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Aug 29, 2004 I’ll tell you, it’s kind of amazing to see all of the protests that are either going on or are scheduled to go on at the Republican National Convention this week. I mean, speaking from my time in Boston with the DNC, where there were about six protestors, if you can even call them that, handing out pamphlets on abortion and driving in a “Kerry is Unfit” bus. I believe the Republican National Convention’s protest on Sunday; an estimated 250,000 people strong, made a bit more of an impression on people. The Governor of New York was pushed to Ellis Island as a last minute venue change, where he greeted the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney and welcomed them to New York. Meanwhile, on Seventh Street, a massive throng of protestors snaked their way to Madison Square Garden, picking up more followers with every block they put behind them. It would be different if all of this would come and go, one bit event before the party kicks off and peace for the remaining four days, but that’s going to be hard to come by. On Monday, a coalition of groups named Still We Rise will be protesting outside Madison Square Garden. Its specialty will be social and economic issues. Later in the day, a mass of homeless, poor and disabled voters will be staging a mass protest led by the creator of the 2000 Republican National Convention’s largest protest. Protests will originate at Union Square and move towards The Garden. Tuesday will rival Sunday in both media coverage and purpose. It will be a day of mass civil disobedience, no doubt leading to mass arrests all around New York. Protestors will be attempting to take back the streets around The Garden while simultaneously protesting outside major Republican contributors’ hotels and making their way to Central Park, where they were denied a permit to protest. The goal of the protest is to take complete control of the area surrounding Madison Square Garden. If Sunday’s turnout is any symbol, it will not be a long shot. Wednesday will mark the debut of a three-mile symbolic unemployment line from Wall Street to Madison Square Garden, where it will meet up with a few loosely-assembled Union protests and encircle The Garden. The National Organization for Women will be moving from The Garden to Central Park where a massive women’s rights protest will be held. Thursday, when the RNC ends and everyone heads back home with idealism in their hearts, Vietnam Veterans Against War will be protesting outside The Garden and holding a vigil near Union Square Park. I’ll tell you, the support for Bush in New York is overwhelming. You can hardly even make it up Seventh Street so many people have lined up to come see him. Of course, by “come see him” I mean “come take a swing at him,” but who can be picky when there are so many corporate donors to milk for cash? Congress shall make no law…abridging the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” - Amendment 1, United States Constitution. ------------ About the author: Max Burns lives in Indianapolis and interns with the Indiana Democratic Party. Visit A Big Cup O' JMHX or read the fantasy-fiction novel "Alcardia". Email: MBurns_NS@hotmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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