Permit Denial for Big Park Rally Adds to Push for Protests There

[Khephra]

To officials of both New York City and the largest coalition of protest groups expected at the Republican National Convention, negotiations over the use of Central Park for a huge protest rally during the convention had ended more than two weeks ago with an agreement to hold the rally at an alternative site, along the West Side Highway.

However, to many protesters from all across the political spectrum - from self-described Clinton Democrats to Libertarians - losing the battle for Central Park was a galvanizing moment, a new cause for protest and all the more reason to gather in the park, although individually or in much smaller groups than originally planned by the coalition, United for Peace and Justice.

"I think they can expect a lot of people are going to end up congregating in Central Park during the convention," said Christopher Dunn, the associate legal director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "There's widespread unhappiness with the city's decision. Many people will go there simply to protest that closure."

The Parks Department has granted eight permits for Central Park events that it describes as convention-related, including rallies, races and readings that range in size from groups of 80 people to more than 32,000. Several are scheduled for the week leading up to the convention, which opens on Aug. 30. All are in parts of the park officials describe as less susceptible to damage than the Great Lawn, the site for which United for Peace and Justice had sought a permit for 250,000 people to gather on Sunday, Aug. 29.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/09/nyregion/09protest.html

[DODI]

1. This is from the UFPJ e-mail I received today:

<snip>

"In addition, since we announced our decision, some important new
information has appeared in the mainstream media. Quinnipiac University released a public opinion poll showing that 75% of New Yorkers support our right to rally in Central Park. Meanwhile, a horticulturalist who worked on the renovation of the Great Lawn revealed to The New York Times that it was engineered specifically to withstand large crowds, undercutting the City’s claim that our rally would irreparably damage the grass."
<snip>

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

UFPJ is having a press conference tomorrow to discuss what they plan to do. It seems there is no reason not to have the rally in Central Park. I went to the one in Oct. 2002 and it was one of the best experiences of my life! Good luck UFPJ!

[prolesunited]

2. Bush and his GOP minions

are irreparably damaging the course of democracy in the U.S. and our position in the world, but heaven forbid we trample the grass. :eyes: