Two Protest Groups Clash Near DNC Center

[BaysideLiberal]

BOSTON - Delegates arriving for the Democratic National Convention were greeted Sunday by competing protests against the war in Iraq (news - web sites) and abortion.


About 2,000 protesters gathered at noon on the historic Boston Common, site of many of the city's most memorable demonstrations. After about two hours there, they marched half a mile to the FleetCenter, where Democrats plan to nominate hometown candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) for president on Wednesday.


"This is just the beginning of a week of protests," said Larry Holmes, spokesman for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, a coalition of activist groups that staged the march.


Several blocks away, about 1,000 anti-abortion advocates gathered at Faneuil Hall, the historic meeting house where patriots gathered before the American Revolution, and set off on their own march to the FleetCenter.


The two groups crossed paths at an intersection and exchanged angry words. A brief scuffle broke out between some of the peace demonstrators and a man carrying a graphic anti-abortion sign. The man was pushed to the ground and his shirt was torn but he appeared unhurt.


Some of the anti-abortion marchers lay in the street but soon stood up at the request of the police, and the two marches continued their separate ways following a few minutes of confusion.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1963&e=1&u=/ap/20040725/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_protest_6

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Two Protest Groups Clash Near DNC Center

Going by W's manner of understanding the world... one or the other group must be terrorists.

[NashVegas]

2. duplicate thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x708379

until the mods can get into lock, PLEASE post your comments in the original thread.

[demgrrrll]

3. Well here we go. I have mixed feelings about protesting at a convention.

I am pulled between free speech and potential impact on the issue involved in the protest. I'm not sure that protesting at a convention is the way to change hearts and minds and yet on the other hand I am a strong believer in free speech. There you have it and there you are.