Posted on 09/03/2004 6:50:47 AM PDT by kattracks
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A handful of protesters were arrested at the Republican convention on Thursday night as President Bush (news - web sites) accepted the party's nomination for another term, and thousands of people on the street near the convention chanted "No More Bush."One woman protester inside the convention arena took off her dress revealing a pink slip that said "fire Bush, women say bring the troops home now." The incident culminated of a week of demonstrations against the Iraq (news - web sites) war and other Bush policies in which at least 1,800 people have been arrested.
Demonstrators have repeatedly accused Bush of lying about Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s weapons of mass destruction as the reason for invading Iraq. No weapons stockpiles have been found and thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed.
It was the third night running that protesters penetrated security and entered the convention hall. Among them were members of the activist group Code Pink, which said in a statement, "We want to ask how can they secure the country if they cannot secure their own convention."
In the three hours before the start of Bush's address, about 10,000 protesters gathered within two blocks of the Madison Square Garden convention arena. As Bush began speaking inside the hall, the crowd noise outside built to a roar and then became a chant of "No More Bush."
STATION PROTEST
Earlier on Thursday, police arrested 29 people in a variety of protests across the city, including a morning rush hour demonstration in which 200 activists swarmed into Grand Central Station, hung banners and chanted "Fight AIDS (news - web sites), not war."
Many protesters say the Bush administration has not done enough to fight AIDS.
Police said at least 1,800 people were arrested in a week of demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience, the most in the history of a U.S. political convention.
One consequence of the large number of arrests has been a strain on the court system to formally charge people within 24 hours as required by law.
New York State Supreme Court Judge John Cataldo on Thursday ordered that 500 people who had been held for more than 40 hours should be processed and released. The judge took the unusual step of holding the city in contempt, and by the end of the night, the jailed protesters were let go.
Activists of the A31 Action Coalition and civil liberties groups complained that police have been over-zealous dealing with peaceful protests, sometimes arresting people who were passersby. But New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said officers had been restrained amid provocation from demonstrators.
Police said that among items confiscated from protesters were gas masks, homemade forearm pads and other types of protective gear, marbles, spray paint, razors and jagged-edged wooden poles.
(Additional reporting by Larry Fine and Jeanne King)
Cool. Where is Moe and Curley?
They way it looks, New York City did a good job of keeping the whacko-trash away -- a couple got in, but got the bum's rush treatment. Security was very good.
Seriesly? Change your name, dork.
Only think I 'spose I would worry about would be it sinking it's feckless viper fangs into my arm and transfering HIV fluids into my system!
OK, little Pinko, how much freedom are you willing to part with for a little more security?
What's wrong with that name? My name is Rad McAwesome
Should the demonstrators been caged like the DNC did in Boston at the Democrat Convention?
Gosh. I wonder if caging demonstrators at the DNCC squealched their free speech?
Hmmmmmm.....
Lt. Kerry: DISMISSED
LOL
I see that Drudge has this link up this morning.
Shot Fired Into GOP Headquarters in W. Virginia...
Apparently it's a dead link.
I thought liberals were "enlightened" (sic). It's amazing they want to disrupt the convention and deny us our first amendment rights and to think they call us fascists.
I don't recall seeing any rabid venomous conservatives in Boston during their convention. No, we didn't try to disrupt them, berate them, intimidate them, threaten them, or attack them. These assholes really hate the constitution and hate America. Kerry and his goon squad can go to hell.
Max Power , here. That was a name change. His original was Dick McDork.
All I know is, two haters got within pistol range of the President.
Well, at least they're more modest than the days of yore (probably because many of them are 30-40 years older). In former Yippie leader Jerry Rubin's book 'Do It!' there are numerous photos of these fun-loving Marxist humanitarians doing all sorts of protesting buck-nekkid. In fact, one young lovely bares all at a DAR convention and traipses down the floor aisle with a severed pig's head on a platter. Seems they didn't like something about American society. I guess that beats being shot at like the Republican headquarters last night or being blown up by the ranks of leftist bomb throwers.
I agree with you, Rad. My real name is Bolt Upright...
Classic. LOL!
Disingenuous.
These people are communists and they know their words are crap. If we took the measures required to totally secure the country and the convention, they would be the first ones screaming about it.
Hypocrites deserve no attention or mercy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.