Shame on all of New York for allowing that corporate stooge Bloomberg to be elected in the first place. Now he'll have a roving mob on his hands. What does he expect to do, tell half a million people to "disperse"? Where to? Does he think he can arrest them? Where would you be able to hold that many prisoners? Yankee and Shea stadiums would both overflow with detainees before you had 20% of the crowd in custody. What an irresponsible idiot.

The only answer to this is a general strike. Now is the time to start calling for one, right on the heels of this highly irresponsible decision.

 http://gnuyork.org/strike

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


A judge rejected a last-minute plea from anti-war activists who sued the city for a permit to hold a massive rally in Central Park the day before the Republican convention, saying they were too late.
State Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Silbermann ruled that United for Peace and Justice was “guilty of inexcusable and inequitable delay†in bringing the case to court after months of back-and-forth negotiations over plans for their Sunday demonstration.

The anti-war coalition sued the city last week after pulling out of a deal to hold the rally on a west Manhattan highway. The event is expected to draw 250,000 people, which the Parks Department said would ruin the park’s lawn.

United for Peace and Justice had sought an order prohibiting the city from denying their use of the park. The group’s lawyers argued in court on Wednesday that the denial violates the state Constitution. Lawyers noted that the park has been used in the past for events like a Dave Matthews show that drew more than 70,000 spectators and performances by the New York City Opera and the New York Philharmonic attended by tens of thousands.

The group said the city violated the Constitution by allowing cultural but not political events, which they claim is discrimination on the basis of content.

Silbermann disagreed, saying the Parks Department “appropriately applied content-neutral regulations while leaving (the protest group) with a reasonable alternate site.â€

August 25, 2004

A state Supreme Court judge denied a request by anti-war group United for Peace and Justice to rally in Central Park this Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

The group posted a statement on its Web site saying that whatever the ruling, the protest will still take place. “If we lose in court, we will still hold our march as planned, negotiating with the city for a safe, peaceful, and orderly closure of the day's events,†the statement said.

The group had earlier agreed to rally on the West Side Highway after the city said it couldn’t use the park, citing potential damage to the grass by the expected 250,000 demonstrators. But UPJ later reneged on the agreement, saying that gathering on the shadeless highway would pose a health hazard to protestors.

i have to admit that upon seeing this news, i made a cardinal mistake. i let it be a blow to my morale.

its not that i expected to win in this innately rotten system. but it still hit me.

but then i remembered something, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions will be in the streets. we already have unprecedented resistance, and hundreds of planned actions and events. we are on the top of our game, we are power, we are the people! and dont you, nor bloomberg, nor any concerned new yorker forget it!

see you in the streets!

i have to admit that upon seeing this news, i made a cardinal mistake. i let it be a blow to my morale.

its not that i expected to win in this innately rotten system. but it still hit me.

but then i remembered something, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions will be in the streets. we already have unprecedented resistance, and hundreds of planned actions and events. we are on the top of our game, we are power, we are the people! and dont you, nor bloomberg, nor any concerned new yorker forget it!

see you in the streets!

Keep the focus: this is not about Central Park. This is about opposing the RNC and the neocon agenda. Yes, everyone should be angry about the travesty of not being able to use the park to exercise our First Amendment (and human) rights. But take that anger and direct it on your oppressors: the Republican liars who let 3000 Americans die on 9-11, and come to NYC to milk the tragedy for votes.

oh boy....now it's on!

By CHRISTINE HAUSER

Published: August 25, 2004


State Supreme Court judge ruled today that New York City can ban protesters from using the Great Lawn in Central Park on Sunday for a rally, the largest planned for the Republican National Convention.

Justice Jacqueline Silbermann W. Silbermann wrote in her ruling that the protesters' group, United for Peace and Justice, was "guilty of inexcusable and inequitable delay" in bringing its case against the city, according to The Associated Press.

The group sued to try to force the city to grant a permit to rally in the park after months of negotiation failed to produce an agreement on where the demonstration could be held.

Leslie Cagan, national coordinator for the group, told a State Supreme Court judge in Manhattan on Tuesday that if the antiwar coalition was not allowed on the grass of the Great Lawn, "then we simply can't have the rally."

