The RNC NYC protest. Do you worry?

[Gothic Sponge]

I will be there to protest, but do you worry about a possible terrorist attack? It would be a prime opportunity for someone to take out many people. It would suck being killed protesting those evil bastards!

[MAlibdem]

1. that is my concern in going

and probably why my mother will take away my car if I try to go...

bus is only $40 tho...

[mrdmk]

2. Heavy police presents

with lots of arrest. Of course the people arrested with be declared to having no business being there. I just hope you have an ACLU member in your pocket.

[pagerbear]

3. The police are giving out presents?

[Salviati]

7. Yeah, but heavy ones...

so you'll strain your back carrying them around while marching all day. They're insidious I tell you!

[Gothic Sponge]

15. LOL!

The cops giving big presents would be surreal. Thanks for the laugh Siflnolly! LOL!

[H2O Man]

4. I don't think it's likely.

What happened in Chicago in 1968 is possible, but not likely. If you mean a foreign attack, I think that's far less likely. The NYC police will do a good job.

[roach23]

5. i have to say

I could see a terrorist attack (planned by Bush) that "conveniently" goes off target. It could bee a biological weapon that kills thousands of protesters. They will kill off thousands of democratic voters and Bush will claim it was an attack on him. Then he will claim that the terrorists really are trying to kill him, so everybody better vote for him.

[smirkymonkey]

14. I was thinking the same thing.

It would accomplish a number of their goals and they may be desperate enough by then. 1) Terrorists are trying to kill shrub or worse, "evil libruls" are tyring to kill shrub. Undecided voters turn on Kerry and vote for monkey boy out of sympathy. 2) protesters bumped off, a warning to the unfaithful and fewer democrats that will be voting for Kerry. 3) National emergency - martial law is declared-no elections 4) The US officially becomes a totalitarian dictatorship paving the way for a PNAC free-for-all.

[Union Thug]

6. Osama and pals..

Want George Bush elected. I think they'll pass on this one.

[jonnyo]

8. Everyone Take Recording Devices to the NY Marches

Make sure as many people that have recording devices bring them and use them. Video cameras, digital cameras, regular drug store disposables, and the dreaded anti-fascism phone cams.

When the thugs start photographing people, photograph them right back -- they'll emotionally loose it having their identities recorded and distributed. When their out of uniform plants start making trouble, record them running back behind police lines like they did in Florida.

If everyone has the capacity to record what's REALLY happening, FOX and the other Corporate owned alphabet soup networks will have an impossible time framing the protests for their own propaganda benefit.

[mrdmk]

13. Good idea

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[Salviati]

21. If you don't have one...

you can likely go down to your local goodwill/ saint vinnies/ salvation army and pick up an old camcorder ultra cheap. I know that I've seen some of the old school camcorders that use full size VHS tapes going for under $20...

[thebigidea]

22. MOE: "Press..." LARRY: "Press..." CURLY: "Pull... nyuk, nyuk, nyuk."

should be an interesting media event, probably tinted orange for "our protection."

[tkmorris]

30. It's a good idea, BUT

If you're not used to such events you should be aware, do NOT take anything, particularly cameras, that you aren't willing to lose. Police at protests in general despise cameras and often will do anything in their power to see to it that any footage/still shots you take never see the light of day. The protests in Miami recently are a good example of this.

If you want to take pictures, use a disposable. Take a backup. If you really really must go for video beware, get caught filming the wrong thing and your camera will become public enemy #1 to the police and they will act accordingly. It's not a good time to break out that new $1000 camera unless you are a lot richer than I am.

[Hekate]

31. Do this: cheap camera, film, pre-addressed envelopes

Take your photos or videos, and as soon as a roll is done stick it in an envelope and drop it into the next mailbox you see. Keep doing this.

If your camera has a date/time stamp make sure it's set accurately (I once took a couple of rolls of film in June that came out stamped January).

Hekate

[Beatrix]

39. Simple solution then

get a camera that uploads images/video to a computer remotely.

[newyawker99]

32. Hi jonnyo!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Alerter_]

9. I think it's guarenteed

In fact, I'd be willing to be that the terrorist attacks come from infiltrators in the anti-war movement. With the corporate media helping, they could associate "peace protestor" with the "terrorists" in about one week.

[Eric J in MN]

10. No, I'm worried about mass arrests and police-brutality.

No, I'm worried about mass arrests and police-brutality.

I think that anyone who isn't prepared to be arrested for doing nothing wrong shouldn't go.

And peaceful protestors may be clubbed.

[Warpy]

11. To hell with the terrorists, worry about GOP brownshirts

You can bet they'll be out in force, smashing store windows and pointing at YOU when the cops show up.

[LizW]

12. My suggestion, especially for younger folks

is to arrange to go with an organized, reputable group, people who will look out for each other. Get training before you go and be prepared for the absolute worst so you won't be freaked out if it happens.

Be prepared and don't be naive. Read first person accounts of Miami and of the Lafayette Park arrests, so you'll know what is possible.

Know your rights in advance and have the necessary phone numbers available.

Don't worry about a terrorist attack. It won't happen during the Repugs' big PR moment.

[JanMichael]

16. The probability of it getting "ugly" is high. At least isolated incidents.

I would suppose that some street corners/alleys might see some protestors injured.

I also suppose that a "Terrorist" attack, I mean, come on, wouldn't that many RNC folks be tempting to al Qaida types? might be in the offing too.

[AlCzervik]

17. I think the protestors will be safe

considering the evildoers will be located inside the convention hall.

[Bombtrack]

18. I worry about them using the protesters for political advantages

You do know how easy it is going to be for them to do so right? Nixon had a plan to do this at the Miami convention in 68. They were going to have infiltraters start chaos. They aborted it at the last minute. Clashes with the police, fires, just maliciousness in general.

