The Republican National Convention or the Protests. Which is Democracy?

[Kellanved]

The Answer Coalition called for a demonstration on 30st Street and 8th Avenue at 7 pm Thursday, September 2, 2004. This was the day that George W. Bush was to come to the Republican Convention to speak. This was the day that would culminate the Republican Convention events in New York City in Fall of 2004. The stage was set for a test for what the world calls "democracy". Those in power, and those who want to protest that power, all within the vicinity of a few blocks. What would be the result?

The streets of New York City were filled with police and check points and blocked off lanes of traffic. These were all part of the red carpet which the Mayor of the City, Michael Bloomberg rolled out for the visiting dignitaries and delegates of the Republican Party.


Large numbers of people arrested




On the bus ride down to the demonstration, I could observe the lane that had been cleared in the road, cutting off traffic lanes from both sides of the street, is visible. Buses and limousines for the delegates at the convention used the lane in the road the city created specially for them. In the area downtown from the demonstration were many city buses riding empty. These could be used to arrest demonstrators.

The week's event began with an impressive march of over 500,000 people on Sunday, August 29, 2004 (see "End the Occupation of Iraq and Manhattan"). People from all over the US came with their signs protesting the wars that the current US government has unleased first on Afghanistan and then on Iraq.

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http://www.heise.de/tp/english/inhalt/co/18271/1.html

[skooooo]

1. wow powerful article..

thanks for posting

[punpirate]

2. It may not be the answer you wanted...

... but both are. One's more spontaneous and less orchestrated, one is (like the Democratic convention) very planned and orchestrated.

But, rabble-rousers in the street always seem more like what some of the founders intended. :)

[EST]

3. Actually the Sunday coverage was pretty good,

compared to many. The rest of it sucked, though.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

4. ,,actually both...

Both are democracy in action.