From United for Peace & Justice:
Dear friend,
Next Tuesday, September 19, President George Bush will be addressing the United Nations in defense of the disastrous Iraq War. United for Peace and Justice has planned a peaceful march and rally to voice our opposition and call for the troops to come home.
Yesterday we met with the New York Police Department, who informed us they will not allow any marches near the United Nations that day. In fact, they said they would not allow any marches east of Park Avenue, south of 52nd Street, or north of the mid 30s.
The police are invoking “security concerns” to justify shunting us so far away from the site of Bush’s speech that we might as well be in another borough. We wouldn’t just be out of earshot and out of visual range — we’d be many long blocks away. Is this what democracy looks like?
We were completely willing to discuss a range of reasonable march routes, but the NYPD refused. Their only proposals were for marches far from the UN or a slot for a short rally at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, among at least eight other organizations working on an array of issues.
This is another in a long line of actions by the New York City Police Department — and the federal government — that undermine our right to dissent. Time and time again, United for Peace and Justice has had to fight to exercise our basic right to peaceful protest. They tried to stop us from rallying in the lead-up to the Iraq War. They tried to sideline our protest against the Republican National Convention to the sun-baked West Side Highway.
We didn’t back down then, and we’re not backing down now. United for Peace and Justice is determined to have the strongest possible antiwar presence on the streets of New York City on September 19 while Bush speaks at the UN. We know this is a workday, but we urge you if you possibly can to make plans to join us in the streets.
If you can make it to New York on September 19th to join this protest, I urge you to do so. If you cannot, please consider a donation to the UFPJ. They’re good people.
September 19th Protest March in New York
Stealth Protests.
Sure, they can stop a march — but they can’t stop people going about their daily business.
Get groups of two or three (maybe four max) people each, have them wear appropriate T-shirts (US OUT OF IRAQ, SUPPORT OUR TROOPS — BRING THEM HOME, HOW MANY LIVES PER GALLON?…you get the idea), and send them out into the streets, armed with cell phones, books, briefcases, whatever — so they can say they’re just conducting “daily business”. In fact, that might be even more effective, since instead of clogging up traffic and getting folks pissed off, more people will see the message and think about it…and it’s the people that we need to reach with the message for the midterm elections.
Sort of like the Freeway Bloggers, but with T-shirts instead of banners. And get some…errr, well-endowed females to wear the shirts, and I’m sure they’ll attract a lot of attention… lol
Hell, it’s not like we’re going to get more than a 30-second mention on most of the MSM anyway, so we won’t be losing any press coverage…
Found this over at Mickey Z’s blog a few weeks ago, and though focused on DC, could easily be adapted to protesting in NYC:
I deleted things that seemed too DC specific. If you want to see the whole list, go here. Seemed very much like the sort of stealth protest of which you speak. That along with a plethora of culture jamming activities could go a ways to making the point.
What if all the blogs changed their front page for that day to say only,
This would have two effects. ONE, it would be a powerful message from the blogosphere.
TWO, it would force all of us to leave our keyboards behind, get off our butts, and actually go do something offline. 😉 I think the second reason is almost more important than the first!
And if we really wanted to get bold – make a bunch of rubber wristbands in black with yellow text (easily readable at a distance) saying the same thing. That’s something anyone could wear to work – and not risk being fired over, at least, in most places.
Getting bold means going to the UN despite what the police say.
Hey, where I work, it would be easier to face the police than to wear political propaganda to work. Hence the “bold” comment! 😉
I’m sorry. I did’nt mean to sound condescending. It’s just frustrating to me (not you) that we’re at a time when petition signing and other passive (and mostly innaffective) forms of dissent have long since passed their impact value. The police denying any protests is proof that we’re in deep shit, and I think that it’s really time for them to experience a little Genoa or Seattle type protests. It’s inevitable I’m afraid.
Oh – I hear and agree. I think our points are the same. It’s becoming more and more dangerous, professionally and physically, to exorcise our right to gather and protest, or even to have an opinion that runs contrary to the direction in which money flows….
I’m really upset re the Judge’s order forbidding the Northwest Airlines strike. Without the power to organize, we’re not just up a creek without a paddle, but the canoe is leaking too.
being sneaky works better…Rove and the Religious Reich have proved that down to a T…
I think all I’d have to do is some minor tweaking to my humble blog. I’d certainly be curious to see who else would go along.
I do tend to use events like this as educational opportunities in my classes, where relevant. I have a student in my social cog class who seems very interested in the role of mass media on our social and political perceptions, and I am pretty sure I can tap into his interests in class that day.
Regrettably I won’t be anywhere near NYC, unless some group can book me as an invited speaker & at least pay my travel expenses. Given how last minute that would be at this point, I don’t see it happening – but for future reference I am a legit scholar (whose work is published in peer-review journals) with expertise in human aggression and with a keen interest in understanding and preventing torture and genocide, and as academicians go I am known to be pretty entertaining.
Excellent idea Cali!!!! Wish I lived in New York for at that day. New Yorkers…make your presence known.
Seems like the “police state” is becoming more and more obvious.
I promise you I’ll be there.
Fuck Bush
Five young men, Iraq Veterans, were Arrested at the Pentagon this week, because one of them set down some flyers about Depleted Uranium.
I have uploaded the Video to ‘Google Video’s’ HERE, you can also view at bottom link.
Our Fascist Government, All Around, Getting More And More Active, As Steve Writes and This Video Speaks Of!!
Source URL’s:
Camp Democracy.org
Camp Democracy Site Write Up
View Video HERE – Windows Media Direct from Camp Democracy Link.