Activists Converge on RNC Meeting at Waldorf

Despite divisive statements made by members of the NYC activist community urging individuals not to attend, several affinity groups converged on the Waldorf Astoria hotel (Park Ave., between 49th & 50th Sts.) Saturday morning in an impromptu demonstration confronting the Republican National Committee. The committee has been holding a planning meeting for next summer's national convention at the hotel since Wednesday. Saturday morning, Bush campaign staffers Ken Mehlman and Terry Nelson made speeches under the banner "Victory Starts Here," intimating the President's intent to use the tragedy of September 11 as a backdrop for his reelection bid.

Over thirty-five activists assembled between the hours of 10 and 11 am, meeting little to no resistance from a slightly-less number of police officers. For the most part, the police were pleasant. They offered respect for, and understanding of the group's cause, and did not exert any unwarranted force nor anger, with the exception of one plainclothes officer who harrassed a participant at the very beginning of the rally. No such behavior was repeated, however. Only one official warning was issued: Do not attempt to enter the building. The demonstrators responded that they had no such intention.

Although the demonstration was unpermitted, the police created a pen from wooden blockades in the far lane opposite the hotel on the west side of Park Avenue, for the protestors to assemble in. No one entered the pen, however, yet they were permitted to march around the hotel well over a dozen times, chanting slogans and drumming while carrying signs and banners and distributing leaflets. A total of 800 leaflets were distributed throughout the day. (A PDF version of the leaflet is available for download at http://www.jakeneck.com/victory.pdf.)

At 11:30, the demonstrators proceeded to march to Times Square along 48th St., making a left on 5th Ave. and a right again on 42nd St., then proceeding to Broadway, without any police escort or interference. They circled the area of Times Sq., continuing in their protest calls and flyer distribution, while marching behind a seven foot-tall banner bearing George W. Bush's impression and the slogan, "Elect A Madman, You Get Madness," along with another banner reading, "Where are the weapons? Impeach Bush!"

The sentiment of the people on the street was mostly supportive, with the protestors receiving vast applause and praise from passers-by. However, a smaller number of Bush supporters encountered on the march directed a wealth of hostility towards the demonstrators. But rather than posing constructive arguments against the statements being made, they shouted obscenities and made other inappropriate gestures, which were ultimately ignored by the activists.

At approximately 12:45, the group returned to the Waldorf where there was none but one police cruiser left, seating two very surprised looking cops. The protestors then continued their demonstration for a short while longer before departing, again with no interference.

The demonstration, which was called by an anonymous network of affinity groups, was thrown together on short notice when news of the meeting was reported in the press the week thereof. Because of the short notice, a limited attendence was expected. The situation was not helped, however, by other activists in the community who began issuing statements, particularly on IMC and the NYC Medics listserv, urging others not to attend because of the ad-hoc manner in which the demonstration was organized and because of the precedent for violence and repression set by unrelated anti-police state marches which have transpired in previous weeks. These fears were dispelled, however, by those with nerve enough to attend, who did not encounter any of the violence or repression expected by the events detractors, proving that decentralized, non-hierarchical organizing tactics can in fact be quite effective in confronting immense power.

The discussion continues at IMC...