tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60654972011-06-08T02:13:26.740-04:00A look at the 2004 Republican National Convention run in conjunction with the Indypendent, the bi-weekly newspaper of the NYC Indymedia Center. mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comBlogger521100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1079978799750374042004-03-22T13:05:00.000-05:002004-03-22T13:10:04.936-05:00

NEW RNCWATCH.ORG We have moved the RNCWatch.org to a new site. Please click here to go to the new site.

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1078947465691701132004-03-10T14:37:00.000-05:002004-03-10T14:40:54.076-05:00

NYC Indymedia is reporting that "arrests during the Republican National Convention could reach 1,000 a day - three times the city's normal volume, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said yesterday ... Morgenthau said the Police Department anticipates a significant increase in arrests in the weeks before and during the convention, which is scheduled for Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 at Madison

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969235495212147935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1078889732320787062004-03-09T22:31:00.000-05:002004-03-09T22:39:12.356-05:00

We dug up an old Newsday editorial in which the NYCLU highlights its concerns about the police behavior during the RNC: "February 15th ... cannot be repeated. More troubling is the prospect of even more extreme tactics - such as the armored vehicles and rubber bullets used in November by police in Miami at free-trade demonstrations. Attending a demonstration must not put law-abiding protesters

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969235495212147935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1078802412230121552004-03-08T22:14:00.000-05:002004-03-09T11:37:53.390-05:00

NEW RNC MEDIA ANALYSIS BLOG, PUNDIT PATROL In collaboration with the New York Indypendent and RNCWatch, we've launched a new weblog, RNCPunditPatrol, which will ruthlessly and entertainingly examine media coverage of what will probably be one of the biggest media circuses since Chicago 1968-- protests during Republican National Convention."Odds are that the the RNC protests will eventually

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969235495212147935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1078751400054616332004-03-08T08:04:00.000-05:002004-03-09T11:38:54.153-05:00

GOP PLANS HUGE DUMBO PARK BASH According to the Brooklyn Papers, "When the Republican National Convention rolls into town this summer, Manhattan won’t be the only borough getting a piece of the action ... Empire – Fulton Ferry State Park in DUMBO, tucked between the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridge overpasses, will be the site of a GOP sponsored blowout bash for nearly 15,000 news media personnel

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969235495212147935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-107848760628606582004-03-05T06:48:00.002-05:002004-03-09T11:39:26.123-05:00

TENSION BETWEEN BLOOMBERG, GOP GROWS PRE-CONVENTION The New York Times is reporting: On paper, the Republican National Convention should be the four most fabulous days in Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's political career. He will be presiding over the largest gathering of fellow Republicans ever in New York, with the nation's eyes turned on his city and, presumably, the mayor himself.But Mr.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969235495212147935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1078333803065537892004-03-03T12:07:00.000-05:002004-03-09T11:35:14.670-05:00

WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY? NYPD SAYS NO John Tarleton of the Indypendent reports from outside election polls on Super Tuesday in New York: Democracy wasn't doing so well Tuesday afternoon at 351 W. 18th St.I went with my friend Patty to pass out a few leaflets outside the polling place at Bayard Rustin High School. While there, we were alternately harassed and threatened with arrest by

Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08654348086424999550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1078267565536623372004-03-02T17:45:00.000-05:002004-03-02T20:30:56.030-05:00

RNC ORGANIZERS REPORT BEING CONTACTED BY THE SECRET SERVICE The organizers behind the website counterconvention.org have reported they were contacted by the Secret Service on Thursday. The NYC Indymedia site has posted an email from counterconvention.org that reads in part:After confirming that the inquiry was real (by calling the Secret Service main line in DC and confirming the agents name) we

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1078201592181768442004-03-02T15:16:00.000-05:002004-03-01T23:31:23.733-05:00

BUSH GAY MARRIAGE STANCE LIKELY TO BACKFIRE DURING NYC CONVENTIONPresident Bush's "decision to launch a culture war against gays could easily turn into a millstone around his neck by the end of summer," predicts American Prospect columnist Garance Franke-Ruta. Franke-Puta goes on to note that New York City already recognizes gay marriages performed elsewhere; the state's two leading

