Protesters Crowd N.Y.C.'s Fifth Ave.

AP | 3/27/03 | ELIZABETH LeSURE

[kattracks]

Protesters Crowd N.Y.C.'s Fifth Ave.

By ELIZABETH LeSURE .c The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Hundreds of chanting anti-war demonstrators lined Manhattan's Fifth Avenue on Thursday and dozens lay down in the street to begin a day of planned civil disobedience actions.

Officers, some in riot gear, clamped plastic handcuffs onto protesters and loaded them into police vehicles.

Anti-war groups had called for a day of widespread civil disobedience, including blocking busy intersections and staging a ``die-in'' to protest media and corporate ``profiteering from the war.''

As helicopters hovered overhead, the protesters - chanting ``Hey-hey, ho-ho, Bush's war has to go!'' and ``Peace now!''

jammed police pens along Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th streets, near St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Saks Fifth Avenue store.

One lane of traffic was reopened on that block 25 minutes later.

Police and security officers placed a web of barricades at adjacent Rockefeller Center, home of the GE Building, NBC and The Associated Press, to prevent a planned ``die-in'' there.

Organizers of the loose coalition, which calls itself M27, said the ``die-in'' was intended to symbolize Iraqi war victims.

One Fifth Avenue protester held a sign showing a picture of parrots and the words, ``Don't Parrot the Right-wing Propaganda.''

``There's a long-standing tradition of nonviolent witness, which we're enacting today,'' said the Rev. Patricia Ackerman, of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Code Pink.

Another protester, Lee Whiting, 44, held up a sign that said, ``Embedded? or In Bed?'' Embedded, she said, means that ``journalists are presenting almost exclusively the military view of this war.''

``We're seeing glorification of technology. We're seeing heartwarming moments. We're not seeing much in the way of the real casualties inflicted on the Iraqis,'' said Whiting, a teacher from Manhattan.

The anti-war demonstrations are costing the city millions of dollars in police overtime and drawing resources away from crime-fighting and anti-terrorism operations, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Wednesday.

``This is more than protest, more than free speech,'' Kelly said. ``We're talking about violating the law.''

The traffic-blocking technique was used in recent protests in San Francisco, which led to thousands of arrests and complaints that police used excessive force.

03/27/03 09:09 EST

[Xthe17th]

Yep. Check this out, all: Mohammed vs. the little peacenik girl (MUST HEAR Audio)

[Auntie Mame]

The anti-war demonstrations are costing the city millions of dollars in police overtime

No problem, they can just raise the cigarette tax some more and all will be well.

; - )

[trebb]

Organizers of the loose coalition, which calls itself M27, said the ``die-in'' was intended to symbolize Iraqi war victims.

They ought to do it right with real dead bodies - theirs...

[NewYorker]

I can see and hear the helicopters hovering over Rock Center - making my blood boil. It's a tough day to be a New Yorker.

[Xthe17th]

PS: I heard FOX news say that there really weren't that many of them and it looked like there were more photographers and cops there than protesters.

[MacArthur]

There is such a swarm of helicopters that I can't concentrate on my work. I have a luncheon at noon at the Harvard Club on 44th Street and wonder if I will be able to get down there. Very disturbing.

[doc30]

One Fifth Avenue protester held a sign showing a picture of parrots and the words, ``Don't Parrot the Right-wing Propaganda.''

I used to be annoyed by these idiots and their anti-American rants. Now I'm mad. My two parrots are more intelligent that the whole group of protesters. These birds don't simply mimic. When they talk, they know the context of the words they use, unlike these anti-American socialists.

[jacquej]

I got so angry at the sight of these idiot subversives on TV this morning (Foxnews) that i asked my husband if there was any way, legally, we could round them all up, and put them in internment camps until this war is over.

He didn't think so, but I am sure there must be a way. Can any legal eagle tell me. This is beyond free speech, in my opinion, and tends to supporting the enemy.

I would like to see a popular demand for quick and swift punishment sufficient to discourage such seditious behavior. Where did we ever get the idea this was speech. To me, speech means just that! Writing letters to the editor, writing to one's congressperson, the freedom to speak our opinions to friends and neighbors.

It doesn't mean interference with traffic, access to one's place of work, the blocking of emergency vehicles, tying up police and firemen.

Let's exercise our freedom of speech, and write to our editors, congresspeople, etc, and demand that these folks get detained in unpleasant conditions for the duration.

[Just mythoughts]

So Clintons fedayeen goons got new orders.

The cost incurred needs to be sent directly to the Clintons and DNC.

[midnightcat]

You know, I've started hearing the words "embedded journalists" from a friend of mine who's become influenced by her very strange husband. She and her husband think that CNN is full of nothing but embedded journalists and that she's not hearing the "truth" about the war or the United States.

She told me yesterday that she's searching for the truth in various peace organizations and Howard Zinn. I quickly did a search on freerepublic and emailed her some articles on how Zinn is a radical liberal and that many peace organizations are funded by communist groups. Not too sure if she'll speak to me again. But I find her and her husband very scary...he's got a psychological hold on her that I've never seen. It's as if she has no mind of her own. If any of you know of good sites that tell the real truth about Zinn & peace movements, pls let me know. Political beliefs aside, I'm also worried for her mental health.

[NewYorker]

There is such a swarm of helicopters that I can't concentrate on my work.

In terms of anxiety-producing, this is bringing back visceral memories of Sept. 11th. Only 1 helicopter in sight now. There were 5 a while ago.

[tcostell]

Several of my unemployed friends who live in Manhattan and own dogs have decided to wander over there. (Hopefully the dogs can be encouraged to mark their territory at the appropriate time).

[God luvs America]

>>Not too sure if she'll speak to me again<<

Then she really wasn't you friend and you're better off!

Again, the protestors said one reason for the civil disobedience is "peace protestors" are upset the media has not gotten their message out...translation; they are a bunch of spoiled brats who can't accept the word "no" aka: the majority of America thinks they are wrong.

These people are idiots, all this does is make people dislike them and their cause even more.

[isthisnickcool]

The police protection should be paid for in full prior to the "demonstration".

[hobbes1]

I WAS THERE

FOX is correct, more photogs than Protesters.

I saw maybe a hundred, a hundred fifty TOPS.

There was a tightly packed contingent on One corner, and about 30-40 milling on the other corner....

And it was the shallow end of the gene pool.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Embedded, she said, means that ``journalists are presenting almost exclusively the military view of this war.''

Wow, what a brilliant observation! Imagine, journalists who are living with the troops, ducking from the same incoming rounds, and traveling in the same convoy have a military view of the war. If you want another view, read the NY Times.

[Just mythoughts]

It's called the Clinton scorpion sting, turns minds and spines to mush.

[sheik yerbouty]

Re open the old "Tombs" and stuff them in it.

[NewYorker]

I can't see any helicopters at this point though I still hear some - the situation seems to be lightening up. Hope you make it to your luncheon at the Harvard Club.