Occupiers in D.C. are getting arrested outside the Supreme Court, but Occupiers here were denied a permit to hold a demonstration outside the Federal Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street, with a judge ruling that the downtown location wasn't really a public forum, "It is as far from the soapboxes of Madison Square Park years ago as one could imagine." more ›

This afternoon, demonstrators and interfaith leaders are planning to gather in Times Square as part of "Today, I Am A Muslim Too." The rally is taking place to protest an upcoming congressional hearing on Muslims and homegrown terrorism led by LI Representative Peter King. The rally is set to begin at 2 p.m., and you can check for updates on the event at the groups twitter. more ›

In anticipation of Sunday's AFC Championship against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city is holding a pep rally for Gang Green this afternoon in Times Square. So far sure to show Jets include safety Jim Leonhard, nose tackle Kris Jenkins, GM Mike Tannenbaum, owner Woody Johnson, the Flight Crew cheerleaders and, uh, Mayor Bloomberg. There will be lots of giveaways, including one free trip to the game. The fun runs from 5:30 p.m. till 6:30 p.m. on Broadway between 42nd and 43rd Streets. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] In case you hadn't heard, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are hosting some big rally in Washington, D.C. today, and it looks like a lot of New Yorkers were making the southward schlep to see what it's all about. At 5:30 a.m., folks lined up outside CitiField to hop on buses provided by the Huffington Post, and according to Late Night Done Right the meet up wasn't a total clusterfuck. Though there were 20 different lines for buses, everyone got on in a calm and orderly fashion, and they were D.C. bound by 6 a.m. How sane and reasonable! more ›

Governor Chris Christie has until this Friday to review and decide on several options to save the plan for the new Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel from New Jersey to Penn Station, and New Jersey senators are taking to the streets to put pressure on Christie to approve the project once again. Democratic Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez will rally with union workers at the tunnel's construction site in North Bergen, and previously spoke of the benefits of the new rail. He said in a statement: more ›

Health advocates, Democrats, and those who would benefit from a bill that would have included patients with HIV/AIDS in rent cap protections gathered outside of Governor Paterson's NYC office this morning to protest his veto. Many patients say they can't afford to pay high rents with their disability. Protester James Dean, who pays 62% of his monthly disability income towards rent, said at the rally, "Even though I’m in a rental assistance program, I’m constantly forced to rob Peter to pay Paul. One month I pay the gas and telephone bill and the next month I pay the light bill, all the while hoping that nothing gets shut off." more ›

The parents of 11-year-old Briana Ojeda, who died of an asthma attack, blame NYPD officer Alfonso Mendez for refusing to perform CPR on her and held a rally yesterday to demand a criminal investigation into Mendez's actions. They also want the state to make a new law making it a crime for an officer to refuse to give emergency medical assistance. Mendez has already been suspended for failing to take proper police action, but the some officials agree that the punishment should be greater. State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz told NY1, "If every police officer, every police officer was recertificate in the CPR, then I will guarantee you that we would not be standing here at this moment." more ›

Across the country yesterday, Go Topless hosted annual rallies in an attempt to give women the same topless rights as men. And though the ladies of New York have been able to bare their breasts sine 1992, they marched in solidarity and against the social taboos that still keep most women covered up. However, some spectators apparently thought the whole thing was a "lewd spectacle." more ›

Very NSFW! Today, ladies and gentlemen from across the city bared all from the waist up to fight for equality for being topless in public. "National Go Topless Day" attracted women of all ages with signs like "Tits: Wholesome, Holy & Hot," a guy offering free hugs, and of course plenty of gawkers. Thanks to a 1992 ruling, it's perfectly legal for a woman to bare her breasts any day of the year in New York. more ›

It looks like Mayor Bloomberg is standing by his cowboys and Indians statement, despite the hot water it's gotten him into with the Seneca Indian Nation. Now, multiple tribes are planning a rally on Monday to "demand an apology and voice our position on this issue." Brian Patterson, president of the United South and Eastern Tribes, wrote to Bloomberg, "Your comment was a throwback to an earlier time when matters of rights were settled at a point of a gun," and an Oneida leader wrote that his comments were equivalent to encouraging politicians to "wear a red armband and hold a shotgun" to confront Jewish people. more ›

"This is the worst I've seen it, open these community centers, give these kids other things to do," said Charles Rogucki who lost his sister to gunfire in Coney Island. His sentiments were backed by a rally that took place in the neighborhood yesterday, drawing dozens who want to bring an end to the recent violence. Unfortunately, they had to step over crime tape to do so. more ›