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1078193195577588022004-03-01T21:00:00.000-05:002004-03-01T21:09:32.403-05:00

NO RNC ACTIVISTS TO FLYER AT POLLING PLACES ON SUPER TUESDAY New Yorkers involved in organizing against the Republican National Convention have announced plans to reach out to voters on Super Tuesday to inform communities about the organizing efforts against the RNC, debunk myths by the media and city officials about the protests, and radicalize people. Organizers with New York Summer have posted

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1077992370516738442004-02-28T13:19:00.000-05:002004-02-29T23:22:38.123-05:00

BUSH CONSIDERS GIVING CONVENTION SPEECH AT GROUND ZERO The Hill is reporting that the Republican Party is considering staging President Bush's nomination speech at Ground Zero.One GOP insider told the paper, "We could see President Bush giving his acceptance speech at Ground Zero. It’s clearly a venue they’re considering.” The Political State Report site points out that publicly the GOP has

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1077302951989016512004-02-20T13:40:00.000-05:002004-02-20T13:55:01.530-05:00

BOSTON TO SET UP RESTRICTIVE "FREE SPEECH ZONE" DURING DNC; THE WHITE HOUSE CONSIDERS SENDING IN THE TROOPS TO NYC DURING THE RNCProtest organizers have been fearing for months that officials in Boston and New York would place highly restrictive limitations on protests during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. Until now much has been speculative but word is leaking out as to the

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1076904302962500232004-02-15T22:47:00.000-05:002004-02-15T23:17:32.653-05:00

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO PROTEST KARL ROVE NYC VISIT OVER THE WHITE HOUSE'S HANDLING OF WTC CLEAN-UPPresident Bush's top advisor Karl Rove is scheduled to be in New York on Wednesday, Feb. 18th, for a campaign fundraiser at Eugene's at 27 West 24th Street between 5th and 6th Av. RNCWatch has learned that the Sierra Club and 9/11 Enviromental Action are planning to stage protests outside at 5 p.m.

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1076470631250345752004-02-10T22:34:00.000-05:002004-02-10T22:39:40.216-05:00

RNCNOTWELCOME.ORG BENEFIT THURSDAYOne of the main groups organizing around the Republican National Convention, RNCNotWelcome.org, is hosting a benefit party this Thursday at Siberia on 40th Street starting at 8 p.m. Bands include Ethan Miller, Space Robot Scientists, Man in Gray and The Wheelies. There will be speakers to discuss ongoing organizing efforts. $5 gets you in. Get more info at

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1076363285804905902004-02-09T16:44:00.000-05:002004-02-09T16:52:48.140-05:00

CARLYLE GROUP PROTESTERS TO SUE CITYJust got this news: Civil rights attorneys from the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) will file a multi-plaintiff federal lawsuit on Thursday, Feb. 12, on behalf of protesters who were illegally arrested during an anti-war rally last April 7 in New York. The suit charges that the New York Police Department unlawfully arrested the peaceful protesters and

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1076335376864010152004-02-09T09:02:00.000-05:002004-02-09T09:09:20.310-05:00

HOW NYC BECAME A PATRIOT ACT FREE ZONEOn Wednesday, the New York City became the latest municipality to condemn the Patriot Act. Some 240 cities and towns have passed similar resolutions. Counterpunch has just published a lengthy article by Benjamin Shepard examining the anti-Patriot Act movement in New York and the role played by groups such as Reclaim the Streets. Shepard details how the Act

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1075420309073139652004-01-29T18:47:00.000-05:002004-01-30T00:28:09.200-05:00

BLOOMBERG TOO BUSY TO HOBNOB W/ RNC DELEGATESThe Mayor of New York City will be too busy keeping an eye on protesters at the 2004 RNC to hobnob with Republican Party delegates, reports the Associated Press and WNYC."Bloomberg, a moderate Republican, said Wednesday that instead of being front-and-center at Madison Square Garden with President Bush, he will be on the front lines with police. cThe

