Republican National Convention Counteraction in New York City : Melbourne Indymedia

For the first time in history, from August 20 to September 2 2004, New York City will be the site of the annual Republican National Convention (RNC). The main purpose of the convention is to nominate current president George W Bush as the Republican presidential candidate for the forthcoming election, but the event will be met by mass protest by local and international activists.

The beginning of action in New York City was marked on Thursday with the arrival of the Democracy Uprising group’s ‘DNC 2 NRC’ caravan. The 258 mile march began in Boston at the Democratic Convention and has spent the last month making its way to New York for the commencement of the RNC. The group is marching for those who can not be present and seeking “dignity, justice, housing, autonomy, education, health care, work and food for all.”

The Gotham Gazette reported that 21 people involved in anti-RNC activities were arrested on Friday. Four of the arrested face a maximum of 25 years in prison for assault, after a police officer fell through a skylight at the Plaza Hotel. Despite calls for peaceful action it seems unlikely that the NYPD will allow activists to carry out events without intervention. Many groups will be on hand during the coming days to provide free legal advice to those in need.

On August 29 the legal ‘The World Says No to the Bush Agenda!’ march, organised by the United for Peace group, will walk past Madison Square Garden, the site of the RNC. Organisers originally requested permission to rally in Central Park but were denied by the New York State Supreme Court. Supported by more than 360 community groups and expecting attendance from prominent community leaders such as the Reverend Jesse Jackson, organisers are confident of large numbers of people joining the march.

August 31 is being marked as ‘A Day of Non-Violent Civil Disobedience and Direct Action’ and the streets of New York City will be transformed into stages of resistance and forums for debate. The A31 Action Coalition issued a letter to residents of New York City asking them to either join the rally or support the action from the sidewalks of Manhattan.

It is evident from the myriad of calls to action, anti-convention websites and involvement from community and activist groups, that the forthcoming days in New York City will see mass numbers of dissidents converge on the city, speaking out against the regressive political agenda of the Republicans.

[NYC Indymedia | Counter Convention | RNC Watch | A-Noise Online Radio | United for Peace | Democracy Uprising | A31 Action Coalition]