[lbo-talk] RNC Protests: 3rd Report

[Paul]

1)  Today (Monday) began with a mid-day rally organized by 'Still We 
Arise'.  If Sunday was the middle class march, this was almost the 
opposite.  The march and rally was focused on issues of housing, aids, 
prisons/justice, homelessness, welfare rights, etc.  A large part of the 
participants were poor 'minority' people who appeared to be directly and 
personally affected by these issues.  Another large part were young white 
supporters, serious minded and politically sophisticated beyond their age 
(mostly not black bloc who were elsewhere today).  The two groups merged 
and flowed quite a bit more than they ever would in NYC -- with the whole 
march having an active spirit, loudly chanting.  Both groups seemed moved 
by their mutual support (one overheard the more exuberant of the younger 
white and minority groups talking in terms of this being a changing 
experience).

	Today's surprise: they were 5,000 to 10,000 thousand (my guess, I have not 
heard media numbers although their description jibes with this).  These are 
not small demonstrations, folks.  And there were a number of other events 
going on elsewhere at the time.

   Other midsize marches included a Poor Peoples' March from the UN to an 
area near to the Convention Area (but shunted off to a side location) and a 
march of Veterans protesting cuts in their after-service benefits.

2)  While the Convention area itself is in a frozen zone, efforts have been 
made to make an whole are of the west side of mid-town Manhattan (through 
the area of hotels off of 5th avenue) inhospitable to protestors.  Heavily 
armed anti-terrorist guards have been prominently placed in much of the 
area often carefully twinned with double ranks of fully laden riot 
police.  A large urban area is eerily empty, locals have fled and the 
police presence scares off dawdlers.  The Conventioneers presence would be 
striking regardless, as they stand out so clearly as non-New Yorkers.  But, 
as they stride in large numbers through the Theater and Restaurant 
district, with the step of those used to some affluence and command, the 
survey the empty scene and the occasional hemmed in protestors surrounded 
by riot police almost with the air of an occupation.  Yet they appear 
strangely amicable replacements for the native New Yorkers.

Witnesses (not covered much in the media) that are not even sympathetic to 
the tactics of the Times Square protesters repeatedly report 'sweep 
tactics' against those engaged in entirely legal protest, and sometimes 
netting non-participating by standers (sometimes literally netting, since 
nets were used).  The City is clearly determined not to allow these 
demonstrators to spoil the Conventioneers 'atmosphere', regardless of how 
legal is their presence.  This, along with the detentions of those held by 
the police (NY requires the appearance before a judge within 24 hours) is 
likely to be the subject of future legal action.

Today is said to be largely small civil disobiedience groups, plus a march 
by the War Resisters League.  (But first the rain must lift).

Paul