What a rightwing blog says about protests of Republican Convention

[Eric J in MN]

"We can expect a big freak show at the upcoming Republican Convention in New York. The far left nut jobs will ensure Bush's re-election, even though they will think they're doing the opposite. In fact, i hope they go on a total Bush-hatin' rampage in the streets of New York. Everyone knows who's side they're on, and the worse the protesters act, the more people will realize how low the Democratic Party has fallen."
-The rightwing blog, Annika's Journal, July 26, 2004
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If you go, please wear business clothing (suit and tie for a man)
and please don't block traffic.

I'm expecting the police to taser and club peaceful protestors, and I hope things stay calm.

[DBoon]

1. It would look really bad

for the police to be mistreating well dressed middle class looking people.

It will be a more effective protest for "average looking" people to be protesting. It will make it easier for the majority of Americans to identify with the protesters.

And expect the media to pick up on the one protester with the "interesting" appearance.

[Webster Green]

5. The protests always have a diverse variety of participants....

A good representation of the citizens of this country. Attempts to pigeonhole protesters as "freaks" is absurd.

Some unrepentant hippies like myself fly their freak flags proudly. So what? It will be a cold day in Hell before you catch me wearing a fucking suit and tie.

I could care less what a bunch of ignorant freepers think.

Who's streets?

[Kinkistyle]

6. Blacks, Jews, Gays, Asians, Hispanics.

Make up your "average looking" New Yorker. Don't know how thats going to play with the "majority" of Americans, and I don't give a shit. Far as I am concerned, New York is a model of what is so great about America.

[alittlelark]

17. I confess....the day the war broke out I went to SF in Biusness Attire

Hubby made me do it, he was smart about it. I got to see the city-wide shut down in a costume...........

[aquart]

21. What, precisely do you think we wear? Love beads?

[aquart]

23. Define "interesting."

I would be fascinated to hear.

[ComerPerro]

2. One odd thing...

A freak show.

Gore won the majority vote. So... how can the traits of a group that large be considered "freak"?

And, moreover, since Bush got fewer votes, he has fewer supporters. Woudln't it stand to reason that traits leading to support of Bush are even more freakish?

[gulliver]

3. And take pictures of the worst actors and freaks.

The people who would put together the Smearboat Vets would have no trouble sending a few paid Republican goons dressed as "liberal freaks" to cause some problems at the Republican Convention. Seriously, I never thought I would ever have to think that was a possibility, but that's what we have come to. The type of "American" that accused John McCain of having an illegitimate "colored" child to support Bush in the 2000 primaries is still out there thinking up more sewage to spew.

[aquart]

16. "Anyone who incites violence is a narc."

Sign on the wall of the Queens College protests circa 1970.

Do not fall for it.

[aquart]

22. Please, dear. How does a "liberal freak" dress?

Waiting with wardrobe anticipation.

[gulliver]

24. It depends. Are you planning on protesting at the RN convention ...

... in whatever I suggest?

Check out Mad Maxx and dress like one of the bad guys. Then walk around with a Kerry/Edwards sign. Et voila! You are a "liberal freak" made for TV.

On the other hand, if you really want to help liberals, wear the same costume and join the Bush supporters. Then you will be a "conservative freak."

I would rather see a rally than a protest. Kerry/Edwards supporters of all stripes should show up, be polite, be persuasive, have a catchy, funny sign, etc. Boring and conventional as they have become, protests still signal conflict. That spells drama, and that raises the media appeal of the Republican propaganda fest.

[Cobia]

4. Well since Bloomberg is a rethug

expect OPEN SEASON

[merh]

7. For all attending the peaceful protests

please be sure to have devices to record as much as possible. Video cameras, digital audio recorders, digital cameras, telephones with cameras, etc.

If disrupters and police start to act unreasonable, they often settle down if they are being recorded. The more recordings of the events, the better.

[aquart]

8. You're expecting people to be clubbed?

Protestors are not usually clubbed in NYC. Why are you expecting people to be clubbed? And tasered?

Without provocation? How do you see things staying calm in that event?

