NYC Protest Zones, Legal Info

Protest Free Zones - States of Emergency

An elaborate system of street and sidewalk closures will be in place during
the convention. A map with details can be reviewed at
http://www.rncprotestrights.org/map.html. In general, the area surrounding
the convention site will be sealed off and a large swath of 7th Ave. and 8th
Ave. from 29th St. to 42nd St. will be closed to cars and possibly
pedestrians while the convention is in session.

Legal Support

The National Lawyers Guild (http://www.nlgnyc.org) in conjunction with the People's
Law Collective (http://nycplc.mahost.org/) is providing around the clock
legal support beginning on August 26th. Check their web sites for the legal
phone number. They will assign legal observes as requested to any
demonstration, provide legal advice to those planning demonstrations, and
coordinate legal representation for those arrested and prosecuted. The Legal
Aid Society is prepared to represent low income defendants and the NLG is
arranging volunteer attorneys for others.

The NLG will not be organizing jail solidarity or bail. Groups are
encouraged to plan ahead, attend legal trainings, and coordinate jail
solidarity and bail with others. The NLG is prepared to provide legal advice
and to coordinate with groups doing this work.

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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 19:14:33 -0400
From: Jim Macdonald <jsmacdonald [at] riseup.net>

Subject: [noRNC] To New York: a pre-report from Boston...applications
for NYC

To: nornc [at] mediajumpstart.net
Message-ID: <1091056473.41083359443b8 [at] mail.riseup.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I am back from a trip to Boston where demonstrators were sparse and security
high, but not that high. The organizing we did in DC for Boston was a
dramatic failure since we managed to get only 25 activists to Boston.
Then, when coming to Boston, I realized that turnout from outside of Boston
was small by all accounts and that we actually didn't do so bad in DC as I
had thought but had done much worse nationwide.

I am writing a full report of my time in Boston that will be ready in the
next few days; however, I want to leave you all in New York with this.

Don't get psyched out by the security situation in New York or assume that
you will not be able to have a direct effect on the delegates (however you
choose to pursue that.)

On the Monday of the convention, many in my group were ready to leave early
because we were dejected by the lack of energy, turnout, or effective free
expression. We had seen the barbed wire protest prison, and that was about
all we could stand. Then, we walked out and noticed the Fleet Center and
noticed that the delegates were entering so close to the road that you
could physically approach them. Thousands waited in line as they went
through one by one to enter the metal cage that would lead them inside.
There, we let each of the delegates know in no uncertain terms how upset we
were with them for selling out the anti-war cause polls show the vast
majority of them said they believed in. We had their ear and made many of
them uncomfortable, talked to the few who would speak to us, and got inside
their heads (and hopefully several hearts).

There was no fence between us and the delegates for hours. One could go out
and touch them.

Now, you draw your own conclusions about what this means for New York, You
might tell yourselves that New York is different and that you will not be
able to reach the delegates at all to let them know what you think, but
don't ever assume it. Don't get psyched out.

My advice for you all is to be ready at all times and never give up hope
that there will be a moment where you can as an individual make a
difference. These streets are our streets, and as repressive as the police
state has been on our civil liberties, we have right on our side, will have
numbers, and will if we are ready be able to get our message out there.

Even in Boston, which seemed to be a disappointment for so many who went, we
in DAWN had a great success (even if by accident). We could have had
100,000 marching in Boston (rather than 1500-2000) and had we not had a
chance to get inside the head of those who have sold their souls for their
corporate candidates, I'm not sure it would have been as worth it.

So, be in the streets, and stay in the streets. Keep the faith, and speak
truthfully and courageously, however you choose to make your expression
known.

Jim Macdonald
DC Anti-War Network