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August 31, 2004

Still We Rise

Still We Rise was a peaceful, pretty calm march that began at Union Square at 12pm and marched to 29th Street. I "accidentally" joined it, meaning that I'd taken a half day to go home and get some sleep, wandered over to Union Square to see Billionaires for Bush, and then wound up joining the march. There was one minor police scuffle that I encountered, but nothing like the interactions that would occur during the March for Our Lives later last night.

Don't forget, today is A31. I encourage anyone interested to participate in the A21 actions across the city this afternoon. Activities include:

4pm: A wave of actions will occur around the buildings of war profiteers, Republican donors and the corporations that have hijacked our air, water, land, pensions and voice. Check out "Participating Groups" for some of the listed options. Or, on August 31st, go to the stairs on the Southside of Union Square Park where people can give you directions to the action.

6pm: New Yorkers and our friends from out of town will gather in Madison Square Park (23rd St. and Broadway) and on the steps of the New York Public Library (42nd St. and 5th Ave.)

7pm: We will converge on Madison Square Garden. Inside the Garden, the Republicans are holding a dog and pony show, fueled by corporate dollars. Outside, where the barricades end, real democracy begins. Where ever these barricades end, we will create "free speech zones." These will be places where we can express our outrage, where we can create the kind of world we want to see through music and free food and dancing and debate. We will not be asking for permits to create these zones. If we are asked to move, we will sit down and refuse.

I can't make the earlier actions, but I am going to try my hardest to get to MSG. The more I watch and listen to the RNC, watch Giuliani, Bloomberg, and Cheney's smirking faces, the more nauseous, and angry I become.

Posted by callalillie at August 31, 2004 7:45 AM | City Life , My Country , RNC