CAROLING THE CONVENTIONEERS A DIRECT ACTION SUCCESS STORY A New York-based choir named Harmonic Insurgence engaged Republican delegates at their hotels as they came back from the Convention after 11pm on September 1, 2004 singing songs of peace and protest. The Caroling the Conventioneers action gathered at Columbus Circle at 10:30 where eight of the ten member choir joined their conductor and arranger Gene Glickman, three legal observers, friends and independent action organizer Eric Wallach. A little over twenty people began their route by walking south on Seventh Avenue from Central Park. The choir stood by the entrance to four hotels and sang songs including: “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free†by Billy Taylor, “We Hate to See Them Go†by Malvina Reynolds, “The Strangest Dreamâ€, “Down By The Riverside†and our nation’s anthem “The Star-Spangled Anthem†with new lyrics consisting of three repeated words, “Stop the Warâ€. Legal observer, Abie Safdie, intervened with police officers to ensure that they felt comfortable with the action, negotiating placement of the choir that wouldn’t impede the flow of foot traffic on the sidewalks. Police Officers at each hotel enjoyed the music and the peaceful action that came face-to-face with delegates. The cooperation on both sides was admirable. While the choir sang Eric Wallach handed out over 200 cards he printed at home that read: A message from a true Republican: “Corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.†-- Abraham Lincoln,1864 PEACE if not now, when? The choir moved from Park Central on Seventh Avenue, to another hotel on 53rd Street before they moved to their biggest audience at the Hilton on 6th Avenue. Delegates from Florida and Texas came in droves off their buses direct from their revelry at Madison Square Garden. After a half hour of song, the choir was met by Texas delegates in cowboys hats who organized themselves with song sheets. They sang three songs including their own anti-Kerry song to the tune of “Santa Claus is Coming to Townâ€. Everyone there was engaged in song and dialogue. The interaction was peaceful and forthright, though the Republicans had a little more venom in their voices. The choir then moved on to Sheraton New York on Seventh Avenue where they caroled delegates from Alabama, New York, Wyoming and Connecticut. Again, police was appreciative of the non-confrontational spirit of the action and expressed their gratitude for the positive spirit. No arrests were made. A lot of peace and understanding was established. Harmonic Insurgence dispersed around 1am. Video and audio is available. Contact Eric Wallach at 212.946.5088 or ebwally@mindspring.com. Power to the peaceful.