Ms. Cagan said later that the group still planned to march up Seventh Avenue past the convention site at Madison Square Garden.

A federal judge in Manhattan refused earlier this week to force the city to allow a rally on Saturday on the Great Lawn, after the Bloomberg administration and protest organizers failed to reach a compromise. In denying the request, by the National Council of Arab Americans and the Answer Coalition, the judge cited security issues and the potential for damage among the reasons.

Many protesters say they intend to go to the park, permit or not, and officials are making plans to police them.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said authorities wanted people to come to New York and speak their minds, but that some might "get a little bit over the top."

Speaking before the state court judge made a ruling on the rally ban, Mr. Bloomberg said: "We'll comply with the law, whatever it is, and we expect everybody to comply with the law."

Asked if he thought people might be frustrated with the extra security measures, Mr. Bloomberg said: "I think New Yorkers look forward to having extra security in this day and age."

TO THE PARK!

sorry about muliple post.....script flaw. Once you post, and dont leave page and come back...everytime you hit refresh it reposts your data.

BUT, back to this news...wow, now what? Now the city is going to have packs of people just roaming the streets.....it's going to be crazy folks!

See you all on the Great Lawn, Ramble, Sheep Meadow, Strawberry Fields, Cedar Hill, The Mall, Carousel and Dairy and points north, starting 10:00 AM. Fill up the Park by 1:00 PM.

Bring signs, cameras, radios, and noisemakers.
But most importantly bring yourselves!

Don't bring anything or you'll be stopped. The PR parade last month was used as a rehearsal for this. They closed off the park to all people exhibiting signs of being Puerto Rican. Yeah, it's called profiling. Don't get profiled -- get in.

Judger's friends?

News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch doesn't waste time. Just 17 days after his divorce from Anna, his second wife, the 68-year-old media titan married 32 year-old Wendi Deng, a former TV executive. The couple was married on Murdoch's 155-foot yacht, The Morning Glory, off of Manhattan's Chelsea Piers. Murdoch sported a dark blue suit and Deng wore an ivory-colored dress--and no shoes. New York State Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Silberman officiated while fireworks exploded in the harbor. In attendance were Michael Milken and Russian entrepreneur Boris Berezovksy. Welsh singing prodigy Charlotte Church performed. Deng, a Yale graduate, was a junior executive at News Corp.'s (nyse: NWS - news - people ) Star TV in Hong Kong when she met Murdoch. The couple had their first child last year.

Don't bring anything or you'll be stopped. The PR parade last month was used as a rehearsal for this. They closed off the park to all people exhibiting signs of being Puerto Rican. Yeah, it's called profiling. Don't get profiled -- get in.

See you in the streets, sidewalks, parks, in lockdown, etc!


It's on.

Do not fret and spiral out over this. Look at the good side. It saves us walking all the way up north and back again to get the Mouse Bloc action going. The park is for sheep.

Plan for "khaki bloc".

March off with your sign/banner with UFPJ and dump your sign in the massive heap we'll leave them to clean up at Madison Square Garden. From there, go chill for a few hours. Have some lunch and refreshment (support the New York economy - sans discount -- they need it, since the GOP/Bloomberg have put NYC $309 million in the red). Then, converge upon Times Square around 3:00 on. Just slow walk the sidewalks in such masses that we will eventually choke the whole midtown area. Remember khaki bloc so they can't tell us from passersby, tourists, or even their own plain-clothes infiltrators. Where a suit, work uniform, plain clothes, a Yankees shirt!

Time to change it up folks. Marching with signs to park rally speeches is so passe and ineffective. They have changed the rules on us, so it is time we change the rules on them. I'm not advocating violent action. Simply blend in so we can't be profiled, and use our human masses to clusterfuck the scene.

Why Times Square? MEDIA! Look what it is named after. Let's park our asses square under the noses of the media conglomerates in that polyglot icon of capitalist hubris. Just be a tourist, a shopper, walking so slow as to jam the scene.

Get over the park. The park is not the prize. We've already won one big prize in that Bush is foregoing staying even the one night in NYC. The chickenhawk hasn't the courage to face us, nor the decency to even have a meal and leave a tip, much less grace the city with the benefit of the tax on his hotel stay. We are already on offense!

