A peaceful night at the Kirkland Park RNC campground defied expectations of violence between Pro and Anti-Trump groups at the RNC.
Kirtland Park was the only area designated for overnight campers at the convention.
The Occupy RNC group arrived last night and said they’ve welcomed visitors from all sides of the Trump support spectrum.
“Everyone is welcome here according to the city and we've been welcoming everybody so far,” said organizer Coulter Lobe.
Lobe said the first night included lively but peaceful discussions between opposing sides and live music.
The City brought a filtered water tank for the site and stopped by Monday afternoon to distribute bottles of Gatorade.
“The police even rolled through here at about 3 a.m. just before the storm hit,” said activist camper David Guthrie. “They had flashlights and they let us know that there was a bad storm coming.”
Lobe said the relationship with police has been “almost friendly,” noting that there seems to be an emphasis on avoiding tension before it starts.
“They’re actively deescalating, actively trying to reach out in ways that will not inspire violence,” he said.
The group grew Monday night as more and more activists split off from the day’s demonstrations and concerts.
“It turns out people can talk, we can disagree we can find common ground,” Guthrie said. “We can work toward a consensus even if we aren't going to reach it.”
Occupy RNC also extended an invitation to the Colorado Delegation shortly after the group walked off the convention floor.