This is just a disaster waiting to happen. I really don't know what you believe it will acomplish. Oh, people will know that allot of New York and people who are able to go to New York that hates Bush? Wow that's really necessary. There are litterally a million ways they can use the protesters causing problems for the city to there advantage.

I've already gotten flamed for saying this before. Of course people distort it as wanting to silence people. No, I'm pointing out that there voices are out there as far as they would be with another protest.

[Renew Deal]

19. I am more worried about the cops than the terrorists.

[BillZBubb]

20. Foreign terrorists aren't the worry.

Using the Nixon playbook, the Repugs will have agents provacatuer in the crowds. They'll stir up things enough to give the police a green light to smash the protests.

There will be blanket arrests, like at the anti-Nam protests. If you are on the street and don't look like a Repuke you'll get swept up. You'll be out of jail in 24hrs, but they will have gotten you off the street temporarily.

I just wish I could be there!

[sleepystudent]

23. yeah...

and those of us that live and work in Manhattan that are on your side but also have jobs and lives to attend to will have our lives disrupted even more by the RWers and by you. And may have our heads cracked in just for being nearby. So thanks. And the police have a permit to protest themselves, and I think their protest will be more meaningful and powerful than anything people trying to romantically relive 1968 could come up with.

[LoZoccolo]

24. I'm more concerned about certain protesters...

...not the majority, mind you, but a certain contingent who like to smash things and fight with the cops, having this whole thing get turned into "the protesters are fighting those who helped people on 9/11".

[LoZoccolo]

25. And if you think I'm just stereotyping certain anarchist types...

...take a look at this:

http://www.chicagonewyork.net/tactics.php

[TheMightyFavog]

26. You mean thoe black block asshats...

Who wear the black ski masks and generally always tend to start shit like they did in Seattle in 1999?

[LoZoccolo]

33. Yeah, anarchist kids.

And I'm afraid they'll get the bulk of the press coverage for doing $10,000 worth of damage to the Nike Store or something.

[Kinkistyle]

28. The anti-war protests in NYC were super-peaceful

and were mostly populated by regular-folks ranging from all ages and all races. I was surprised by how many little kids and senior citizens came out into the freezing cold only to get penned up like so-much cattle by the police.

No, I have no worries about "thugs" populating an RNC protest, because no liberal could be anywhere near as thuggish as the people we will be protesting.

[fujiyama]

27. I'm more afraid

of rent a thugs provoking violence...

If any violence occurs, it could possibly sink Kerry, because the "evil liberal Anti American protestors" would be associated with the democratic party.

[Aidoneus]

29. I do not fear "al-Qai'dah" attacking the demonstration

but rather, ripping off Chris Rock, al-Cracka. I expect the Republican Guard to fire on the march, but will be there anyway.

[Lorien]

34. If there was an attack, I think it would be

from within (GOP disruptors trying to turn a protest into Kent state). I wouldn't put anything beyond those people.

[seabeyond]

35. terrorist attack on the people by our police

to protect and serve is what i worry, (worry?) about. you did read the story of jp standing on a box and cable and black shaw and hood, being arrested for a felony. semes they are clearly saying with free zone, repressing permits to demonstrate and many other things, the verbal of critize bush and unamerican...........that the demonstrators like never before shouldnt trust our law and order tactics

[sleepystudent]

36. It's been stated before...

The NYPD and NYFD have applied for and been granted a permit to protest themselves. They will be protesting the Pubs too. I have been at protests in New York and the police have been very respectful and even voiced support for our causes-specfically the anti-war protests last year. But a protester punched a police horse and caused trouble. As someone who lives here in New York, I am far more worried about the protestors causing serious disruption and trouble than I am about the police. It comes down to mutual respect in my opinion. A peaceful, noisy protest with tens or hundreds of thousands of protestors will have far more of an impact than a bunch of young romantic thugs antagonizing everyone in their path and vandalizing public and private property. I hope to see the former.

[seabeyond]

37. hey sleepystudent, (surely you are on break and get to sleep in)

that is good to hear. thank you for sharing this. truly i like to see this more than what i was seeing. and isnt that nifty for it to work that way, police support. yes respect on both sides, important. doesnt do any good for voice to go to yelling and fighting..........just feeds the chaos of an already chaotic situation

[Alerter_]

41. NYFD has endoresed Kerry - NY Firefights love Kerry

What has Bush done for NYFD? Nothing.

[mopinko]

38. what are the plans exactly??

i have heard that united for peace and justice was denied a permit. does anyone have dates and times for any permitted demonstration?
i would like to go, but i can only spend a day or two.

[itsnoteasybeingreen]

40. as a new york city activist myself

I am very concerned about these protests. So far, the peace protests have been very peaceful and relatively confrontation-free, but I worry most about the implementation of the "cow pens" like they did on febuary 15th.

The NYPD has already said theyre gonna be on the lookout for the black bloc'ers, and I think the crowd will be too big to go after everyone.

The presence of the 9/11 victim's families marches will probably keep this from getting to heated, at least I hope!

There is also a lot of other stuff going on in the city around that time too if my memory serves me correctly, I think both the mets and yankees have games that weekend as well as some other large-scale events prone to attack, so the police might be a bit thinned out, but the commissioner, ray kelly, said he does not want the help of the feds besides monetarily.

To me, the safest bet would be to stay off the streets and participate in the counter-convention events happening at the same time, unless you're prepared to get arrested.

[sleepystudent]

42. So is the U.S. Open...

the tennis tournament, which is actually the most attended sporting event in the United States. I am seriously thinking about just leaving town while all of this is going. The hassle and tension will not be worth it IMHO.