Facebook Twitter Email
AUGUST 15, 2000

Protesters at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California, made their presence known on Monday as one demonstration turned violent and Vice-President Al Gore's family investment in Occidental Petroleum was targeted.

A concert held by the alternative rock band Rage Against the Machine turned violent as some attendees began throwing pieces of concrete and water bottles at police. They also lit several fires, sprayed police with ammonia, and hurled rocks.

About 8,000 attended the concert, which took place across the street from the Staples Center. It was intended to give a voice to Americans who feel excluded by the two-party system.

The band is well known for its political stances. They support the release of imprisoned Ojibwe / Sioux activist Leonard Peltier and in 1994, organized a benefit concert, giving $75,235 to the Leonard Peltier Defense Fund.

About a dozen people were arrested as a result of the protest. Most of the scene had been cleared out by the time convention delegates exited the arena after the conclusion of the opening night.

Earlier in the day, police confronted demonstrators but in a less violent fashion. Protesters attacked Vice-President Al Gore for his family's investment in Occidental Petroleum.

The oil company has come under fire for drilling in Colombia on land of the U'wa Nation. Leaders of the 8,000-member tribe have long protested the incursion on their land, threatening mass suicide if the Los Angeles-based company drills on their ancestral homeland

Although a court ruling temporarily suspended drilling in March, a Superior Court in Bogota allowed the company to continue its work in May.

American protesters have called on Gore to divest of his family's stock interest in Occidental. The family inherited some $500,000 worth of stock when the late Senator Albert Gore Sr. died last year in December.

The elder Gore served on the company's board, owned stock, and served as chief executive of a subsidiary.

Relevant Links:
Rage Against the Machine - www.ratm.com
The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee www.freepeltier.org
Occidental Petroleum - www.oxy.com
The U'wa Campaign, Rainforest Action Network - www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/beyond_oil/oxy/index.html The Democratic National Convention - www.dems2000.com
The Democratic National Committee - www.dnc.org
Al Gore 2000 - www.algore2000.com

Related Stories:
Gore meets with tribal leaders (The Talking Circle 06/08)
Breaking the Digital Divide (Tech 06/08)
Clinton pledges Indian Country support (The Talking Circle 04/14)
Convention highlights contrasts (The Talking Circle 8/14)
Recap: GOP Convention (The Talking Circle 8/4)