The Weather Report: Resisting the RNC

Burning Desire

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 22:17:30 -0500

Candlelight convergence for peace and justice, Union Square. The crowd is packed with men, women, and children, Reverend Billy is reciting the First Amendment, an unidentified socialist in a three-piece suit is preaching even louder, t-shirt vendors are selling, documentary makers are documenting, some guy is playing R.E.M. on the guitar, two gay men wearing yellow stars that say "Fag" are arguing with a Jewish guy over their appropriation of Holocaust imagery. This is New York City, in all its glory. It looks like we have survived this week, just like we survived three years ago and all the stuff that's happened since. Here's hoping there's light at the end of this particular tunnel.

A Thousand Nos

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 22:08:04 -0500

30TH STREET AND EIGHTH AVENUE--By nightfall, a thousand or so have converged here for the last time, called by International A.N.S.W.E.R., to reject tonight's coronation of George W. Bush. Public Enemy is playing on the sound system and people are writing anti-Bush slogans in sidewalk chalk. The T-shirt vendors are out in force. I recognize some of the signs, a bit tattered from earlier outings this week, but people are in good spirits.

"Everything I've been to has been pretty peaceful," said Gayle Price, who was there with her seven-year-old son. "I think a lot of important political connections have been made between the anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-globalization, and anti-corporate movements. There's a great change coming, hopefully."

Isaac Weiler came here with the Venceremos Brigade, a Cuban solidarity group. He, too, judged the week a success. "Everything I've gone to has been packed. I wish there was more press coverage, but people have really turned out, and that's huge. . . . The Republicans are going to go home feeling good because of the convention. On the streets, we're mobilized to continue to fight."

Final Showdown at the Garden

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 21:48:34 -0500

Protesters converge on Madison Square Garden—well, at least the protest area two blocks away—for the last time this week.

Solemn Burden

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 21:43:15 -0500

September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows brought their "Stonewalk" to Union Square today, where it became the centerpiece of a "Veteran's Vigil for the Fallen" by the Veterans for Peace, including a reading of the names of the dead.

Where's My Girlfriend?

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 21:40:32 -0500

Prisoner solidarity outside the courthouse

Hundreds of Protesters Out of Jail

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 21:34:11 -0500

100 CENTRE ST, 6 P.M.--Hundreds of friends and family members of the nearly 1000 protesters arrested Tuesday gathered outside the courthouse all day today, hoping that one of three court orders issued today—at 1 p.m., 2:20, and 5 p.m., respectively—would lead to the release of those held for 24 to 48 hours and up.

According to Daniel Meyers of the National Lawyers Guild, by 6 p.m., the city was in contempt for violating the writ of habeas corpus the group had submitted to the court, and a judge imposed a fine of $1,000 per arrestee. It remains to be seen how many people will be included in that tally and who will actually collect the cash. In the meantime, hundreds of prisoners were indeed sprung by 9 p.m., walking across the street to cheers, a plate of hot food, and a well-deserved rest.

20 Arrested at Grand Central; Jailhouse Solidarity at Centre Street

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 17:22:35 -0500

According to Reality Check media, 200 activists from the AIDS organization Housing Works took over Grand Central Station at 8 a.m. this morning to protest the Bush administration's lack of progress on fighting AIDS here and around the world. The morning's actions included a banner drop, picketing, and around 20 arrests.

Meanwhile, down at 100 Centre Street, a spontaneous demonstration against the prolonged detention of those arrested in the past three days grew throughout the afternoon. Andre 3000, of OutKast, reportedly showed up, since one of his band members is inside. And word came from Central Booking that 55 prisoners are engaging in a hunger strike.

Terror on Two Wheels

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 14:09:59 -0500

Non-polluting ride or instrument of crime? You decide.

Bikes Wait for Their Day in Court

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 13:41:53 -0500

Of the over 1,600 protesters arrested this week, 400 were bicyclists, says Matthew Roth, a volunteer organizer of Time's Up! "They're punishing protesting, speaking out, and celebrating bikes, a non-polluting form of transportation, which to me is ludicrous."