This is a good thing. Remain upbeat!
Park is for sheep.... baaahhh. See you in "Times er... Peoples Square".

now we know he is a ________.

Oink, Oink..... remind you of home?

We will bring the barbecue sauce. Baby backs for everyone.

Smells like teen bacon. There's a plan, but you have to be patient and hopefully the info will get to you through individual emails. Obviously it can't be announced. But it's huge and it will go right over their heads until theres nothing they can do about it. All I ask of everyone is to not treat this as an excuse to prove their machismo. I think we've had enough of that in this country. We must outsmart them. Keep your minds clear, alert and out of their hands -- all your hands are needed, free.

"not even close" disappoints by making my thouroughly sound and thoughtful points out to be that of an oinker. Well, he is not even close, unless you he is living in a blue uniform himself.

Listen to the advise of "yup". Forget the paranoid, namecalling machismo. This is real shit. This ain't no game.

Park = Pigs and Sheep.
Sure the Park issue was a symbolic disaster, but it's only symbolic. Don't let the park become something you wrap yourself in like a flag and get blinded from the the bigger fish we have to fry. Save your legs and stay around midtown.

Get smart. Change it up. We gots to outsmart them.

I agree with the above posts. The tactic at this point is simnple - just plan on being there. A MILLION of you - BE THERE. Details will follow or arise from the situation. Nonviolent, yes. Free speech- you're damn right. One thing is for sure, these scumbags like Bloomberg are stupid. Now they've proved it. Only thing stupider than them is the goddam GOP honkers showing up in NYC.

It's a free fucking country. Come to NYC. Be a citizen. Talk the talk, and walk the walk.

Thanks for putting a big fat smile on my face, Roger. Absolutely: STAY ALERT AND ON YOUR TOES AND LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING AND USE YOUR OWN INTELLIGENCE. If it sounds smart, do it, but be willing to change your plans at a moment's notice, and don't get saddled with crap. Travel light, kids.

sorry about the double post.
One more thing. We'll be passing an envelope around in the next 3 days. Look inside, and pass it on to someone you trust (no daily press especially). Don't xerox the page, and don't leave it around anywhere for anyone to see. This is the only way we can spread the word.

Look like it's time for a "People's Park" !!

Peace.....

not one bit.

see you in the streets.

what are you adding to people travelling all the way(more than 200-800 miles) to NYC for the protests??

Jane, what do you mean, adding?

Citing other court decisions, Justice Silbermann also said that "nothing in the Constitution commands that dissemination of all forms of speech at all times on all kinds of property are absolutely protected under the First Amendment, without regard for the nature of the activity, the property or the disruption that might be engendered by unregulated expressive activity in certain circumstances."

"Accordingly, speech may be regulated by reasonable time, place and manner restrictions," the judge wrote.

News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch doesn't waste time. Just 17 days after his divorce from Anna, his second wife, the 68-year-old media titan married 32 year-old Wendi Deng, a former TV executive. The couple was married on Murdoch's 155-foot yacht, The Morning Glory, off of Manhattan's Chelsea Piers. Murdoch sported a dark blue suit and Deng wore an ivory-colored dress--and no shoes. New York State Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Silberman officiated while fireworks exploded in the harbor. In attendance were Michael Milken and Russian entrepreneur Boris Berezovksy. Welsh singing prodigy Charlotte Church performed. Deng, a Yale graduate, was a junior executive at News Corp.'s (nyse: NWS - news - people ) Star TV in Hong Kong when she met Murdoch. The couple had their first child last year.

Considering the company that Madame Justice keeps, I'd say she has her fucking head up her ass, and that goes for her opinion as to free speech as well. Fuck her.

Fordham Law School Trustee Jacqueline Silbermann's unconstitutional decision to ban free speech in Central Park should be repudiated by the Fordham Law School administration and faculty. If anti-war protesters are blocked from getting into Central Park individually and holding an anti-war rally there, perhaps the huge anti-war rally should be held on the Fordham Law School campus of Judge Silbermann, next to Lincoln Center? There's plenty of space for an anti-war rally there.