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969235495212147935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1075269019353249082004-01-28T00:45:00.000-05:002004-01-28T00:52:40.123-05:00

PROTESTS SET AGAINST BUSH VISIT TO CONN.President Bush is planning to attend a $1,000-per-person fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Conn. at 6 p.m. on Thursday (1/29). A coalition of groups -- including the Student Coalition for Peace and Democracy and the Peace Action of Connecticut -- are planning on staging protests outside.

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1075179075007030162004-01-26T23:51:00.000-05:002004-01-27T23:58:22.700-05:00

CHARLES BARRON: WRONG FOR BUSH TO COME AS 'CONQUERING HERO' TO NYCCity Council member (and 2005 mayoral candidate) Charles Barron spoke out last week on the GOP coming to town: "New Yorkers are mad because nobody asked them whether they wanted Bush and Company to take over the city next summer. It is wrong for Bush to come to New York City posing as the conquering hero and savior of the City when

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1075180053685332402004-01-26T23:06:00.000-05:002004-01-27T00:23:31.140-05:00

"CAROLYN MALONEY, GO AWAY. WE DON'T WANT THE CIA"The Campaign to Demilitarize the Police is continuing its fight against proposed legislation that would allow the CIA to station agents in local police precincts. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) co-wrote the bill. On Jan. 22, the group published an open letter to Maloney calling for her to withdraw the legislation and to host a public hearing on the

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1075179175963953302004-01-26T22:52:00.000-05:002004-01-26T23:55:04.936-05:00

NYC: FROM THAI FOOD TO TRANSVESTITESThe Associated Press is running an article on the culture shock suffered from GOP staffers who have moved to New York in preparation of the Republican National Convention. The article reads in part "There's a lot to absorb in a short period, from navigating a tangle of subway lines and strange neighborhoods, to Thai food and transvestites. "

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074872100504920982004-01-23T10:34:00.000-05:002004-01-23T10:37:04.186-05:00

SENATE APPROVES $25M TO COVER RNC SECURITY EXPENSES FOR NYCOn Thursday the Senate voted 65 to 28 to approve a $820 billion omnibus spending bill after Democrats abandoned a fight to take out several controversial provisions regarding overtime, the nation’s media laws and gun records. Included in the bill is a provision that gives $25 million to New York City to cover security expenses during the

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074659988266864462004-01-20T23:38:00.000-05:002004-01-20T23:54:46.153-05:00

WHAT IS THE REAL STATE OF THE UNION?Perfectly timed to come on the heels of the Iowa caucus, President Bush delivered his annual State of the Union address tonight in what may be his last prime-time speech before the convention in New York. You can read his comments here. Of course there are differing views on the State of the Union. The Democrats delivered their response shortly after Bush's

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074658686979874952004-01-20T23:08:00.000-05:002004-01-21T05:31:29.326-05:00

OPERATION RESCUE FOUNDER RETURNS TO NYC...AND GETS PIEDAs we reported last week, Randall Terry, the founder of the militant anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, is making a quiet return to the national stage. He has announced plans to protest at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions this summer and he was in New York City and Yonkers today to stage small protests. Reports indicate

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074563805727980112004-01-19T20:47:00.002-05:002004-01-20T23:22:02.013-05:00

NYPD CHIEF: INFILTRATION OF ACTIVIST GROUPS NOT RULED OUTOn January 18, NYC Police Comissioner Ray Kelly interviewed with WNBC's Gabe Pressman. Here's an excerpt from the interview. You can read the entire thing at NYC Indymedia.PRESSMAN: How close will you allow them to get to the convention itself? KELLY: We're not able to say that at this time because it depends on how many people are going

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969235495212147935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074411032505683352004-01-18T02:30:00.000-05:002004-01-18T02:48:32.110-05:00

