Protesters Get Prime Spot for Inauguration!!!!

[meganmonkey]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Park Service has agreed to give thousands of anti-war demonstrators a prime spot along President Bush's inaugural parade route that will allow them to protest during the procession.

The anti-war group A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition is planning to erect its own bleachers in the space, an open plaza on Pennsylvania Ave., just a few blocks from the Capitol building, said Brian Becker, national coordinator for the group. The bleachers could seat up to 1,000 people and the park service estimates up to 10,000 could fill the space standing shoulder to shoulder.

``I don't think it's ever happened in history that the anti-war movement has ever been able to have this kind of setup,'' Becker said.
-snip-
The presidential motorcade carrying Bush will pass directly in front of the protesters' bleachers, which will be across the street from other bleachers set up by the official inaugural committee. The plaza, between the federal courthouse and the Canadian embassy, runs about 240 feet along the historic street that stretches from the Capitol to the White House.
-snip-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4729574,00.html

Thank you Park Service!!!! This protest will be SO MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL FOR BEING SOOOOO VISIBLE!!! Wooo Hoooo!!!
:party:

(wish I was going :( )

(Mods - Please leave this in this forum - I know this is technically an 'anti-war' group - but the magic of ANSWER is it doesn't matter what your sign says - they get the permits taken care of!!! So I imagine that many who are going to the counter-inaugural with Election Fraud on their minds will be using this space too, and I would like the folks in this forum to know this. Thanks!)

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

1. Take this, *

<snip>
The presidential motorcade carrying Bush will pass directly in front of the protesters' bleachers, which will be across the street from other bleachers set up by the official inaugural committee. The plaza, between the federal courthouse and the Canadian embassy, runs about 240 feet along the historic street that stretches from the Capitol to the White House.

A group called "Turn Your Back on Bush" is asking thousands of activists to line the parade route and turn their backs on the president as his motorcade passes. In a separate march, members of the D.C. Anti-War Network will carry 1,000 coffins draped in black to call attention to soldiers dying in Iraq, then stage a "die-in" at Lafayette Park near the White House, spokesman Jim Macdonald said.
<snip>

[pbartch]

13. WISH I WAS GOING......... "Bush LIED, Thousands Died"

Don't INAUGRATE BUSH........IMPEACH HIM!!!!

[Shalom]

2. Why A.N.S.W.E.R. ? All Protest Groups Should Be Allowed...

I'm afraid this is an attempt by Bushitler to define the anti-Bush movement, which is NOT confined to A.N.S.W.E.R., and their agenda.

i.e., Most DU'ers are not associated with this group.

[IndyOp]

3. I think MeganMonkey's post has the correct response to your concern:

"The magic of ANSWER is it doesn't matter what your sign says - they get the permits taken care of..." -- in other words you can take any pro-peace; pro-democracy; pro-social justice sign you want and ANSWER will let you in. ANSWER and United for Peace and Justice benefit whenever anyone protests against the * administration.

:kick:

[meganmonkey]

5. Yeah, what he said

You type faster than me ;)

[meganmonkey]

4. All groups ARE allowed, ultimately

That's my point. I have been to ANSWER organized rallies before where there were (depending on who you believe) between 400,000 and a million people. Rest assured, they did not all have the same agenda.
They have resources and experience and they know how to get the permits. I don't want to start a conversation about why anyone SHOULD need a permit to begin with, that's a whole different issue.
But the fact is, ANSWER got the permits, anyone can go there with any sign, right along the path of the motorcade - they even get to put up BLEACHERS! That's crazy awesome!
Compare it to NYC protests for the RNC Convention. Remeber how much control there was around the whole area? There were tons of great protests, and even some Corporate media coverage, but very little of it was even visible to the people participating. THis way, it is right in their faces. And to me, that kicks some serious ass.

[Melissa G]

7. kick some serious signage for me!

[IndyOp]

9. Maybe they want all the protestors in one location so they can keep

an eye on them? My only concern is that if anything happens that spooks the police-military-homeland security-FBI agents (including any action caused by a provocateur) having people packed together might be a problem.

The video will show up on Democracy Now! and maybe C-SPAN, but nowhere else (wouldn't be polite to show on President *'s Special Day).

:kick:

[annabanana]

6. I sure hope people TAKE PICTURES and

show those of us who can't make it to DC.. Do you think C-Span will show the protests? (I sure as hell don't want to wait for MM to make another movie for my first glance at the proceedings)

[candy331]

10. I suppose heightened terror threats will stop this. n/t

[marions ghost]

22. we should be asking C-span to show some footage of the protests

...I can't remember whether they did do that for protests at the Repub convention in NY or not. Does anyone remember? But I think I saw some of that convention on a cable/satellite network called Link TV--Amy Goodman has a regular show on Link.

http://www.worldlinktv.org/

[marions ghost]

24. I emailed Link TV

and they said they thought that Democracy Now will be filming, so I'm assuming that means they will air the tape afterwards.

[althecat]

8. It's going to be very cold BTW...

[RaulVB]

11. Oh, man...

I am trying very hard to go there...:puffpiece:

[super simian]

12. God I wish...

...it really mattered what will happen on 1/20. Focus. This clown never got elected TWICE, and we are scheduled to unelect Jeb next time around. Where is President Gore? Where is President Kerry? Where is President.... 2008 Democratic candidate?

