KID REPORT
August 29, 2004
On the Scene with Protestors in New York
Kid Reporter Henry Rome talks with protestors outside the Republican Convention
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As New York began hosting the Republican National Convention for the first time, a more eminent challenge was faced by organizers and police on Sunday: Protestors. About 200,00 of them peacefully lined the streets, with many crowding sidewalks and pushing down barricades.
Protestors: Republicans Not Welcome
Through the sea of different messages ranging in topic from the war in Iraq to education, protestors wanted to deny President George W. Bush another term. They also expressed that the Republicans are not welcome in New York City. "Not in my city," chanted demonstrators over and over again as they moved down the streets of mid-town Manhattan.
|  Tens of thousands of anti-Bush protestors marched through the streets of mid-town Manhattan. |
“We need to show the rest of the world that New York is against the Republicans," said Leo Muellner, of Brooklyn, a protestor dressed in colonial uniform. He was part of a group called the Greene Dragon, a tavern in Boston where the Sons of Liberty planned the Boston Tea Party. “Just like we rose up against King George in the American Revolution we’re rising up against King George now.”
Demonstrators Speak Out and Act Out
The unwelcomeness seemed to spread from just talk to actions. At one point while I was watching, suddenly fire trucks, a helicopter, police horses, cars, motorcycles, bikes, and vans started streaming down the road ahead of us.
Meghna Chakrabarti, an associate producer of WBUR Radio in Boston, told me that a group of anarchists set fire to a paper maché dragon. The story was later confirmed by an Associated Press report.
Despite the often chaotic situations, the police I spoke with were in high spirits. "Pretty well. Pretty peaceful," said one officer about the protests. "Very good. Very well," said another. About 200 arrests were made during the overwhelmingly peaceful protests.
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Protesting for Peace
Though most peaceful demonstrations included protests on the Iraq war and governmental policies, kids were also on many protestors' minds. Mary Jacobs of Los Angeles, California said that she’s protesting because she is worried about President Bush working with nuclear weapons. "I don’t want children...to not have a world. That’s why I’m here."
Peace was a great focus of the march. Many people held up two fingers to represent the peace sign, or held signs to create a Department of Peace.
What was a nightmare for anyone wanting to get around the city on Sunday was a great time for the protestors. "It’s wonderful. I’m excited. It’s energizing," said John Grant of Philadelphia, the President of the Veteran’s for Peace Philadelphia chapter.
Today I got an idea of how passionate the anti-Bush people are. Tomorrow, I will report on the other side of the story.
