[lbo-talk] RNC Protests: Report 4

[Paul]

It was an intriguing day.  Tuesday was civil disobedience/direct 
action.  Two things were striking (excuse the pun).

First, it was exclusively focused on non-violent civil disobedience.  This 
confirms a theme throughout the previous four days.  I have carefully 
observed almost all the major demonstrations - there appears to be NO ONE 
interested in even Seattle-style window breaking.  Tuesday night the 
opportunities were certainly there:  large crowds managed to wangle their 
way into the Herald Square/Macy's shopping area and many (one thousand two 
hundred) were arrested just before and during the evening.  But there was 
no interest in any property damage.  [I am aware of some innuendos in the 
national press that protestors were not peaceful, I won't go into details 
here but suggest you look carefully at the articles - they contain 
adjectives but no facts. I have followed this question closely and directly.]

Second, the numbers were LARGE.  (I know that each day I keep reporting 
this but...)  Many have written on this list and elsewhere that the NY's 
police numbers and physical layout make mass civil disobedience a limited 
option.  Last night - for the first time in NYC's history - this was not 
true.  There were just that many people prepared to face arrest.

During the day, civil disobedience demonstrations were spread out 
throughout Manhattan.  So many different locations, with such large 
numbers, that by evening a large crowd was able to get into Herald Square, 
close to the Convention and where many delegates had to pass 
through.  Examples up to that point:

- In mid afternoon, at the World Trade Center center about 1500 
demonstrators (my estimate) were gathered without a permit by the War 
Resistors League, School of Americas Watch and a few other groups.  They 
were blocked from marching on the Convention and 200 were immediately 
arrested (despite conforming to sidewalk marching regulations).  But the 
rest had been gathered and made their way to Madison Square in small 
groups.  Many of these were arrested later in the night.

- Shortly after the WTC arrests, at Fox News about another 1500 
demonstrators were gathered (my estimate) by disparate groups including 
Code Pink.  The police penned in 800 and allowed those to demonstrate (they 
had a permit and there was a heavy media presence) while chasing off the 
rest.  But again, people had been mobilized in preparation for the Herald 
Sq. actions.

- At about 5:00 pm, in front of the NY Public Library a banner was unfurled 
and a group of maybe 200 quickly attracted another 600.  No clear 
organization and there was no permit and little media.  The were 
aggressively driven off by a police Captain who was clearly cracking under 
the strain.  But they suffered only a few arrests and gathered numbers for 
later that night.

- there were numerous similar events in front of many corporate locations 
(Carlyle Group, etc).

I imagine the Herald Sq. "culmination" of the day is heavily reported in 
various media, so I will not elaborate.  Quite a lively and mostly young 
group (median age 27?).  Very serious and aware of their choices.  More 
determined 'to make a difference, tonight' than festive.

As the middle class/middle age nature of the crowds has been left behind, 
so has the tone of the media and the restraint of the police.  Ongoing 
slipping performance from both.

My *guess* would be that Tuesday night was a peak, with a second effort for 
Thursday (also many events on Wednesday).  But the tone of the next two 
days will be hard to predict; much depends on how the police commanders 
want to handle things and how frayed things become.

Paul