Police to Use Containment Pens to Handle Protest on March 20

[OneBlueSky]

just received this in an e-mail from The Progressive Review . . . heads up for those who may be demonstrating on Saturday . . .

by Shaila K. Dewan
The New York Times
March 12, 2004

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/12/nyregion/12protestors.html

The Police Department is denying a request to refrain from using interlocking metal barricades to contain demonstrators at a March 20 march and rally, the organizers said yesterday.

Demonstrators, civil rights advocates and the police say they view the protest, against the occupation of Iraq, as a test of how all sides will handle demonstrations during the Republican National Convention.

The police said the pens would increase safety, help crosstown traffic flow, and enable them to use fewer officers at big events. "It's not to create a hostile environment," said Paul J. Browne, the chief spokesman for the department.

Protest organizers say the pens are more appropriate for controlling cattle than people, and they point out that countless demonstrations in New York and elsewhere have been held peaceably without them.

- more . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/12/nyregion/12protestors.html

[punpirate]

1. Maybe time to rent...

... a few "Jaws of Life."

[Syrinx]

2. "interlocking metal barricades"

Are these new, since the * administration? I don't remember hearing that term prior to recently.

edit: typo

[robertarctor]

3. They are new.

They have been rolled out in time for Fascist America, soon to be known as the Royal Republic of Bushistan.

[xang-chi]

4. Hittler did it!!!!

Hittler in his early years running germany forced protestors to use "free speech zones" only. Bush has been doing this for a while now, I was pretty sure for a while he was also going to invade France and Russia, but that hasn't happend yet. Bush is still probably thingking of invading them though. If we have to voice out free opinion, in and only in, curtain areas than we are not free to express out opinions.

[dbt]

5. KICK!

Do I hear cages rattling?

:grr:
dbt