Protesters Planning Big Presence for GOP Convention

WABC-New York ^ | 4/28/04 | rocky88

[rocky88]

Protesters Planning Big Presence for GOP Convention

By Dave Evans (New York-WABC, April 20, 2004) — One million people. That's how many protestors are expected to descend on New York City in late August for the Republican Convention.

The target is President Bush, who was in New York today, raising money. How the cops will deal with all the protestors -- that's the controversial issue. Here's political reporter Dave Evans.

On First Avenue today were a handful of protestors calling themselves Billionaires for Bush. As the president's motorcade rolled toward a noon fundraiser, security was extremely tight. Residents couldn't even go home.

Maureen Cortell, East Side Resident: "Where am I going to go? I live down the block. I work out of my house and I'm stuck here!"

Today was just a glimmer of what's to come this summer.

A little over a year ago, an anti-war protest near the U.N. turned violent. And many people fear that'll happen again when Republicans come to party at Madison Square Garden. Four huge protests are planned; the largest -- for Peace & Justice -- 250,000 people on August 29th.

A day later there's a hip-hop protest on Seventh Avenue, a huge gay protest in the afternoon in Times Square that day, and an anti-war demonstration on September 2.

One of those groups has waited since last June for a permit. They're still waiting.

Chris Dunn, NY Civil Liberties Union: "We're very concerned about HOW LONG the police department is taking to decide about applications. We represent a number of groups that have submitted permits many months ago. We've had meetings with the police department, we've made very little progress."

Out of 13 permit applications filed so far, one group calling themselves Yippies, has been turned down. They wanted to camp in Tompkins Square Park. The city said no, but the group isn't giving up.

John Penley, Yippie: "We have a tradition since 1968 of setting up free state camping areas during conventions and that's going to happen whether there's a permit or not."

Protest organizers say they have no intention of trying to turn the clock back to '68, when the Chicago convention turned violent. But they ask why is the city welcoming Republicans but not them -- perhaps up to a half-million protestors?

Lynne Stewart, Protestors Lawyer: "These are people coming to your town, mainly your town is sympathetic to these people. This is not a Bush town! This is basically, oh we don't know what town, but we're all against Bush!"

Late Tuesday afternoon the police department responded, and said that planning for the convention is very complex, but there will be ample time for the protest groups to get organized. One of the fliers being passed around on the Lower East Side says, "let's welcome Republicans New York City style, with a camp out in Tompkins Square Park."

[rocky88]

I DON'T GET IT - WHY DOESN'T THE RNC JUST RENT A LARGE CRUISE SHIP AND GET IT OVER WITH????

[rocky88]

"Lynne Stewart, Protestors Lawyer: "These are people coming to your town, mainly your town is sympathetic to these people. This is not a Bush town! This is basically, oh we don't know what town, but we're all against Bush!"

Oh yeah, she sounds REAL intelligent. What a moron.

[dfwgator]

WHY DOESN'T THE RNC JUST RENT A LARGE CRUISE SHIP AND GET IT OVER WITH????

What for, to hold their convention, or to ship these maggots out of the country?

[finnman69]

I can't wait to walk around with a Bush Cheney shirt for each of those just to PO the moonbats.

[Sangria]

They have no manners, they have no class, and no scruples. They are making things much worse for themselves, in my opinion.

[oolatec]

They should get jobs.

[zbigreddogz]

You talk like this is a bad thing. I hope they get a million of the nuts protesting. It'll just make Dems look bad.

[BunnySlippers]

Does anyone know when the Dim convention is?

[valkyrieanne]

Don't know why the RNC didn't plan to hold its convention in St. Louis. No self-respecting protestor would come here - too boring.

[Alberta's Child]

I agree. The GOP should tear a page from the playbook of the World Petroleum Congress. Canada was scheduled to host the WPC meeting in June of 2002, and there were threats of major disruptions by mutants along the lines of Seattle, Milan, and Quebec City.

Anyone who saw news clips of protests related to this event probably figured that the conference was held in the city of Calgary, but it was actually held in a remote mountain resort in the Kananaskis foothills of Alberta. Even the hardiest of disruptors wouldn't venture into that region -- the resort is located more than 50 miles from the Trans-Canada Highway, and June is no time for anyone to be out during berry season for bears, freezing temperatures at night, and an occasional early summer snowstorm.

[Moose4]

I doubt they'll get a million people, but even tens of thousands would be enough to shut down New York and possibly disrupt the convention. I wish Rudy was still running New York...he'd adopt the proper no-tolerance attitude toward the moonbats disrupting his city. Mikey Bloomberg the closet socialist, for all we know, might go out there and march with them. He won't send the cops in to break things up...unless, that is, they start smoking.

I just have this sick feeling it's going to be Chicago '68 redux. I sure hope I'm wrong.

}:-)4

[TexasRepublic]

The Marxists are in a frenzy!

[fight_truth_decay]

A March 31 Boston Herald story reported..The DNC :

"It's official - July's Democratic convention will bring a long-feared nightmare scenario for Hub commuters with shutdowns of North Station and the Central Artery. The two gateways to Boston for thousands of daily commuters from the north and northwest will be closed for security reasons at the FleetCenter convention where Sen. John F. Kerry will accept his party's nomination. North Station will be closed the Friday before the four-day convention - which runs July 26-29 - and remain closed during the entire event, until Democratic delegates leave town, sources said. The seven-day shuttering will come just as T riders are being detoured onto buses because of a Green Line construction project."

"Portions of Interstate 93 and the Central Artery will be closed periodically as well, throughout the convention. The Associated Press reported those closings will occur during evening rush hours. Southbound I-93 runs just feet from the FleetCenter."

"About 25,000 rail commuters use North Station daily, while up to 200,000 motorists use the new I-93 tunnel."

"U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville) has suggested that businesses take a week off in July to avoid convention-related inconveniences."

(hmmm ..loss of income to the little guy no concern to the Dems?)

[Inspectorette]

Is this the same Lynne Stewart who is being prosecuted by the Feds for providing assistance to the blind terrorist sheik who masterminded the 1993 WTC bombings?

[Redbob]

Shoulda had it in Dallas.

NObody walks around outside in Dallas in August!

[rocky88]

Sure there would be protestors at the pier where the ship is docked, but once it's at sea, then the media's focus would be on the issues, not on the protestors (which we already know they love to give center stage to)

I guess the only threat would be terrorism, but that could be averted by the ship docking and having everyone disembark in a hard-to-reach place, like you suggested.


EVEN BETTER, maybe NYC bars can just offer FREE GRANOLA AND POT and then the protestors will be too busy taking advantage of those to protest!

[oceanview]

it should have been in Orlando. they will regret coming to NYC.

[jtminton]

I'm going to buy stock in tear gas and fire hoses.

[fight_truth_decay]

Marked differences in convention security plans

New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly - "We are well-equipped and the plan is that New York stays open for business."

[rocky88]

from http://www.lynnestewart.org/

Radical human rights attorney Lynne Stewart has been falsely accused of helping terrorists. On Tuesday, April 9, 2002, she was arrested and agents searched her Manhattan office for documents. She was arraigned before Manhattan federal Judge John Koetl. This is an obvious attempt by the U.S. government to silence dissent and install fear in those who would fight against the U.S. government's racism, seek to help Arabs and Muslims being prosecuted for free speech and defend the rights of all oppressed people.


Ding Ding... we have a LOSER. And if that's actually HER picture at the top of the webpage, BOY is she hideous. No wonder she's so angry!

Can someone post the pic? I don't know how. Thanks.