Anti-GOP March on C-SPAN

[Rusty Nails]

Been watching it all morning. Very intersting. Back spasms and the medication that accompanies them have layin' low, so just takin' all in from the couch. I can't believe the numbers -- pretty good turn-out. I like to hear what the word on the street is over there -- Dex or other NYC mags -- what's the vibe?

[Squirrel99]

Damn, this looks interesting. Might need to check it out.

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2004/ALLPOLIT...unday.2.ap.jpg

[Dexter Rutecki]

Originally posted by Rusty Nails
I like to hear what the word on the street is over there -- Dex or other NYC mags -- what's the vibe?

Yeah, I'm going into midtown today...Ha, ha, ha, ha....
I've been uptown all day, seen a few obvious protesters straggling around, but am steering clear of midtown/Union Square.
Still working on the chicken suit for later this week, though. Chirping Chicken didn't have one, I'm checking costume stores now. I know Plakespear mentioned Sotheby's, but that's an event for Tuesday night? I'll figure something out, and hopefully post a TR (assuming the cops don't jail chickens).

[CUBUCK]

I haven't really noticed anything out of the ordinary in my neighborhhood. I'll try to get around and check out what is going on later this week. Rumor is some asshole will be walking around in a chicken suit. Don't want to miss that!!!

[The Reverend Floater]

Good for you, Dex! Wish I could be there with you. I'd be a burning bush, I think.

[elevens]

I just got back from the lower east side and from Union Sq (14th St) thru midtown the city is a mess. Huge traffic, cops and protesters everywhere - it's a mess and is only going to get worse as the "con"vention hits off.

I'm off to VT on Monday to play mason for the week - good luck NYC and let's hope the city has a safe and peaceful week ahead.

elevens

[Oopsie Daisy]

Spoke with an NYC ladyfriend last night. She told of the bicycle protest (you know, where the bikes take over the streets) where the protestors laid down their bikes, laid themselves down in the street, and then were arrested.

Napping for social change: count me in!

Also said folks were hanging out until 4 a.m., watching protest flicks screened outdoors, mingling, and boozing. Yeah, NYC!

[Will]

I was at the march today; it was awesome.

My brother and I got a late start. Marchers were supposed to gather at 10, march at 12. We got off the train at 28th sometime after 1.
When we got out of the subway the front of the march had already passed the garden and was out of sight somewhere past the turn onto 34th, the tail was nowhere in sight. We walked south till somewhere around 20th and then merged into the crowd. There was a fuckload of people there. I'm not going to even try and guess at a number, but when we got to the end at Union Square a few hours later we were told that there were still people heading north who hadn't passed the garden. So behind us alone we had over 20 blocks crammed with people.

From Union Square we took a break for more water and some food, then headed to the park. We meandered north (saw lots of napping protesors in sheeps meadow) to the great lawn where we found a lot of people who ‘just happened to end up here’. Not a mind-boggling amount like the march, but a damn lot of people. There was a constant stream of protestors both entering and leaving though. It seems most folks came to check it out, even if they didn’t stay for very long. Even when we finally left the park sometime in the evening there was still a steady flow of people making a bee-line to the Great Lawn.

Everything I saw was totally peaceful. No arrests, no confrontations with the police. During the march people were just slowly walking along, chanting, clapping, and generally making noise. We booed when the Garden and the surrounding "Welcome Republicans" signs came into view. We chanted back at the small group of pro-bush folks. And we yelled "fuck fox news" and "fuck dick" as we turned east on 34th (the Macy's video screen was showing Dick Cheney on fox news).

Apparently a paper-mache green dragon burst into flame near the garden at some point, but I missed that. I suspect that would have something to do with the "greene dragon" group. It's unclear if that was intentional or an accident. I did see the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army a few times and later in Central Park I saw the Reverend Billy (of the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir).

Pics to come…

[ArmchairExtreme]

Everyone has been fleeing the city. I went to CT on Sat to my brother's house. Took us 3 hrs to get to New Haven. ugh.

Upper West S is deserted. Met up with Elevens last night at a watering hole on Amsterdam. Not many locals around.

Saw a few small groups of kids with signs in the park on Sunday, but I was not going to go downtown. I drove into work this morning and had to have my car checked and my license checked at my parking garage that's 20+ blocks from MSG. Teams of cops on EVERY intersection. Every Ave has a lane closed for marches.

I am expecting about a 40% drop off in revenue this week. The city is taking a huge hit.

[Tippster]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Political Conventions, ACE. Ask your counterparts in Boston if they ever want to have another one. Such a waste of time...

Hey, I'm staying at a bro's pad at 72nd & West End! After drinking a nightcap at some Irish/Fireman's bar at 72nd & Amsterdam I had a late night snack at the Gray's Papaya on the corner! You weren't the guy that... nevermind.



God it's good to be back in NYC! Soooooo many freaks!

[basom]

do something funny with the live feed tip. PLEEEEASE


edit: and in boston over 70% of the residents stayed well away during the week. no protesters. no traffic issues. city lost millions on revenue. easiest commuting week of my life.

i almost got arrested, but i don't think i was protesting anything except Vinz leaving the bar early.