Named such because 99 is the maximum number of weeks for unemployment payouts in the states with the highest unemployment rates, job hunting "99ers" will take to the streets outside Federal Hall on Thursday to demand that Congress broaden unemployment benefits to include them. New York was among the states with the highest unemployment rates until last month, when it dropped to 9.3%, which cuts off unemployment payouts after 93 weeks. The city's unemployment rate is still 9.5%, high enough to justify 99 weeks worth of payments. more ›

Led by one of the victims of an alleged gay bashing at a White Castle, Staten Island residents held a one mile march for an end to the string of bias attacks that have taken place in the borough this year. It was one of three held yesterday. Beating victim Richard Viera said, "You never really imagine it happening to yourself...It’s not a gay issue, a Latino issue—it’s a human issue." more ›

Every time there's even a whisper of Wal-Mart thinking about maybe moving into one of the five boroughs, activists get their sandwich boards out and Reverend Billy is all "DEVIL GET THEE BEHIND ME! I will take that company to the LAKE OF HELLFIRE!" It's actually kind of heartwarming to witness that kind of solidarity. And here's the latest from the rallying front line (to recap: the company is rumored to be scoping out a spot in Jamaica Bay). more ›

City workers have joined the non-stop protest action yesterday outside City Hall, where 99 unions representing over 300,000 workers mobilized as part of the "Save Our City" rally. The protest drew thousands and spanned four blocks on Broadway. Each union sported a different color shirt displaying their personal plea—to save our schools, firehouses, libraries, hospitals, sanitation services, hospitals—but the messages coalesced around the worry that Bloomberg's proposed budget cuts would end vital jobs and services. more ›

Anywhere from 300 to 5,000 protesters (depending on whose estimate you believe) gathered yesterday near the location of the proposed mosque that would be built a couple of blocks from the World Trade Center site. The rally was organized by Stop the Islamization of America, a group led by Pamela Geller, an outspoken opponent of the mosque who also heads up the "Leave Islam" ad campaign currently seen on city buses. The blogger who runs Jihadi Watch had this to say: more ›

NY1 reports that 56 people were arrested during an immigration rally outside of Federal Plaza yesterday, noting their "anger with the Obama Administration for sending 1,200 National Guardsmen to the U.S. border with Mexico" and desire for "the administration to play a bigger role in the fight against Arizona's controversial law." Well, President Obama will be meeting with Arizona Governor Brewer tomorrow; he said last week he thinks the Arizona law is "the wrong approach" but added, "I understand the frustrations of the people of Arizona and a lot of folks along the border that that border has not been entirely secured in a way that is both true to our traditions as a nation of law and as a nation of immigrants." more ›

Almost 1,000 of the city's transit workers, and Reverend Jesse Jackson, rallied at Penn Station yesterday against the MTA's layoff of nearly 500 employees. Protesters argued that the lack of security in subway stations will lead to more crime, fare evasion and confused tourists. more ›

Anger over Arizona's new Immigration bill is expected to draw millions of protesters at May Day rallies around the country today. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are expected to show up at protests taking place across the state, including two gatherings in Manhattan at Union Square and Foley Square. Chung-Wha Hong of the New York Immigrants Coalition said, "What happened in Arizona that legally sanctions racial profiling and makes it a crime to be non documented has set off a national spark." more ›

Yesterday's march on Wall Street drew between 10,000 and 15,000 followers hoping to influence bankers and traders to "fix the mess." But many Wall Street workers didn't appreciate being generalized as greedy fat cats. Empire Wealth Management Group executive VP Jeremiah Giddings told the Post, "There's a lot of honest firms on Wall Street that are trying to do right by our clients. Protesters can't give all of Wall Street a black eye for a few firms." more ›

The march on Wall Street is on its way, with what looks like thousands of marchers and already over 1,000 watching the live stream online. "It's a great New York day, but it's not a great day for the working men and women of New York City," said one leader, while National People’s Action executive director George Goehl simply said, "That ain't right!" more ›

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), a federation of 56 labor unions, will march on Wall Street today at 4 p.m. in an effort to "give the Wall Street bankers who ripped apart our economy" a piece of their minds. The stage and JumboTron are already up, and they're estimating over 10,000 supporters will show up. They will be joined by 14,000 virtual marchers who will be watching the live stream online, all under the cry "Good Jobs Now! Make Wall Street Pay!" If you decide to join the showdown, tag your photos "Gothamist" on Flickr or send them to tips@gothamist.com. more ›

As the possible doorman strike looms over the city, doormen are taking to the streets before their contract runs out on April 21. The "March and Rally for A New Contract for NYC Apartment Building Workers" will take place tomorrow at 79th and 5th, from where marchers will head to 83rd and Park to rally. A press release from Union 32BJ representative Kwame Patterson said, "In the event of a strike, more than one million New York City apartment, co-op and condominium residents living in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island would be directly affected." more ›