Republic Convention: Protest Lawsuit, Counter Events

The lawsuit about how police will handle protesters at protests, with an eye to what happens at this summer's Republican National Convention, shows how police and protest groups are squabbling over what exactly the details will end up being. The Times reported that the NYPD wants to the option of four-sided barricades during this summer, aka "pens", in case of an emergency evacuation. Of course, the bigger issue is where a protest will take place - the police offered United for Peace and Justice an 11th Avenue march route, which would be out of the way of the convention, but United for Peace will propose 8th Avenue next. The lawsuit against the police was filed in response to three people who were injured by the police during the 2003 protests, in order to get the police to change their protest patrol tactics. At any rate, expect a protest on August 29, somewhere.

One of the big counter-convention events will be Imagine Festival, which will feature 100 events over six days, starting on August 28 (2 days before the convention), with each of the days focused on certain topics - Freedom, Community, Democracy, Justice, Prosperity, and the Future. The event will be kicked off by the premiere of Margaret Cho's "State of Emergency" tour at the Apollo; other events include a John Malpede�s Megaphone Project, which is a giant, working megaphone (from Creative Time) in Battery Park, pointed toward City Hall, and a staged reading of Electra, with Marisa Tomei and Kathleen Chalfant, followed by a talk about the play with Robert Thurman.

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By Jen Chung in News on June 7, 2004 4:20 PM

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Roger Rathman

March For Women's Lives New York - (11:00 AM - 4:00 PM)

Thousands will march across the Brooklyn Bridge to make sure that issues of reproductive health--global family planning, real sex education, safe and legal abortion, birth control options, and access to health care--are part of the national political dialogue. New York City is the birthplace of reproductive freedom. Elected officials need to know that New Yorkers expect them to take women's health seriously, and that New Yorkers care deeply about reproductive health and rights. Rally in City Hall Park 1:00pm-4:00pm

Status - CONFIRMED

Location - Assembly @ Cadman Plaza Brooklyn 11:00AM

jef

how come (fugly) margaret cho looks like (sexy) kelly hu in that pix?

Nick D.

They wonder why the younger generation do not vote. They were overlooked in the 80's and 90's ... they are too young to need a prescription plan and they are marginalized as lazy and slackers. Anyway you put it, the likes of Margaret Cho and Janeane Garafalo have been showing that although we may slack at times we do have thoughts and interests in our futures, albeit progressive.

No, I don't think there will be much business done if the the city blocks are shut down for security reasons. Lord knows they divided many states and polarized city residents into siding Dem or Repub, but this is gonna be a joke. If we can't participate, we can always protest. The most unsafe thing that will happen is their coming to the city. Let them take the image of 9-11 and use it for personal gain. We at least will honor the fallen and respect those who passed away much like when we all went downtown to help with the aftermath.

NYC, if we don't have room for Sports Arena's or RNC conventions, come anyway, the city officials don't mind.

Tim N.

I'm twenty floors above Madison Square Garden, and we're not closing for the week! So it looks like a two-hour trip from Bklyn through frozen zones (actually, I'll be at the beach).

In the New York magazine piece a couple of weeks back, Ray Kelly said that his goal for the protesters is "sight and sound" meaning they would be where they could see and be seen, hear and be heard, by people in MSG (assuming, of course, RNC folks). I like Ray, but I don't know who he was trying to sell this to, the city, the protesters, or the RNC, because no one was buying. Anyone who thinks that "security" measures aren't being decided on Karl Rove's desk is kidding themselves. March on 11th Ave? Rally in Flushing? Does that sound like "sight and sound" to you?

Bloomberg shows a lot of steely spine when dealing with minority families (3rd grade tests) and Mister Softee trucks (noise proposal) but drops to all fours with his butt in the air like a cat in heat whenever the Republicans make noise. The protesters (one of which I'll probably end up being) will be lucky to get a permit south of 242nd Street.

RNC will push this to the point where most people say "f*** the permits." Then NYPD is caught in the middle. Way to drum up the cop vote, guys.

kevin

>virtually all business in NYC will cease that week.

maybe it is a bit of an exaggeration... street stands, hot dog vendors, and bars are going to make a killing :-P

Terror Watch NYC

I work even closer to Penn Station than you. Our whole office is shutting down for the week. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that virtually all business in NYC will cease that week. Makes you wonder why in the hell this whole thing was approved...

tscoccol

I work two blocks from Penn Station and I think I'm going to have to take a vacation during the RNC. There's no way that I want to be next to that many Republicans at once.

Why do I have visions of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes in my head when I think of what MSG will look like that week? NYCPD will probably make the '68 Chicago PD look like a bunch of fags, as they would say.

And speaking of fags, when I hear that ex-Mayor "How Am I Doing...Sellling my Soul !!" Koch is doing promos for the RNC, I want to puke.

I live in a Blue State, Goddamnit !!!