'Bushville' Set Up in Central Park

[G_j]

http://www.kwru.org/mfol/bushville/bushville8-12.htm

Bushville moved to Central Park for the day in order to talk about what is happening to homeless people in New York City in preperation for the Republican National Convention. While the general public has focused on the question of a permit in regards to Central Park another important issue that has been made to disappear from the media is the fact that poor people are being swept from Central Park, other parks and streets in New York City and across the country.
<snip>

At around 8:30 at night four members of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign were arrested while practicing their first amendment rights in a public park, they then went to jail and were handcuffed until 1am in the morning to a metal pole.

Republican National Convention Protesters Released From Jail (Read Press Release)

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http://www.kwru.org/mfol/marchforourlives.html

Updates


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http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/08/05/honkala/index_np.html

Down and out and on the move
Leading a feisty army of homeless people, fiery activist Cheri Honkala is about to descend on the Republican Convention.

By Michelle Goldberg

[Kanary]

1. Fantastic! I hope they have *strong* support from important

organizations.

These are very courageous people, and are taking on an issue and campaign that deserves ALL our support!

Thanks for posting, G_j!

Love the pictures!

Kanary

[G_j]

2. yes I agree, they deserve our support

[Kanary]

3. I want to see big names, and familiar faces out there with them!

I'm sick to death of this issue NOT getting the support of the rich and famous, while less pressing issues bring out all the celebrities.

It's high time for some true soul-searching, here!

I can't bear to read about the arrests. I'm sickened.

Where's Martin Sheen? He likes to be arrested. Where are some of our politicians? Where's Dean? There's a whole list of people who should be OUT there.

Where are the vets in uniform, for cryinginabucket.....some of these brave people are vets, too.

Where is the organized effort to raise funds for their support?

Kanary, who is sick of watching courageous people having to go it alone....

[G_j]

4. off hand, I can't think of any celebrity types

who are outspoken about the plight of the homeless, though I imagine there must be at least a few.
Whatever the case, it's not a 'sexy' issue to many I suppose.

[Kanary]

5. That's right, and that's why I'm mad, and the pictures tear at me.

WE're allowing them to be picked off as a convenient target, neglecting the fact that we could well be next.

Canaries, they are.

Kanary, a relative.......

[G_j]

6. and there are homeless in every town and city

in America. (the numbers grow)

[Kanary]

7. uh, yeah.......

And it just plain doesn't matter to anyone, including all the celebrities who get themselves arrested for causes, and all the politicians who like to carve out some nitch to make themselves known in. They will stand to the side and let these people be chained to a pole all night, by the damned cops. If there were protestors being treated that way, there would be such a hue and cry on DU the board would stall out.

I'm going to say it because I simply can't stand this anymore. There is so much sympathy for animals, and people will get all worked up if an animal is running loose, or is mistreated. Yet, here are human beings, some who are children, some who are battered women, some who are vets, and ......... what....... ? No value. A GODDAMNED DOG IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A HOMELESS PERSON. :wtf:

The day that I *finally* see animal rights people out there, giving support to these courageous and frightened and hungry people (and probably sick, also, without medical care or proper living conditions), then that's the day I'll have more respect for animal rights people.

The day I see gay rights people, who are more concerned about having the right to marry, which is NOT life and death, out there in support of these homeless people is the day I will have a lot more respect for them.

The day I see anti-war people, who can turn out MILLIONS for a march, as we now know, out there supporting these people, and marching for them, I will have more respect.

The day I see environmentalists, who care more for a frog than they do for these people, out there demanding a proper environment for human beings, I will have more respect for them.

We are one fucked up society, and I'm mad as hell, and don't care that this will get me flamed. People deserve to finally be confronted for their lack of compassion. This is just sick.

When I say "you", I'm not meaning you personally, G_j. I know you have a heart of gold, and you're the only one who has even posted this.

This needs to be confronted, in a big way.

Kanary

[peace4all]

10. on a global level it is similar

especially when it comes to Africa.

I greatly admire those who insist on reminding us of what we would rather not think about.
that was a good post Kanary

[Kanary]

11. thank you so much, peace4all!

It really isn't easy at all for me to express these things, and your kind words mean a lot.

Especially after the attack I had on this forum today, calling me a liar and saying I don't know anything about poverty.

Somedays it all makes me very sick.

Kanary

[Laughing Mirror]

8. Like last year's Bushville in DC

Marchers from PPERHC groups from California to Florida to Ohio and Pennsylvania arrived and set up camp. Since the PPEHRC is made up of groups organizing the poor and led by the poor, marchers were from all ages, races, occupations and regions of America. Grandparents, parents and children set up the city together joined by labor and human rights allies of the Campaign. The camp included a Statue of Liberty, signs calling for an end to poverty and a 30 by 60 foot American flag.

Just before the 11:59 deadline, marchers formed hand-in-hand around the flag and sang together. Inside the ring of singing marchers, volunteers for civil disobedience quietly sat in the center of the flag – prepared to resist police efforts to silence the voices of the poor. Marchers continued to sing, but police had not yet arrived. Camera and video crews taped the marchers, framed by the large flag in the shadows of the Capitol and Washington Monument.

At about 12:30 Park Police drove to the protest sight. The marchers kept singing as the police entered Bushville. At first it was unclear if there would be immediate arrests. Meetings between Bushville organizers and the police were held. Police informed the organizers that arrests would occur only once the media had left the site. Thus beginning a three-hour standoff that continued until at least 3:30 AM. The police parked cars outside of the tent city, but entered the site every hour to wake up sleeping marchers with flashlights and high beams from squad cars. At 3:30 the police left the site, but organizers were unsure if the police planned to return....
http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/80561/index.php

[Laughing Mirror]

9. "We don't need a permit," said Cheri Honkala, 41.

"Who made up the idea that we need a permit?"

That's the spirit, Cheri. From Newsday article cited at krwu.org:

Honkala vowed to stay in Central Park until the convention, and said her group would grow significantly.

A spokeswoman for the Parks Department said the group was "cooperative," adding that "if you want to protest in the park, you can protest in the park, albeit for small gatherings."

Meanwhile, under the bridge, the big concern was the food: white-bread and bologna sandwiches, soda and potato chips.

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/politics/nyc-tent0814,0,2501079.story?coll=nyc-manheadlines-politics

Yes, as more and more people go without, we can expect to see more passing around of the bologna and white bread and potato chips. Thank you Gj for posting this.

Interesting how it is kind of a warm-up to the huge protests later this month. Well Bushville got there first! It is the most oppressed who always get the ball rolling.