:shrug:

[super simian]

14. O and PS...

Where's my star? I sent my check in three weeks ago and sent an email last week and am still awaiting a response. Just wondered, you know. :shrug:

[meganmonkey]

15. Focus? Um, how about you focus on what this particular thread is about

Not that I am disagreeing with your point - I wouldn't spend so much time in this forum if I didn't think about that all day long.

But this thread is about one specific thing, and your post doesn't pertain much to it.

And btw, you have a star.

:shrug:

[super simian]

20. The star just appeared!

Sorry for what you perceived as a digression. I sent an email about the star a week ago and a check 3 weeks ago, so I thought I would just post a message on the forum, and then wahla! the star appears. Honest injun it wasn't there when I posted the above message!!

And as far as my other message, I don't see it so much as a digression since I am desperately looking for some hope to hang on to now that 1/6 has come and gone and Arnebeck has dropped his lawsuit and I don't believe that there will be any election reform with this congress. So I am totally discouraged right now.

:hurts:

[meganmonkey]

25. Maybe this'll help - it's not over, you know

I originally posted the following on a different thread for someone else who was feeling like there was nothing else going on:

-snip-
Without giving specifics, attorney Cliff Arnebeck said challenges of the results would continue in state or federal courts. But he conceded that there was nothing available now to try to prevent Bush's inauguration.

"We are not quitting. We are going on to any other forum that's available and we intend to pursue those avenues aggressively," Arnebeck said.
-snip-
http://pennlive.com/newsflash/topstories/index.ssf?/bas...

There are also lawsuits regarding the illegal way the recount was handled in Ohio
http://www.nvri.org/about/ohio_recount.shtml

There is also a GAO investigation.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/23/election.inve... /

These things take time. Unfortunately, the one that was withdrawn today suffered because the courts wouldn't move as fast as the electoral votes.

[super simian]

30. How can I...

...as someone who can barely find time to live in the margins of her own life keep up with this? Without people like you to light the way I would be totally lost.

:loveya:

[meganmonkey]

31. Wow, thanks, that's so nice of you!

:loveya:

(I think, unless you're implying I have nothing else going on in my life :P )

But believe me, my way is being lit by many here too. I am just grateful to have a place where I can learn this stuff.
And I recently began bookmarking a LOT of stuff and organizing it. That really helps when I need evidence and examples (and hope and inspiration too!)

[super simian]

33. No implications at all....

...I have nothing going on in my life either with this whole country living a tragic, devastating lie. I just have a super stressful job and no time to even go grocery shopping or do the laundry. But I desperately want to stay on board here and am grateful for those of you who can lead the way.

:loveya: :bounce:

[buzzard]

16. I am a Canadian who would love to go, would the Canadian Embassy let

you occupy their space.

[EC]

17. I'm guessing there is an ulterior motive

here...someone hired by *'s men to disrupt and make them look bad or give an excuse to eject them or even fire on them with tasers and rubber bullets...with this bunch you have to look a gift horse in the mouth and see where is the con...

[mattclearing]

21. I thought the same thing, but didn't want to rain on the parade.

no pun intended.

[K3RRY1]

32. I smell Rove.

[pbartch]

18. I put a similar note up a couple hours before you did

here is the URL for the similar thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x281018

[meganmonkey]

19. Excellent!

Perfect example of different groups with different agendas being able to take advantage of one groups permit. Sorry I missed your thread before.

How I wish I could go!!!! :sigh:

[jsascj]

23. Wonder how long before the National Park Service

gets a "call"?

[jazzjunkysue]

26. Can't go, but, I'm going to an Anti Bush book reading : in NYC on the 21st

NYC Counter Inaugural

"Counter Inaugural" Rally
Friday, January 21st 2005 7:00 pm
New York, NY USA

“Counter-Inaugural” Rally at Cooper Union’s Historic Great Hall on Friday, Jan 21st.

Featuring speakers Greg Palast, Esther Kaplan, John R. MacArthur, Robin Morgan and others.

The Great Hall, Cooper Union, 30 Cooper Square, NYC, 7:00, FREE

Speakers are all contributors to WHAT WE DO NOW, the "instant" book that also features Howard Dean, Donna Brazile, Leslie Kagan , Lewis Lapham and others, rushed into stores after the November election.
Location:
The Great Hall, Cooper Union 30 Cooper Square New York NY NY 10003-7120

Contact:
Valerie Merians
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>
201-222-2640

Sponsored By:
Melville House

[Donailin]

27. Maybe the Park Service is retaliating on the direction of

Mayor Williams because DC is getting stuck with the bill.

If that's the case, there's one good thing to be said about him, because otherwise he's the worst slimeball ever.

[seemunkee]

28. Does this mean if you want to protest you have to be there

Last time you could wander up and down the street and it was filled with protesters. I hate to think that we are going to be restricted to just that one section.

[meganmonkey]

29. Until this permit was granted, it looked like protesters

wouldn't be able to get anywhere NEAR the motorcade. They are being insane about the 'security' (read: public humiliation of the Chimperor). But the Park Service finally granted this permit for this one area - according to them, the official Inauguration Committee had permit requests turned in so far in advance, no one else could get permits. I am surprised they even got this, frankly.

It really sucks, but considering people had to sign loyalty oaths just to go to his rallies, it's not much of a shock.