Posted on 08/27/2004 8:54:52 AM PDT by beyondashadow
(New York-WABC, August 27, 2004) They are here and perhaps a little earlier than expected. There are protestors and plenty of them. Thursday night a thousand people marched right down Broadway from Columbus Circle to Union Square, tying up traffic.
In just over 48 hours, Union Square will be the stage of what is expected to be the largest demonstration linked to the convention. As we get closer to the main event, more details are emerging. Reverend Jesse Jackson, filmmaker Michael Moore and actor Danny Glover are expected to be here. But the real concern is not over who is marching, but where they will end up.
Earlier than anyone expected, a flurry of demonstrations proved it is easy to snarl traffic and leave drivers snarling mad.
Angry Driver: "Why should everyone be backed up because of this nonsense!"
There were no permits for the gathering but police laid low as demonstrators moved from Columbus Circle to Union Square.
But earlier in the day, police arrested a dozen "Act-Up" members who stripped as part of an "AIDS" protest outside of the garden.
At the Plaza hotel, four people repelled down the front of the building unveiling a massive Anti-Bush banner. Protest organizers discounted complaints from onlookers.
Evan Thies: "Well I think those people would have members of the Boston Tea Party arrested for pollution."
Nudity, ropes and traffic jams. It is all a warm-up for Sunday.
Starting at noon, as many as 250,000 people are expected to march across 14th Street up Seventh Avenue to Madison Square Garden East on 34th Street then down Fifth Avenue to Broadway and back to Union Square.
Organizers say after that march they will go to Central Park despite a court ruling. They are calling it a picnic instead of a rally.
So far, in 24 hours, there have been more arrests in New York City than there were during the entire, weeklong, Democratic National Convention in Boston.
So far, there have been more arrests in New York City than there were during the entire Democratic National Convention in Boston.
Things are said to be winding up by this afternoon --I'm bailing out of the City early today!
"Reverend Jesse Jackson, filmmaker Michael Moore and actor Danny Glover are expected to be here."
Three of the Democrat's finest mouthpieces, to be sure.
Did you read that USA Today..the same rag that censored ASnn Coulter's coulumn, gave Moore mdeia credentials, and he's going to be on the convention floor..The GOP should revoke them..
Goes to show you what the liberals look like. This will turn out to help Bush.
I want to know what the protesters expect to get out all this. The Republicans are obviously not going suddenly change their party and the Democrats are already on board.
Would the sight of a dozen hairy, naked homosexual protesters really capture the minds and hearts of swing voters?
Moore and USA Today are using each other. The newspaper to sell more newspapers and Moore to create more crockaganda for forthcoming bs. It sells. Bottom line.
"Protest organizers discounted complaints from onlookers."
This is not 1968 and this is going to backfire hugely.
Large violent protests helped Nion!
No they shouldn't. They should just not permit him to film at the RNC.
He's coming as a print journalist, let him be a print journalist and nothing else.
I agree- I hope their protests are just as obnoxious as usual because they're going to cost Kerry a lot of votes.
Helped NION do what, exactly? Certainly didn't stop the war.
Ha ha ha ! These morons are actually helping Bush !
Is this freaking surreal or what? What do they want to prove? Kerry should be proud of who is the enemy of his enemy.
But why should the GOP go along with it? That's what pisses me off..
But he's not..that's my point..he's an activist..he's leading protest marches in NYC..am I nuts?
cool.
People in the country get to see the real Kerry voters!
in a related story the "anti-war coalition" tried to stage a rally today in Athens in order to capitalize on the cameras.
After setting up in front of "Panapestimiou" Square, it appeared nobody showed up between the hours of 10am and 4pm. (my travels took me past them a few times)
There was just two or three lone organizers with one person speaking over a speaker with a very poooooor accent. (speaking greek with a weird accent).
I snaped a few quick shots. It is the same suspects as in the WTO protests. yawn.
Repel the rapellists.
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