Peace will break out in NYC and this is why!!!

[henslee]

Nice-ees will out number thugs, for sure. NY cops are good guys who for the most part probably identify more with protesters. They don't want to bust heads for no reason. They just want to get home and have a beer. Sure they will neutralize some a-holes but in the scale of a mass protest, I just do not see Ghostbusters type mayhem breaking out. Am I dreaming?

[liontamer]

1. nope

I plan on protesting very peacefully. Heck I might even take advantage of shopping discounts!

[phantom power]

2. It only takes a few thugs to set it off.

[henslee]

4. Yeah but dont you think good protestors and planclothed cops will point

out the baddies? I think there will be lot of women and children (If I had a wife or kid, I would never let them near the fray but others will) I dont see protestors being desirous of punishing NY pe se. The novelty of protestors seeing so many kindred souls will be engrossing and comforting, not necessarily provoking. Protest leaders will be surely calling for calm. And Republicans will be so isolated from any action, there will be no real target to react against. If you saw the extra cops deployed around the city right now, they are babies, they are of color. They are regular folks.
Am I dreaming?

[phantom power]

9. Humans in large groups can become violent and stupid

I don't want to discourage you, but history shows that it's very easy for a large protest to "go bad", regardless of the intentions.

And that's not even discussing the possibility of agent provocateurs. Either among the protesters, among the cops, or both.

The GOP campaign is very, very willing to employ such tactics. Don't let your good faith in human nature leave you unprepared.

[phantom power]

12. also, remember the media filter...

If 50,000 protesters conduct a beautiful, peaceful demonstration, and 10 people end up in a street fight, It's those 10 people you'll see on the news, over and over. The other 50,000 won't rate much attention.

And the GOP campaign will also recycle the same footage of those 10 people, to maximum effect.

Not fair, but true.

[SayitAintSo]

21. Bet the Pukes have some up their sleeve set to make it look bad

What you wanna bet ....

[Southsideirish]

3. Cops who identify with protesters? I'll have to see that one!

Whenever I have participated in a demonstration in Chicago the CPD laughed and mocked us all the way. Many were seen hugging and having their photos taken with freepers. It was disgusting.

[henslee]

5. I'm not saying they're gonna have a latte together.... but cops in NY

are regular folks. on edit.... NY COPS SURE AINT CHICAGO COPS, PAL.

[liontamer]

6. yeah

but regular folks sometimes mock protesters too

[henslee]

7. who in NY is gonna mock protestors.... This is a Kerry Town.. except

for the frantic ones who will be in the Hamptons for the weekend... or in Fire Island shaking their booty!!!!

[liontamer]

8. at all the marches I've gone too the police have

[blondeatlast]

10. Cops will be protesting, too. Contract talks have been sent to

binding arbitration.

They are considering asking delegates to honor their picket lines...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/nyregion/19labor.html?8br

[Stephanie]

14. NY cops are cool, for the most part

They are not easily riled. They have seen it all. They are strong for the union and they have been screwed by Bloomberg. Unless they really feel threatened - unless BushCO totally puts the terra/anarchists fear in them, they will be cool.

It would be wise for protestors to include in thier signs support for NYC cops & firefighters who have had NO contract in two and half years, no raise in three years.

That's right. No raise since before 9/11. Our heroes. Thanks to the GOP.

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. I've been to protests in NYC

and the cops were always very nice. It's the National Guard that would barge in and start cracking skulls, that would make everything fall apart.

Also, NYC cops are nothing like the Hothead Miami Cops. I've seen them go ballistic just for running a stop sign.

Keep in mind that most of the NYPD lost someone they know in the WTC. Many of them hate Bu$h as much as the rest of us. Be nice to them and they will most like be nice to you back.

[sattahipdeep]

11. Ed Murrow Quotes About Media

“The instrument can teach, it can illuminate, it can even inspire."

Ed Murrow's turnin' over in his grave.....

All the sainted sinners
They pay handsomely
M S C A E they make the weapons
And they run the prisons
And they sell the justice
'Cause being guilty is just good business
Well we're standing out on the borderline
Ain't no one here gonna stop it now.....

:bounce:

(Fleetwood)

[ParanoidPat]

13. Protesters, Remember to chant, "More pay for New York Cops!".......

.....whenever you encounter them. :evilgrin:

I bet you get a smile and wave instead of a face full of mace! :)

[Mz Pip]

15. I hope so

I just talked to my son in NYC. He said the tension there is so high you can smell it. They are mobilizing the Nat'l Guard and there are about 10,000 police on the streets.

He's not real optimistic that this will go well. He's planning to march but has no interest in anything violent. As we were talking I could hear sirens and he said there were police approaching his building. He was not very happy.

MzPip
:dem:

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. The go to the Park

Most of them will be busy guarding the Repug Convention.

[blondeatlast]

18. Can you pick his brain a bit more?

It's my understanding the Police union is pretty peeved at Bloomberg. NYT is reporting the union may even ask RNC delegates not to cross the picket line--that would be quite interesting.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Urge him to March, Calm his fears. He can hang back if he likes.

Urge your son to march. Acknowledge his fears and sooth them by saying he can march safely and doesn't have to be in the front line. He can hang back, even be on the outer edge of the crowds. He can have lots of heads up and easily take care of his safety. Hang out near the families with children; they will appreciate a calm, vigilant presence.

[Mz Pip]

20. Here's the deal

He cannot risk getting busted. He just transferred to NYU for his 3rd year of law school. Can't risk it.

His one comment was that no matter what happens in NYC there is no way in hell that NY is going to go for Bush but the concern is that any violence will cause a backlash with the rest of the country. THere are plenty of apathetic voters out ther who don't pay much attention but will decide at the last minute based on something that has no bearing on Kerry at all - like violence in NYC.

MzPip
:dem:

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. I sympathize, but lawyers need to understand something.

If the 1st Amendment means anything, it means that a protester standing calmly with families with children has a right to do that, regardless of what signs they may hold (short of the well-known exceptions about fire and theaters).

We need lawyers who will fight for rights. Otherwise what is the law good for? The First Amendment rights are foundational.

If we can't speak freely, then the ABC axis has already won (Ashcroft Bush Cheney). Is he afraid of his university? If so, he needs to ask his favorite professor or his Law school dean what the consequences would be if he were arrested on trumped up charges (about one chance in a million that it would happen to him).

Nonetheless, I completely understand and sympathize and uphold his right to remain silent.