan and Fall Out Boy, Denver police blocked off a large area of the downtown streets. Police, padded down in their riot gear, created a giant human barrier for several blocks separating onlookers on the sidewalk from protestors sitting down in the street.

The police presence may have seemed overemphasized at the time, but shortly after Sen. Joe Biden’s speech at the Pepsi Center, the need for extra police force became abundantly clear. A bomb threat, only a few blocks away from a downtown media tent, forced police to section off the street and detonate whatever had been found. The brief sound of an explosion was unnerving, and in the dark of night made everything seem a little less safe.

Whether or not there was a bomb – the police seemed more concerned in keeping everyone away from the street corner and there were no major news reports of a bomb threat later that night.

There were no bomb threats within the Colorado Convention Center or the Pepsi Center, but the chaotic mob rush was a ‘road kill’ scenario – move or get your toes smashed. Reporters anwd political enthusiasts from all walks of life virtually tripped over each other to cram into any nook and crevice where the action was happening.

Those who weren’t able to be part of the action lined up in front of giant television screens in the hallway. Though some people may have not been on the floor to see former President Bill Clinton give his long awaited thumbs up to Sen. Obama, or Sen. Biden’s acceptance speech, the reality finally set in when the sound of the crowd’s applause reverberated through the walls and the floor under our feet.

Being a full time student at SF State, it is a rarity to be in the mix of the history rather than watching it via CNN from the Student Center. But the shock of being over 800 miles from home doesn’t officially sink in until you’re walking into Invesco Mile High stadium the day of Obama’s acceptance speech. Any random person who didn’t know about the convention might think U2 was in town by the amount of people already waiting in the stands.

An all-star lineup of musical artists appeared during the final night including Will-i-am, who entertained the crowd with “Yes, We Can”, followed by Sheryl Crow with “Change Will Do You Good” and Stevie Wonder, who dedicated his song “Signed, Sealed, and Delivered” to Barack and Michelle Obama. People were dancing in their seats.

The energy of the crowd was unbelievable, and it grew as the night progressed. For a good five minutes, the crowd participated in the wave before going back to flapping their hand-held American flags overhead and proudly displaying Obama signs for the cameras to see.

From our seats in the press gallery we saw CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Al Sharpton and a lot of other television and political celebrities that made the event even more surreal.

When former Vice President Al Gore took the stage, he addressed the youth vote and the large amount of high school and college students that came out during the primary elections to campaign and vote.

“You recognize that he (Obama) represents a clean break from the politics of partisanship and bitter division. You understand that the politics of the past are exhausted, and you’re tired of appeals based on fear,” Gore said. “You know that America is capable of better than what you have seen in recent years.”

He continued, “You are hungry for a new politics based on bipartisan respect for the ageless principles embodied in the United States Constitution.”

When Obama made his way to the stage, the crowd exploded and the camera lights rippled across the stadium. Even as an objective observer, it was hard not to get up, yell and be a part of the festivities. But the true moment of zeal was the minute Obama walked out onto the stage.

The television cannot capture the sensation that rolled across the stands as everyone slowly realized Obama was standing before them. The buildup from the last three days of the convention finally came to a head.

The crowds from the floor to the nosebleed stands rose to their feet and screamed with joy. Obama delivered his speech with the enthusiasm that made one wish he could do everything he promised if elected.

“America, we are better than these last eight years,” Obama said. “We are a better country than this.”
After the fireworks exploded and the confetti finished its freefall onto the stadium floor, the convention experience seemed to slip away like a dream, and the reality of missing the first week of school rematerialized. But no one in his or her right mind would turn down this kind of opportunity – especially if it only happens once every four years.