This city is experienced in large protests. We've been there done that.

As long as people realize that anyone inciting them to violence is the one that will be testifying against them as a government informant, why should there be trouble? Hmm?

[Eric J in MN]

10. Because of the Miami FTAA. protests. At least one innocent

protestor was tasered. By a police officer disguised as a protestor.

And New York got advice from Miami Police Chief Timmoni on how to handle the Republcian Convention protests.



Here is an article dealing with some of the issues:
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/08/10/9280593

[aquart]

15. New York is NOT Jeb Bush's Miami.

Maybe you want to keep that in mind.

[WMliberal]

9. how about a mullet and a nascar shirt?

now that would REALLY speak to middle america

[Eric J in MN]

11. sounds good to me (nt)

nt

[Chomskyite]

12. There'll be plenty of FBI and RNC plants . . .

. . . but if they're the only ones being violent, and the other protesters don't take part, it'll blow over. The NYPD will take in the infiltrators and release them within a couple minutes.

So the key is if you SEE violence, don't let it spread. Contain it. Keep walking.

[OneBlueSky]

13. anyone else getting flashbacks to Chicago, 1968? . . .

deja vu all over again . . .

[aquart]

18. Again. New York is not Daley's Chicago.

Unless some of you are trying to relive past glories?

[samplegirl]

14. I hope it is a freak show!

They wish it could help Bush. Contrary to there silly beliefs...there
has never been a election ... with a President so hated, that people
would fill N.Y. in bitter rampage.

[alittlelark]

19. uh, yeah.....

but at least you can spell.

bitter rampage
bitter rampage
bitter rampage
bitter rampage


yeah

[aquart]

20. RAMPAGE? Is THAT what you're hoping for?

Are any of us so juvenile, so heartless, so selfish that we would desire this fate for a city already deeply scarred? For the thrill of being in the thick of things?

We are ridding ourselves of these thieves. What possible good except a rather slimy self-satisfaction can come from a riot in NYC?

[BurtWorm]

25. Fuck those right wing assholes. They're less mainstream than

the black flaggers anyway. ;)

[Joe Fields]

26. How about we wear whatever the hell we want? There's a

trainwreck coming, and it's not going to make a fucking bit of different how anyone is dressed. Whatever protesters arent scared off by the repugs, they will all be painted by the same brush as "troublemakers" and instigators."

If I had the means, I would go in a heart beat.

[AntiCoup2K4]

27. How about wearing t shirts with swastikas on them....

..and standing with the "Protest Warriors" :evilgrin:

[southernleftylady]

30. lol how funny would that be? lol a plant in the protest of the protest

and make the repugs look bad??!! lol that would be classic!!

[CaptainClark23]

28. Some people like to go out dancing...

....other people like us we gotta work (Lou Reed, a NY'er)

hmmm, how to dress to impress, what to pack...hmmm...

sorry Eric, the majority of protestors in NYC are going to be people who live and work in NYC. With the exception of the March and Rally-without-a-home on Sunday, the protests will be happening during the weekdays and evenings.

Which means that I, and most other New Yorkers, go to work. No shut down of the City, no comp time granted by the firm.

So I will be heading downtown wearing what I wear to work, not some thoughtfully arranged outfit designed to give someone I do not know an impression of who I am and what I represent by my clothing.

There's alot to rally around, and there's alot to protest. I suspect we all will have different motivations going into convention week.

Me? I'm going primarily because I love this City, and I'm pissed as hell about how it has been fucked over and used. I am protesting these scumbags coming to my town to party it up.

And so for me to "dress as" anything other than who and what I am (a New Yorker) would be a repudiation of the very reason I am going to have my voice heard with all the rest.

Besides, we have Fashion Week here in New York already. It's the following week, for the Spring 2005 lines.

[arbusto_baboso]

29. What about RW freaks, like Fred Phelps and his "church"?

I'm sure they'll be marching to "support" the constitutional marriage amendment. Think the media will pay any attention to those hate-mongering pieces of shit? I'd lay odds against it.