Kerry and the anti-war Vets camped out by the White House, would they ..

[G_j]

have instead allowed themselves to be subverted into a fenced-in protest pen with razor wire? Somehow I doubt it.

[sandnsea]

1. There's other places

I just watched a piece and most of the protests aren't in that penned place. Protest organizers requested a place closer to the convention and that's what they got. Some are in Boston Commons and other locations anyway. Basically, from the report, there just aren't that many protestors.

[G_j]

2. yes I know that

there were other places the Vets might have gone also, but they chose the park across from the WH. They were prepared to be arressed too as they were told they couldn't sleep there.

[supernova]

3. Lafayette Park is the traditional protest area

since it's the closest park to the WH. Many, many groups have protested from there. Also many, many homeless have lived there. You're assured that the sitting PResident will see you if you protest there.

Though, I think because of 9/11 security, LP might be closed to protestors now. I don't know. Haven't lived in DC for 13 years.

[G_j]

4. yes I think you are correct

about the park, at least that was true at the time of the large protests.

[sandnsea]

5. Boston Commons

They aren't going in there anyway. They don't have to. Protestors asked for a place closer to the convention and that's why they got that crazily secured area.

"At times, there were as many delegates and tourists as protesters at the designated ''free speech zone'' near the FleetCenter, where the four-day event was being held."

"A march by the Bl(A)ck Tea Society, a self-proclaimed anarchist group, and other groups, drew an estimated 200 protesters who wound their way through the city accompanied by about 50 state and city police officers on foot and motorcycles."

"Elsewhere in the city, Buddhists held a silent vigil for peace at the Holocaust Memorial near Faneuil Hall, and rowdy supporters of perennial presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche began singing loudly on a subway car, mocking the DNC volunteers on board."

"The Bl(A)ck Tea Society's day began with a two-hour rally on the Boston Common, a 50-acre park once used for public hangings."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/07/27/protests_mostly_tame_on_first_day_of_democratic_convention?pg=2