The confrontations at the end of Friday's Critical Mass ride set the tone for a zero-tolerance bicycle policy throughout the week. According to Roth, people were being arrested for riding through red lights and riding two abreast, technical violations that are standard procedure most of the time in New York. Commuters, delivery people, and working bicycle messengers were among those who cooled their heels in detention at Pier 57 for 24 hours or more. On Sunday, many bicyclists reported being forced to dismount and told to walk their bikes west of Sixth Avenue between 39th and 54th streets, but the police department denies that such an order was in effect.

Just as the possession of Nextel and other cell phones seemed to make protesters targets for arrests at the RNC in Philadelphia in 2000, so this rather more low-tech instrument of freedom, mobility and swift communication became dangerous to its owners now.

Roth himself was netted in and arrested on Sunday as part of a "Bike Bloc" traveling at 37th Street and 7th Avenue. He was charged with the full gamut: parading without a permit, disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration, and running a red light. Roth is currently helping Time's Up! coordinate legal defense for bicyclists and other protesters arrested. The first order of business: a letter to the police commissioner to demand back the bikes, which are currently being held as "arrest evidence" in a warehouse in
Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

The upshot of all this, interestingly, may be a major infusion of spirit for New York's alternative transportation community. After all, they put on what may have been the largest Critical Mass ride in world history, with at least 5,000 riders, and they've gotten even more of a taste for freedom. "When I got out of jail I was that much more convinced that our focus is right," Roth said. "The energy is really high right now."

In the Belly

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 21:31:18 -0500

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, 8 P.M.--Republicans look just like ordinary Americans (do I repeat myself?). Behind me in line to pass through the third security checkpoint, an extremely fat man with white eyelashes is complaining about the quality of today's free luncheon--cold beef, Guinness, and creme brulee. It's positively Dickensian. I walk into the convention hall and am immediately transported back to the dreariest bits of high school--Girls' State regional conventions and debate tournaments. They are voting by acclamation to nominate Dubya and before I can stop myself I shout, "No!" People look around to see who said it and so do I.

When I start trying to interview people, they are uncommonly obnoxious. Only one out of every three I approach will give a straight answer--maybe it's the Dean sticker on the back of my notebook. Their favorite parts of the convention so far? Concerts by Travis Tritt and Sara Evans (who?) and of course, Arnold's speech. Protesters bothering them? No, not at all.

"The first night, we went to a Broadway show, and a protester walked up to me and said, 'Go home, we don't want you here,' " admitted a very sweet lady delegate from Georgia. "It seemed silly to me. If we don't come here, that doesn't mean Bush won't get nominated." This same fine woman admits to being a moderate and (gasp!) pro-choice. "I don't think anybody's for abortion," she says. "But I think if we outlaw it poor people won't be able to get them and rich people will."

Maybe Republicans are ordinary people after all.

Panty Raid

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 21:28:04 -0500

Political demonstration, or very clever ad campaign? Axis of Eve flashes the goods in Battery Park.

Day Off

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 21:26:01 -0500

Labor Day Rally, seven blocks long.

Labor Day

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 19:14:34 -0500

25th STREET AND EIGHTH AVENUE, 5:20 P.M.--Conversation with Dave (Black) and Tommy (Caucasian), electricians and sign hangers, at the New York City Central Labor Council Labor Day rally.

Q: Why are you here today?
Dave: To show support for the unions.
Tommy: Tell her the real reason.
Dave: Oh, no, man!
Tommy: Because Uncle Dree made us. The union made us come.

Q: What do you think of the convention coming here to New York?
Dave: It's probably good for business in the city. It really doesn't matter where the convention goes, cause we're going to beat them in November.

Q:Are you going to be working to get out the vote?
Dave: Yes, in my neighborhood, the Bronx.
Tommy: Yes.

Q: What do you think about all the protesters?
Dave: I wish people didn't have to get arrested for the cause. But I'm glad they're out there expressing their beliefs.

Q: What do you think of this rally?
Tommy: They need to get Willie Nelson the fuck off the stage! (Steve Earle, actually, who is singing a song about coal miners in Kentucky).

Dave: Come on, man. She's trying to work here. Be serious.
Tommy: Seriously, they should stop singing and talk more about voting. It's no celebration here. We got to get down to business.

"Protest Is Not a Crime!"

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 11:41:43 -0500

Around 250 people gather in the "demonstration area" across from Pier 57 to call for the release of the protesters held inside.

Gitmo on the Hudson?

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 11:40:44 -0500

Another corrections bus arrives at Pier 57.