These cats -- Silberman, Bloomberg, Pataki, Bush -- all eat from the same catnip dispenser. The reason they can't allow a protest in the park is because it would make too great of a statement -- overshadowing not just the RNC but their individual careers by extention. It would be a trully resounding demand for CHANGE that is on the tips of everyone's tongue, and not just in NY. And it WILL be resounding -- just don't get intimidated by the cronified power plays you see in the paper; what actually happens in the park on sunday is up to the "little people" -- the tax payers that pay for the park, not to mention the war, not to mention the paychecks of said cronies. Remember: the headlines following sunday in the park will be a bellwether of Bush's future. Hence their need to disperse, distract and thus defuse the power of a populist movement. What's important is to do exactly what they fear most: Unify and show the sheer size and magnitude of the opposition. It is EVERYONE. Scare them, and empower everyone else.

I agree with hte people who say stay in Midtown. Go to Times Square. It's a trip if you've never been there. Check out the list of plays the repuglicans are going to see at 5pm. Go to the one your state's delegates are going to,
Don't wear a suit on a Sunday. Boy will you stand out. Wear what is most comfortable for a long hot day and evening. Look aorund new york, evcery type of clothing frrom the most casual is being worn in midtown. Don't dress up or down, unless you have tickets to the the-a-ter with the GOP.

If hundreds of thousands of people entered Central Park, each on an individual basis, who would or could stop them from using their own public land?

Who was able to stop Gandhi?

- Collin Baber

Collin, your eyes are wide shut. Sure, we could take the park, but, so what? It's nowhere. Way up north and isolated. Rejection of it's use is fine. Consider it a gift. It's loss is only a symbolic act of idiocy on Bloomberg et als part. They've just given us license to assemble close-in where it counts. Read the posts my friend. Travel light and fast.

The fact that a regime stooge who calls herself a "judge" issues statements pro or con is irrelevant to the issue:

Removal of the corporate oligarch and it´s pack of political stooges for hire. That is the only issue. D or R has no bearing as both groups today represent nothing other than false privilege and crimes against humanity as well as the precepts of the United States itself.

There exists no court in the land that can rightfully take away the peoples right to assemble, petition, or speak.

Those who attempt to do so brand themselves as individuals attempting to thwart the rights of American citizens in order to serve the interests of those already openly proven to be guilty of treason.

This is the issue and is not debatable. The facts of the lawless aggression of the unelected regime and it´s D & R supporters in what was the Congress but is now a rubberstamp convention (they don´t read the materials they are to vote on according to their own public admission, remember?) serving wanted criminals are self evident for all the world to see.

The park, as all other areas, belong only to the people and will quite naturally be defended against all enemies, domestic and foreign.

I notice that an individual who CAN claim the title of "Judge", the honorable Ramsey Clark, ex Attorney General of The United States, has openly called the rogue regime by it´s rightful name and calls openly for the peoples will to rule, to remove the criminals currently squatting in what used to be an American administration.

That individual has all the respect due to a Judge and a safe haven of refuge for all those seeking recourse and justice through the laws and precepts of our republic.

He doesn´t seem to give much countenance to the Bloomberg group´s pathetic drivel concerning
"lawns".

By the way how are those "lawns" doing in Najaf? Kutz? Baghdad? I don´t see the woman posing as an upholder of law making any "judgements" concerning those areas.

No one would ever consider giving the title of "Judge" to those who deliberately support a lawless regime that by it´s own admission does not recognize, support, or adhere to international law, The Geneva Convention, or the statutes of our own precepts.

Where, I ask, is the Attorney General of the state of New York at this time? Cat got your tongue? Or does the oligarch have you by the wallet, too?

See you in Central Park.

We don't need no fucking permit !!!!

Bloomberg wanted the protesters in the park from the very start. This whole "anarchist scare", permit denial, "weathermen alert" has just been a (successful) tactic to reduce the number of protesters. The police will ignore everyone in Central Park, that's where they wanted everyone in the first place. Remember '82? Mayor Koch panicked and said, "Put them in Central Park.". Bloomberg knows there's no other way, but he wanted to reduce the embarrassment factor in front of his Neocon handlers. It's been a brilliant strategy, many less motivated protesters will want to avoid the perceived hassle and just not show up.

Remember not to go to work during the convention, that's the one thing Bloomberg is powerless to manipulate.

 http://gnuyork.org/strike

But a Park is far more preferable than a holding pen.