BUSH QUIETLY APPOINTS RACIST JUDGE AS GOP PREPARES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NYC'S DIVERSITYOn the eve of the Martin Luther King Day long weekend, President Bush appointed Charles Pickering to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals despite protests from civil rights groups. Bush was forced to make a recess appointment to get Pickering the judgeship because Congress had blocked the nomination. To many

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074380968986815742004-01-17T18:09:00.000-05:002004-01-17T18:13:10.996-05:00

PLANNING BEGINS FOR RNC "POOR PEOPLE'S MARCH"City Limits has a brief report on the initial planning of a "Poor People's March" (organizers are still looking for a better name) during the the Republican National Convention. The plan is this: on Aug. 30, tens of thousands of New Yorkers will march from Harlem and Brooklyn to Times Square. Organizing groups include New York City AIDS Housing Network

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074268545956977032004-01-16T10:51:00.000-05:002004-01-16T11:02:32.280-05:00

PROTEST AGAINST BILL TO STATION CIA AGENTS INSIDE POLICE DEPTSThe Campaign to Demilitarize the Police has called for a protest on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the district office of Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). Although it has received little attention, Maloney is sponsoring controversial legislation that would allow for CIA agents to be stationed in local police stations. The bill aims to amend the CIA

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074144972769975312004-01-15T00:35:00.000-05:002004-01-15T20:25:51.856-05:00

TODAY: MLK DAY PROTEST AGAINST BUSH & RNC CONVENTIONThe Harlem Tenants Council, the House of the Lord Church, International ANSWER and several other groups have announced plans for an anti-war protest today on what would have been the Rev. Martin Luther King's 75th birthday. The protest will take place outside Madison Square Garden, the site of this year's Republican National Convention, from 4:

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074143665214997212004-01-14T23:40:00.000-05:002004-01-15T00:21:00.530-05:00

THE PEOPLE'S PRIMARY & MICHAEL MOOREActivists from around New Hampshire and the country are meeting in New Hampshire this weekend for what is being billed as a People's Primary. The focus will be in part on organizing around the Republican and Democratic National Conventions this summer.Carol Tashie, a community organizer from the free radical collective in Concord, N.H. said, "We are gathering

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1074139339826443242004-01-14T23:00:00.000-05:002004-01-14T23:13:29.340-05:00

ANTI-ABORTION MILITANT TO PROTEST AT RNCRandall Terry, who used to head the militant anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, is quiety returning to the national stage and has announced plans to stage protests in New York during the Republican National Convention. Bush, he says, is too weak on fighting abortion. In 1998 Terry ran for Congress in New York in part on a platform to execute doctors who

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073967404974067712004-01-12T23:08:00.000-05:002004-01-12T23:17:56.706-05:00

REV. BILLY PREACHES AGAINST BUSH'S RETURN TO GROUND ZEROOn Sunday, Rev. Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir kicked off this election year with a performance of "George Bush Does Not Return To Ground Zero" at the New York Community Church. Rev. Billy vowed to reclaim "Ground Zero as a locus of peace and possibility" and called for Bush not to pander for votes with "sentimental patriotism" at

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073760397533357112004-01-10T13:42:00.000-05:002004-01-10T13:46:51.610-05:00

D.C. POLICE SETTLE W/ WRONGLY ARRESTED PROTESTERSThis news from D.C. Radio Coop: "After more than a year of critical press coverage, internal police investigations, city council hearings and court cases, the District Government has offered settlements to those arrested during demonstrations on September 27 2002. Last week three art students who were arrested while photographing the protests

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073625362233649112004-01-09T00:15:00.000-05:002004-01-09T00:17:15.430-05:00

THE BUYING OF THE PRESIDENT (AND CONGRESS)Presidential fundraising news: President Bush raked in a record $130 million last year -- slightly more than $356,000 per day. The figure is remarkable considering a.) Bush is running unopposed for the Republican nomination b.) Bush has already raised $5 million more than he did during the entire 2000 campaign c.) Bush has raised more than four times as

