A sign declares the theme of the day…
(Photo: Thomas Good / Next Left Notes)
New York, NY – September 25, 2007. Contingents bearing flag draped coffins came from all over the City, descending on Dag Hammarskjold plaza on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. Some of the coffin contingents started their march to the Dag as early as 6:30 am. The occasion was an “Arrest Bush” rally protesting the presence of war criminal George Bush in New York. Bush was in NYC to speak at the UN General Assembly. The Dag Hammarskjold rally began at 8:30 am and around 10:15 things heated up. Just outside the permitted rally, 15 protesters were arrested for attempting to make a “citizen’s arrest” of Bush – the activists were grabbed by police as they approached the United Nations. After the arrests, police abruptly canceled the rally organizers’ sound permit. In response, rally goers launched an ad hoc march to Washington Square where another activist was arrested for using a bullhorn. The feeling of resistance was in the air and even the corporate media had to take note of it – running stories on several major news services in the Metro area.
The Arrest Bush rally drew members from several NYC organizations, including: The Granny Peace Brigade; World Can’t Wait; Students for a Democratic Society; CodePINK; Military Families Speak Out; Veterans For Peace; War Resisters League; Witness Against Torture; Movement for a Democratic Society, and; Peace Action. The National Lawyers Guild was also on hand – a literal sea of lime green NLG ballcaps were visible to the assembled activists.
When the early end of the rally precipitated an ad hoc march, protesters streamed down 5th Avenue – previously off limits for protests – flanked by a large number of scooter cops and uniforms who walked alongside the main column. On arrival at Washington Square members of the NYPD Manhattan South Task Force arrested an activist for using a bullhorn which provoked a standoff between protesters and police. Police Lieutenant John Wolf ordered protesters to clear the sidewalk or be arrested for disorderly conduct. Both sides eased back off the sidewalk and, despite the apparent tension, there were no further arrests.
Protesters at Washington Square
(Photo: Thomas Good / Next Left Notes)
