Rage Against the Machine Sending 5,000 Protesters to Pepsi Center

Police are gathering in force at the perimeter surrounding the Pepsi Center to prepare for the arrival of an estimated 5,000 protesters, who had been encouraged to march earlier at a free concert by political rap-rockers Rage Against the Machine.

One Denver police officer, standing at the intersection of Auroria and Speer, said: "There are supposed to be 5,000 hostile individuals coming toward us."

Other officers on the scene said they believed the protesters would attempt to breach the security perimeter that stretches for blocks around the Pepsi Center.

Protests encouraged by the group, which vocally opposes the party system, have taken place at earlier conventions. Confrontations with police became violent during the Los Angeles convention in 2000.