September 19 Protest Survey

The NYPD is refusing to allow United for Peace and Justice to march anywhere near the United Nations when President Bush speaks there next Tuesday, September 19.

We want your input on how to proceed. Below are six broad options. Some involve directly challenging the NYPD's efforts to limit dissent; others emphasize holding a legally permitted event in order to attract the greatest possible numbers.

Please submit your response by 4pm EDT, Wednesday, September 13.

1) Rally at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. We'd have a small section of the day to speak against the war.

Pros: Close to the United Nations, mainstream media will probably already be there.

Cons: Would not be able to have a protest march; would not be visible to people on the streets of NYC; would only have a short amount of time, since at least eight other organizations working on an array of issues have also requested permits for this location.

2) March from Columbus Circle on the west side of Manhattan to 52nd St. & Madison Ave. and either disperse from there or have a rally and then disperse.

Pros: Police will grant permit; we would be visible on the streets of NYC.

Cons: We would end up about 3/4 of a mile away from the UN, not near anything that is tied to the UN or the Bush administration -- it would be a march from nowhere to nowhere.

3) Issue a call for people to "descend on the UN."

Pros: Many people might be able to get pretty close to the UN and/or along the president's motorcade route, carrying signs to make the message visible.

Cons: People would be scattered, making it difficult (if not impossible) to get a sense of our numbers, which in turn would make it a lot easier for the media to ignore us and our message. Could be a less safe situation since people will not be in a large group.

4) Organize a non-violent civil disobedience action, by marching without a permit, possibly from a legally permitted rally site.

Pros: People would be marching and would be making a strong stand both against the war and against the suppression of our right to dissent.

Cons: Only those willing to risk arrest could participate in the march; we do not have a lot of time to organize trainings, line up legal support, etc.; we do not know how the police will respond.

5) March elsewhere in Manhattan.

Pros: We could get a permit, anyone could participate, and we could be in a high-visibility location.  

Cons: We will not be near either the United Nations or anywhere else that Bush will be that day.