As for UPFJ-- Perhaps the Cagans are incompetent, perhaps they are in cahoots with Bloomberg-- doesn't matter. Not being subjected to their amplified blather is a relief.

Nevertheless, the Park gives us an opportunity for all of us to meet in one particular place at our leisure, with far less restraints than in one of their cages. That is a good thing.

I agree, having Central Park available to all protesters is vital, it's a great park, too. I just wanted to point out that that's not really where protesting would be the most effective. I also am relieved not to be subjected to UFPJ speeches. I've seen the web site, I don't need them to read it to me(with feedback).

Citywide holiday all week! Details at:
 http://gnuyork.org/strike

a few thoughts:

Bloomberg wouldn't have done this conspiratorially to use reverse psychology on protesters. it creates a mess and bad image for the city, and possible confrontation before the convention.

going to central park, if nothing else, would be a huge embarassment to Bloomberg. * it would also present people's resilience and militancy in exerting their rights against top officials * and finally, it could play a positive morale role for new yorkers who are not in the streets that day and activists as a major opener for the week of the convention

there is already a call for broadway beginning at times square

that would also be a serious blow to Bloomberg

a major showing at Chaos on Broadway/Mouse Bloc actions, without any attempts to take the park, could also kick off the week quite well

times square is much more visible

times square will have delegates

if people go to central park during the ufpj march or after the crowd thins out, there will be no real show of force, and the possibility of unnecessary confrontation

if people plan to go to central park in a way that will connect to the ufpj march, it will be powerful

days ago people mentioned marching from central park to 34th street to meet the ufpj march

that is rather implausible unless that too is hundreds of thousands

it would mean some twenty five blocks of marching south,which police might be able to stifle

contingencies are being planned within ufpj

there will be thousands of out of towners at the ufpj march which will leave soon after it

some of them will be in town long enough to go to Chaos on Broadway, and most will not

most probably do not even know about the plans for chaos on broadway, which cannot be organized exclusively thru the internet

new yorkers are pissed about the rnc

see you in the streets!

"Who was able to stop Gandhi?"

The sihk extremist who shot him.

"Nevertheless, the Park gives us an opportunity for all of us to meet in one particular place at our leisure, with far less restraints than in one of their cages."

Uh, what makes you think the NYPD can't turn central park into a cage? Also since when is protesting about "leisure"?

 http://www.centralpark2000.com/products/map/map_home.html

....No?

and leisure means with far more options or choices and much more room in which to exercise them.

The whole midtown area (to the mid 50's) is an virtual armed camp, the Park is not. If NYPD ventures into the Park in overwhelming numbers the obviousness of Bloomberg trying to crack down on peaceful political expression becomes even clearer. So much so, that he personally will become the object for a major civil rights law suit.

Seeing the southern border of the Park is over
a mile away from the Garden any pretense for legitimite security concern concerning the RNC is lessened to almost nil. NYPD moving in there will show him to be the hyprocritical violent corporatist weasel that he is-- willing to trample away all our rights for the benefit of his bottom line.

I'm guessing that most people coming to NY to protest are doing so through organizations. At least in groups. This site caters to those people. Those people are being promised a chance to really let the RNC have it. To really get back at those bad guy republicans. It's gonna be like WideWorld of WRestling out there. And the RNC delegates will come out looking like the good guys.
They played this -- you-- so fucking smart. I have to say, I admire the organizers of this convention. They come here to dance on the graves of 3,000 New Yorkers, and instead of looking like the murders, killers and parasites of the earth that they are, they're gonna look like the reasonable, smart, caring people by comparisong to the bunch of crazies from around the country coming to "protest."
I would've loved to have been at that board room meeting.

Republican 1: Let's do it in NY.

Rep. 2: What? Are you crazy? That city hates us.

Rep. 1: Yeah. Precisely. It's called provocation, my dear.

Rep. 2: So you mean . . . everyone's gonna lose their shit and go haywire and make themselves look like lunatics and thus discredit any position they may have on any issue, and make Republicans look like the only rational thinkers protecting this country from chaos?

Rep. 1: That's what we're hoping for.

Rep. 2: Oh, darling, you're so smart! But wait -- wait one minute. New Yorkers are known to mobilize under extreme situations and unify and come together in the millions. That's always been a sign of impending regime change. Won't that make us look doomed?

