Bay Area Activists Help Organize NYC Press Conf at Central Park in Support of Rally Permit

Not in Our Name Bay Area activists help organize community press conference at New York City's Central Park to demand Aug 29 permit

Not in Our Name organized a well attended and well covered press conference at the entrance to Central Park on Wednesday August 11, 2004 to demand the City of New York immediately grant a permit for the massive August 29 rally there. Here are a few highlights:

Tanya Mayo, Not in Our Name Bay Area and National Organizer
"We are here today to denounce the decision by Mayor Bloomberg to refuse a permit to the people to rally in Central Park on August 29th. This is not, and has never been, about the grass in Central Park! When the Bush Administration first launched their so-called "War On Terror" they said people around the world hated us for our freedom. Meanwhile, the gang in the White House have sacked the rule of law, rounded up thousands of immigrants, held citizens in detention saying simply "trust me, he’s a bad guy," and so the City’s denial of Central Park must be called for what it is: the chilling move of an emerging police state."

Ana Gordon-Loebl, high school student
"The City of New York’s denial of a permit for a rally in Central Park is an absolute outrage and nothing but a naked attempt to tighten the chains on dissent even further… As a New Yorker, I am furious with the way the Bush regime has used the grief and suffering from 9/11 to carry brutal wars on the people of the world in our name. And just as they used September 11th to justify these wars, they’re attempting to use it to terrify New Yorkers into fleeing the city [during the RNC].” (photo above in background)

Norma Castillo, relative of imprisoned Iraq Veteran Camilo Mejia
“My nephew is serving one year in prison for saying “no” … I am here to say “no” and to support my nephew because he took a stand against the war, and the war policies of this administration. No to war, and bring the troops home now, because the war is still going on over there … we are having [wounded] people and dead bodies coming back everyday.”

Cheri Honkala, Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign
"Four years ago, as we were planning the largest march during the last Republican National Convention, we had a police Winnebago parked in front of our office taking pictures of people coming and going—all of that was before 9/11. Now things are un-describable. But they can’t break us down. We’re here, we’re clear, and we won’t live our lives in fear …. Many people died for our freedoms, and we will fight to the end and hold on to these freedoms.”

Robina Niaz, Not in Our Name Interim Steering Committee
“I’m an immigrant, a Muslim, and a South Asian. We are all under attack. We cannot give in to the fear tactics and intimidation that is being created right here to stop us from exercising our right to dissent and our right to free speech under the first amendment. It is outrageous that the Republicans are having their convention in our city. How is it safe for them to come out here, but it is not safe for us to be in Central Park? … Let’s say NO to Bloomberg and the Bush agenda.”

Rev. Earl Kooperkamp, St. Mary’s Church
“We’re here in Central Park asking people to say “no” to war on the world. We’re asking people to say “no” to the round ups and detentions -- especially of our Muslim and South Asian sisters and brothers. And we are going to stand up to say “no” to the police state restrictions. That’s why we’re here in Central Park today, and that’s why we’ll be here on August 29th. We’re going to have more than a million stand up against this agenda.”

Meg Bartlett, 9/11 First Responder
"I am going to stay in here in New York during the Republican National Convention because it’s my home. I’m going to stay for another reason. Since 9/11 this administration and President Bush have used those of us who worked at ground zero as a backdrop to say we worked so hard on behalf of America that he would go out and avenge on our behalf. We will no longer stand for this.”

Molly Klopot, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
“I was born during the Palmer Raids. I lived through the McCarthy period. And I’m worried about what’s happening to our country. I think it’s very important for the people of this city and country to take back our streets. And to say “no” to what our government is doing. Let the people of the world know that we are going to use our streets to say that we are against this policy of war.”

Imam Talib Abdul-Rashid, Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, Harlem also spoke out in the defense of the people's right to assemble and be heard.

Not in Our Name
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