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073626178510081732004-01-09T00:12:00.000-05:002004-01-09T00:30:19.450-05:00

NYPD TO PUT 700 NEW RECRUITS ON STREETS DURING THE RNCThis is from today's New York Times: "[Mayor Bloomberg] said the Police Department would hire a new class of 730 recruits this month and from now on hire two classes every year, rather than one. While the new regimen will not increase the department's overall head count, it will help hold the line against attrition, officials said. And the new

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073596898473013922004-01-08T16:20:00.000-05:002004-01-18T01:29:09.326-05:00

MAN FINED $500 FOR PROTESTING NEAR BUSHWill protesting become illegal anywhere near the site of the Republican National Convention? If what happened to Brett Bursey during a presidential visit to Columbia, S.C. in 2002 is any indication, the answer may be yes. Bursey is a 55-year-old, longtime South Carolina activist. He heads up the South Carolina Progressive Network. During Bush's visit in 2002

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073598055581357482004-01-08T15:35:00.000-05:002004-01-08T16:42:09.310-05:00

INTERVIEW WITH RNCNOTWELCOME ORGANIZERThe website GoodRiddance.com (a self-described journal of media critique and political dissent) has recently posted a long interview with an organizer from RNC Not Welcome discussing some of the organizing going on in the city and the response to the call for protest against the GOP.

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073266407769984612004-01-04T21:10:00.000-05:002004-01-04T21:11:22.730-05:00

NYC PEOPLE'S LAW COLLECTIVE PREPARES FOR CONVENTIONThe New York City People's Law Collective has posted a briefer on its role connected to the upcoming Republican National Convention. The group plans to host legal trainings, set up legal observers during the protests, among other things. The group has already posted several documents on its site, including:how to deal with the police,what to do

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073267968419702462004-01-04T20:50:00.000-05:002004-01-04T21:02:38.283-05:00

AN EVENING WITH THE CAMPAIGN TO DEMILITARIZE THE POLICEJohn Tarleton, a reporter with the Indypendent newspaper, has posted an interesting article at the NYC Indymedia site on how his observations of a recent dinner hosted by the NYC Campaign to Demilitarize the Police. Tarleton notes the importance of such groups but he expresses fears that at times they can become too insular to reach out to

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073268574892224032004-01-04T19:04:00.000-05:002004-01-04T21:10:42.856-05:00

CAMP SHUTDOWN: CAMPING, THE CONVENTION AND YOUWhile New York City is hardly known for its campgrounds, we've just learned of a new website, Camp Shutdown, that is dedicated to helping protesters at the Republican National Convention find campgrounds in the NY/NJ/CT area. In addition the site offers links to local spots with Wi-Fi and even a Camp Shutdown online store for anyone looking for a

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073162529716316102004-01-03T15:31:00.000-05:002004-01-03T22:17:44.113-05:00

MLK DAY PROTEST AGAINST BUSH & RNC CONVENTIONThe Harlem Tenants Council, the House of the Lord Church, International ANSWER and several other groups have announced plans for a Jan. 15 anti-war protest on what would have been the Rev. Martin Luther King's 75th birthday. The protest will take place outside Madison Square Garden, the site of this year's Republican National Convention, from 4:30-7:00

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1073072152298669102004-01-02T14:22:00.000-05:002004-01-03T15:30:54.583-05:00

NYCLU SUES FOR THE RIGHT TO PROTESTKeep an eye on three recent lawsuits filed by the New York City Civil Liberties Union to bar the police from preventing peaceful protesters to demonstrate outside the Republican National Convention. According to the NYCLU, it is challenging five specific NYPD demonstration tactics: 1. the NYPD’s denial of public access to demonstrations through the use of

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1072300966255535942003-12-24T16:22:00.000-05:002003-12-24T16:25:04.180-05:00

GOP CONSIDERS BUSH NOMINATION AT YANKEE STADIUMThe New York Post is reporting today that the GOP is considering staging President Bush's nomination at the 55,000-seat Yankee Stadium instead of Madison Square Garden where the majority of the Republican National Convention will be held. There has also been speculation that Bush may be nominated at the Statue of Liberty or on Ellis Island.

