burning flag day

Can you spot Nafta and Mobius in this picture?
Responding to a call for action posted by an anonymous network of affinity groups, well over 100 activists assembled Saturday, June 14, in NYC's Union Sq. Park, at approximately 2pm, to partake in an unpermitted march against the police state in America and throughout the world.

According to the philosophies of several attending protesters, a police state is, most directly, a nation or state that favors the surveillance, apprehension, detention, and incarceration of a nation's citizenry for political purposes. In America, it is an apparatus by which Constitutionally-protected rights and freedoms are repressed by state and federal law enforcement agencies under the pretense of creating public safety, and where those who struggle against such corruption become targets of the state's wrath. This "tyranny of good intentions" became most glaringly evident in the United States following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, with military and police presence increasing in the public sector, and with the violation of several Constitutional amendments such as those protecting individuals from unjust searches and seizures, as well as those protecting their attorney-client priviledge, and even those of their basic rights to free speech and assembly, through legislation such as the USA PATRIOT Act and by the utilization of repressive police tactics enacted under the pretense of so-called Homeland Security.

Thus, in opposition to such injustices, several affinity groups and organizations had gathered in the park, and, soon after a brief spokescouncil meeting between the groups, and at the signal of three sharp whistle blows, a small contingent formed behind a large white banner reading "Remember the Constitution?" which depicted George W. Bush setting the Constitution ablaze with a small pocket lighter. The march then began when one activist set ablaze an American flag, either ironically or intentionally on Flag Day, and the group poured down Broadway past Virgin Records, towards downtown Manhattan. No sooner did the group enter the street than did the police begin to deter them, pushing and physically grabbing demonstrators and tossing them onto the sidewalk. "Who's streets? Our streets!" the protesters chanted.

When the contingent reached 8th St., they hung a left and made their way towards Cooper Square. When they reached the Cooper Sq. station, they halted and created an obstruction from the police with their banners, setting another flag on fire. From there they continued down 8th St. towards St. Marks Place. At 3rd Ave., the group again tried to take the street, this time with the police violently thrusting demonstrators into parked cars and up against buildings.

"Show me what democracy looks like!"

"This is what democracy looks like!"

After another short break at 1st Ave. and St. Marks, the group arrived at Tompkins Sq. Park where the police attempted to force the gathering into the park. "Don't go into the park," people shouted. "They'll just try to box us in there!" The police were becoming clearly agitated and their words alone seethed with aggression. The group rounded the corner at 7th St. and, as another flag was torched, the police obviously had had enough and made their move, attacking several members of one affinity group perceived to be the event's organizers, with one girl being clocked over the head by a police officer, and a young man being punched in the face several times after being dragged to the ground, though neither were resisting arrest nor exchanging fisticuffs with the officers. So much for "courtesy, professionalism and respect."

As four people were dragged away in plastic double-cuffs and loaded onto paddywagons, a bolt of lightning ripped through the park. The group quickly reassembled from the chaos, and headed back out onto Avenue A, downtown towards Houston St. It was only as the group approached 2nd St. that the police had finally caught up with them again, and by this time, a slow drizzle began. The group headed west on Houston, and then turned up 2nd St. As they approached 6th St., the police had created a blockade and forced the protestors onto 6th between 2nd and 3rd. The rain began to fiercly pour as thunder tore across the heavens and reverberated through the city streets.

The demonstrators were halted near the end of the block and suddenly 10 paddywagons rolled up, lining up along the street. The rain beat down upon the crowd. Some individuals were arrested, but most dispersed. Several others regrouped a few blocks away, with 20 or so finally reaching Washington Sq. Park, completing their march with no police interference whatsoever.

It was when they arrived at the park, however, that a police van began approaching and officers readied themselves for further altercation. But as the group entered the park, they discovered a huge Hare Krishna festival, with dozens of tents and hundreds of Krishnas rocking out to Hare Krishna hip-hop! The Krishnas invited the protestors inside, and gave them asylum from the officers, offering them a free vegan meal to boot.

The sky cleared up, and the sun came out. And they sat, eating their vegan digs, glaring right back at the officers glaring at them, smiling.

On a side note, those arrested were charged with: Disorderly Conduct, Wreckless Endangerment, Obstructing Government Administration, Rioting and Resisting Arrest. Talk about trumped up charges...

Video available from End Nonsense here, Fred Askew photos here, and some random photographer's work here. For more about the police state see policestate21.com, infowars.com, or c0balt.org.