Rep. 1: Give me a little credit. You're ignoring one major factor: This isn't just RNC vs. New Yorkers. This will attact every angry kid from every corner of the country.

Rep. 2: That sounds a little dangerous.

Rep. 1: Nah. They're harmless. The more, the merrier for us.They'll cause the chaos. And that will disrupt any acts of solidarity. And make us look like victims.

Rep. 2: Wow, victims? I've never been a victim before. What's that like?

Rep. 1: You're gonna have to practice. Lots of photo ops, dear. Bring your best blazer.

Great. So much for actually making any fucking change. New Yorkers could have done this on their own, but now a lot of my friends are just throwing up their hands: To get stuck between the RNC and a bunch of outsiders making a mess of our city is not our idea of taking back our country.

Just be warned. (And this goes for you especially, Tomas, with your constant sales pitch about going to Times Square because the park doesnt' mean antying--are you fucking narc or just uninformed?). THE PARK MEANS EVERYTHING.

If it didn't mean so much, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Bloomberg, the judge, the RNC -- they would ENCOURAGE us to go to the park.

I know that no one on this site will listen. My post may even be taken down. But I'm gonna just tell you what every New Yorker will tell you: The Park matters more than any street anywhere in new york. And when there is a mass of people in it, it gets TRANSFORMED. It sucks all the energy out of everywhere else and concentrates it into the most giant generator of human energy you've ever seen. This isn't a regular city-block park We're talking 12 acres of just the Great LAwn! For instance, I just got an email about bringing in a black umbrella, which is a great idea. If everyone did that, or just a lot of people, it would be one black mass and it would make a scary fucking statement.

The only statement your cute little blockades and bell ringing and bike rides will do is make you look like a few radical fools. Yeah, it will make the news -- for two seconds, and what they'll show is the same three people "looting" or screaming. That's what they showed of the Seattle riots. The media will edit your great acts out, and no one will know you did anything; the media will play it down to look like a rucus, and make it look like it doesn't matter. Maybe it will matter for you personally that you did this or that, so you can feel big and brave and vindicated, but it won't make any impact beyond that moment in time, beyond yourselves. Do you understand what a loss that is, considering the potential for change here? Do you understand that this is a powerful media play on the Right's part, and not a fucking Black Flag concert?

If we did have a massive presence in the park, the news would be very different and very clear, even if it was for only two seconds: "The park was filled to capacity with people. That's a million people at least." The park-- its size, its openness- shows the numbers, and that's why it scares the hell out of Bloomberg to let people take it. He was here for Neil Simon. He was probably here for the 80's anti-nuke protest. He fucking knows.

I agree with one of the posters. I don't need to hear UPJ. They pussied out right from the start. They need a new leadership too. Let me rephrase that. They need any leadership.

"To get stuck between the RNC and a bunch of outsiders making a mess of our city is not our idea of taking back our country."

please dont speak for 8.5 million people. you dont speak for me, or for the bronx, or upper manhattan, or brooklyn or queens. dunno about staten island, maybe you speak for them and midtown.

Cmon guys...Judge Jacqueline Silberman...SILBERMAN?

no relation to the DC Court of Appeals Laurence Silberman who kept Starr sicced on Clinton, EH?

that should be googled. Something smells here.

new yorker: But you speak for the tri-state area, huh? Just like Silbermann and Bloomberg: Don't ruin our lawn! Well, if you came out of your cave for a second and talked to people in New York, and read the paper, any paper, you'd kinda get the feeling that New Yorkers are not supportive of Bloomberg's ideas for protesting. But hey, if you are, then you'll be making one fat cat happy.

"Cmon guys...Judge Jacqueline Silberman...SILBERMAN?"

Plus she's jewish!

There must be a zionist-mossad connection!

See link:
 http://www.forbes.com/2002/05/09/0509feat_print.html

What Leslie Cagan (the loyal opposition) is not telling you. And why she and Bloomberg want you to go to Union Square instead of the Great Lawn. This little item. Leslie Kagan--Michael Bloomberg Judas' Goat.

Sunday August 29th

12:00 PM, Brunch Honoring Speaker Hastert, Tavern on the Green, Speaker Hastert