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1072189822352711402003-12-23T09:23:00.000-05:002003-12-23T09:51:52.196-05:00

NYC REP. CALLS FOR STATIONING CIA MEMBERS IN POLICE DEPTSWe'll have more on this later, but we recently learned Manhattan's own Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) last month introduced legislation in Congress known as the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) Enhancement Act of 2003 that would grant the Central Intelligence Agency power to station officers inside local police departments and vice versa:(1)

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1071667952741323402003-12-17T08:23:00.000-05:002003-12-23T09:22:08.953-05:00

A WAR AGAINST COMMUNITY GROUPSCloser to home, radical New York activists are growing increasingly suspicious of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in the run up to the Republican National Convention. Fears are growing that the FBI is working closely with the NYPD to disrupt radical organizations in New York City. This article appeared in the latest issue of The Indypendent: "It was just a

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969235495212147935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1071616138083836802003-12-16T18:05:00.000-05:002003-12-16T18:56:14.490-05:00

THIS IS NOT AMERICAThat's the title of a disturbing article in Salon.com today examining police over-reaction during the recent FTAA protests in Miami. Describing the city as a police state would be an understatement. According to Salon.com "police unleashed unprecedented fury on demonstrators -- most of them seniors and union members. Is this how Bush's war on terror will be fought at home?"

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1071619572024609362003-12-16T18:00:00.000-05:002003-12-16T19:07:53.306-05:00

ANTI-WAR PROTESTS PLANNED IN NYC DURING RNC Reuters is running a report tonight outlining plans of United For Peace and Justice to hold massive anti-war protests in New York during the Republican National Convention.

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1071529172900852662003-12-15T17:54:00.000-05:002003-12-15T18:12:19.033-05:00

GOP CONVENTION NOT GOOD FOR NYC BUSINESSES A report in Newsday today questions whether local businesses will benefit from the city hosting the Republican National Convention. Although the convention will attract thousands of tourists to the Big Apple Newsday reports "most of them will live in a bubble." The bubble will essentially stretch from their hotel room to the Madison Square Garden. During

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1071527745951901072003-12-15T17:25:00.000-05:002003-12-16T19:04:28.480-05:00

ANTI-WAR GROUPS TO FBI: SHOW US YOUR FILES We just learned the national anti-war group United For Peace and Justice today requested the FBI through the Freedom of Infomation Act to hand over any information collected by the FBI about the organization and any of its member organizations. The request follows a report in the New York Times that the FBI recently sent a memo (PDF) to local law

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1068673979185091342003-11-12T16:40:00.000-05:002003-11-12T16:54:06.433-05:00

NYPD Begins Pre-RNC Surveillance: The New York Times ran a lenthy piece today outlining the NYPD's initial security preparations. Police Chief Ray Kelly reveals the police have already begun monitoring protest groups. Kelly says, "We're gathering information about plans that people may have to come here." The Times also talks to Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1068576089513137602003-11-11T13:41:00.000-05:002003-11-11T15:52:18.056-05:00

RNC Watch Column #1 (published in the NYC Indypendent): "I see the power of this being grandmas from Harlem, Palestinian teens from East New York and kids from the South Bronx coming and being on the street and showing first and foremost Bush does not represent New York City. To have New York City come out and say this would be a huge and powerful thing." That’s how William Etundi describes his

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065497.post-1068573133082720092003-11-11T12:49:00.000-05:002003-11-11T13:48:36.760-05:00

Welcome to the start of the RNC Watch blog. This will be run in conjuction with the Indypendent, the bi-weekly newspaper of the NYC Indymedia Center. The paper will be running regular columns of RNC Watch leading up to the Republican National Convention. The columns will be posted here along with other news related to the Convention. Email rncwatch@yahoo.com with comments, story ideas, etc.

mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03642959233178484526noreply@blogger.com