Repub convention- is NYC going to be too crazy?

[redwitch]

my brother in law wants to take his son and he wants my hubby to go too and protest. Thinks it will be great fun. Is he nuts? Any thoughts (esp. from NYers) about safety concerns? I am a little freaked out that they may go. Help!

[Misunderestimator]

1. GO! that is all. n/t

[rkc3]

2. Advise them to...

bring suntan lotion and visors, I hear it's pretty bright in the "Free Speech Zones."

[IA_Young_Dem]

3. Bush is totally exploiting 9-11

[mdmc]

13. welcome to du

9-11 will end up exploiting Bush.

[edhopper]

4. I live in NY...

and I plan on protesting every night of the convention.
If we are lucky we will have a million people in the street by the night W is coronated. It will be orderly and OVERWHELMING!

[redwitch]

7. I hope you are right

Part of me feels like the fear has been brought to me courtesy of the Bushit admin- to keep scaredy cats out of NYC. Brother in law has been politically quiet/absent for many years since the Nam mess completely screwed up his life for years. He no longer feels like he can be quiet which is good. And his son is into history and political science(High school student) so it is a rather awesome opportunity. Wish I didn't feel queasy about it.

[mdmc]

14. welcome to DU

It sould be good safe fun.

[Auntie Bush]

27. Sounds like Shock and Awe to me! Have fun and give 'em hell!

[JHB]

5. What part are you worried (more) about?

That they'll be at the protests, or that they'll be in NYC?

[redwitch]

8. hmmm. good question

I posted a couple of weeks ago about waiting for a train at Penn Station. The announcements to look for suspicious packages, the national guardsmen and the bombsniffing dogs creeped me out. I love NYC, spend a bunch of time there for work every year, but I worry that a riot is in the works. I don't want people I care about to be in the middle of a repeat of 1968 Dem Convention.

[JHB]

9. The NGs and dogs have been there since a week after 9/11...

...so don't let their presence rile you. They're basicallly acting as extra uniformed sets of eyes for the cops.

As for the convention, if you're THAT worried, implore them to stay in the back.

[redwitch]

10. I know they've been there, I have too

But it is just a general feeling of unease that I can't really explain.
Actually, what scares me is that I am seriously considering going too. Am I nuts?

[JHB]

15. No, you're not nuts.

You're fed up with a gang of joyriders damaging your nation and future for their own reckless ambitions.

If you're nuts, it's because it was the only sane response to this gang of fools.

[mdmc]

16. perhaps you could join the "counter protest"

Billionaires for Bush
theatrical protest
black tie or formal gown
ironic signs (gold = rules)
champagne , catered protest.

This way, you get to meet some supercool activists, protest, and, if the cops start beating hippies, you can say that you thought you were part of the group supporting Bush!

I can give you more info, if your interested.

[redwitch]

17. I love those billionaires!

Plus, there's the champagne! Yeah, I am interested, tell me more.

[librechik]

6. Here's an alternative:

The Salon.com Cruise

with fellow luvboaters Joe Conason, Sid Blumenthal, Joe Wilson, and Ann Richards

during the convention, I believe. Wish I could go!

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. At the rate they are going, there might not....................

be any republicans (or at least people willing to admit that they are republicans) left.

[lpbk2713]

12. The Bushco storm troopers won't let protesters anywhere

within three blocks of the convention site or anywhere else near news cameras if they can help it. The RNC has its work cut out for them. They want the convention to look like a love fest inside while the people outside will want the truth to be known.

[Renew Deal]

18. I would say go but....

I think there is a significant chance of something going down in the streets. NYC is too tight for all of the people that are going to show up.

[edhopper]

19. You obviously...

have never been in Times Square on New Years Eve.

[itsnoteasybeingreen]

20. It will definately be crowded

but I don't think it will be too overbearing. As long as the cops don't use the pens like they did on 2/15, it should go well. There are many other events happening, a whole counter convention with lots of teach ins and movie screenings and the like. But it is important to show your solidarity. NYPD has repeatedly said they are on the lookout for the black bloc (anarchists a la Seattle 99) or other trouble makers. Probably extra cops around McDonalds and GAP. But I don't anticipate any real trouble. There are gonna be so many family members of victims of 9/11, the cops won't go too nuts.

[Renew Deal]

22. People aren't looking for trouble on New Years..

I think that there will be lots of problems related to the convention. Now imagine the New Years crowd decides to riot. Who is going to control that?

[CaptainClark23]

21. If not now, when?

I understand your concerns, believe me.

But if you and your family are ever to make a stand against the facistic direction this nation is being led down, this is the time to do it.

In all seriousness, you might never have another chance to do so should all of our noble efforts fail.

Regarding personal safety - there is strength in numbers. Active conflict will occur on the front lines. So long as everyone in your party stays aware of their surroundings, and is prepared to retreat in the interest of not getting kicked in the head, you'll be alright.

Rather, I'd say your chances of getting hurt during the convention (if you are aware and determined to actively avoid confrontation)is probably about equal with your chances of getting in a car accident on the freeway.

Do normal logistical planning. Arrange meet-up locations away from the protests should you get separated. Another thing I recomended to a woman on this board who will be quite pregnant at the time is to volunteer for some of the support roles - information, first-aid, childcare, etc. One can play a critical role without putting oneself on the front lines.

See you in the Streets.

[Eric J in MN]

23. I expect mass arrests, tear gas, and clubbings and other

I expect mass arrests, tear gas, and clubbings and other police brutality.

[jpgray]

24. They would be foolish not to use plants here

Hopefully any incidents will at least be well-documented--the digital revolution might help dispute some official accounts if there are many recording devices on the scene.

[makhno]

25. It'll be fun alright

I hope he enjoys the outer boroughs, 'cause I doubt the city's going to let anyone within a hundred blocks of the thing.

[veracity]

26. I was at all the NYC anti war protests...

They were wondeful, safe, and well organized. Families were there with kids in strollers, and some even had dogs carrying peace signs. The last huge protest near the UN had hundreds of thousands of protesters from all over the nation, and from other countries. Come on down. The more the merrier. I mean that. Dems are peaceful protesters, and the NYC police were very polite....( the Washington DC police were dressed in riot gear, refused to smile and were insulting and disgusting). Not so here. Many gave us the thumbs up sign if they could do it without being seen.

At one candlelight vigil, the police actually helped us "take over" a major avenue by rerouting traffic so no one was in danger. That's not a promise that it will be the same. There will be far more people, I hope....but it won't be dangerous. I really believe that.

While you're at it... get a Bush Joker shirt to show whose side you're on. There will be a few right wing Bush supporters around, too. Not many, but a handful. Look for those who'll be wearing the shirts and wave....:-)


http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/bush_joker_shirt.html

[Alerter_]

28. the Republicans know they really screwed up this time

They were so arrogant after 911 they thought they could literally dance on the graves of the victims and get re-elected for it. Now, they are terrified that the entire country - and certainly Democratic NYC - is going to "stone" them when they invade our city.

They should have stayed on that boat, best idea they ever had :)