Official UFP&J Tues. 9/19 March to the U.N. Against Bush Thread

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

Since there are multiple threads regarding this march in GD, LBN and the activist forum, I decided to set up a central "check-in" thread. It would be nice if all participating DUers checked in here. As more information becomes available, we could then set up a central DU meeting point before we enter the march. This way, no DUers are joining the march alone. Personally, I recommend that any DUers who haven't had civil disobedience training, but can fit it into their schedule, do so. I have previous civil disobedience/media training, so I will answer any questions to the best of my abilities.

Remember: Most protest arrestees have chosen to be arrested. By law, the police must give you a warning first, before they arrest you. If the warning is issued and you do not want to be, or can not afford to be arrested, simply leave the area peacefully and quickly. If you are being arrested, do not resist. No going limp, etc. Simply walk with the officer, if s/he is allowing you to do so. This will help you in the end, unless you want a resisting arrest charge. If they do not cuff you, hold your hands behind your back, as if you as being cuffed. This is a media issue. It simply looks better on camera that way to see peaceful protesters "restrained" for no "real" reason.

Hopefully, none of that arrest information will be needed at all. I am just throwing that out there in the event, it is needed.

We Are Marching -- Permit or No Permit

On Tuesday, Sept. 19, President Bush will be speaking at the United Nations as part of an election-year public-relations push on his disastrous Iraq War.

The New York City Police Department has refused to grant a permit to United for Peace and Justice to march anywhere near the United Nations. Based on feedback from our member groups and supporters, we have come to a decision: We are marching anyway. Permit or no permit, we will stand up against this immoral war and for our right to dissent.

While the Bush Administration has pursued its belligerent policy of preemptive war abroad, attacking a country that posed no danger to us, our Constitutional rights have been steadily eroded here at home, with peaceful protesters treated as security threats. In New York City, the NYPD and other agencies have systematically declared one location after another off-limits to protest -- no rallies in most of Central Park, no marches on Fifth Avenue, no pickets in Times Square, and so on endlessly.

We know there are serious security issues to consider when the president and other heads of state are in town. But those needs must be balanced against protecting the right to assemble, the right to protest, and the right to dissent. The NYPD said no to every alternative we put on the table and simply refused to give us a permit for a reasonable location for our march next Tuesday.

Enough is enough. We are marching -- marching to demand that the troops come home now, and to assert our right to peaceful protest. Marching without a permit amounts to nonviolent civil disobedience, and those of us who participate in the march on Tuesday will place ourselves at risk of arrest.

We also know and respect the fact that many people cannot participate in an activity that does not have a permit. And so we are seeking a permit for a rally starting at 8:30 a.m. in Herald Square, one of the busiest locations in Manhattan. This will enable anyone who wishes to protest the war and the restriction of our civil liberties to join us without risking arrest.

There are important details to work out, but this we know for certain: we will not be silenced, we will call for an immediate end to the war in Iraq, and we will be on the streets of New York City on Tuesday, September 19th!

WE NEED YOUR HELP:
1) Please share this email message as widely as possible. Help make sure that everyone knows about the rally and march on Sept. 19th and the denial of our request for a march permit.

2) Especially if you are in the NYC area, make plans now to join us next Tuesday morning. If you would like to participate in the march, please take a moment to call our office at 212-868-5545 so we can give you information about nonviolence trainings. We would rather take this risk than allow our rights to be undermined.

3) Check the UFPJ website for updates on the details for Sept. 19th, including the exact time and location of the rally and the plans for the march. If you are looking for or would like to offer a ride to NYC, please visit our ride board.

4) And, of course, all of this work takes money. Whether or not you are able to participate in person on Tuesday, you can show your support by making a financial donation today! Make an online contribution, call our office at 212-868-5545 to make a credit card donation over the phone, or send a check or money order to UFPJ, P.O. Box 607, Times Square Station, NY NY 10108.

COMING UP: DECLARATION OF PEACE
Just two days after Bush speaks at the United Nations, on Thursday, September 21, the Declaration of Peace campaign will kick off with candlelight vigils around the country and a nonviolent civil disobedience action in Washington, D.C. There will be a wide array of powerful actions for peace all around the country throughout the entire following week.

Check the Declaration of Peace website to find out about events in your area. If you are planning an activity that is not yet listed, please put it on the calendar now. And we urge those of you who can to join the actions in Washington, DC, on Sept. 26th or Sept. 27th.

The NYPD is refusing to allow us to hold a peace march anywhere near the United Nations on Tuesday, Sept. 19, when President Bush will be speaking. We are marching anyway, standing up against this war and for our right to dissent.

We need your support!

* If you can participate in this peaceful civil disobedience action, call our office at 212-868-5545 so we can give you information about nonviolence trainings.

* We are also seeking a permit for a legal rally in Herald Square on Tuesday morning, which everyone can participate in without risking arrest. Check our website for details and plan to join us if you possibly can!

* Forward this message far and wide.

* We need volunteers! If you are in the NYC area, and can spare a few hours helping us spread the word this weekend, please call 212-868-5545 and ask for Nia.

* Support our work to end the war and defend the right to protest by making a financial donation to UFPJ.

[The Count]

1. 2 weeks earlier it may affected the primaries...this adds insult to injury

17% showed up to vote for an anti-war candidate, what's the point of being in the street if not to be a political voice that matters?

[Catchawave]

2. Thoughts with my NYC comrades :)

3 nights and 2 days in NYC around Sept 19 would cost me 3k, I tried :hi: But can you imagine if I donated this to the Jim Webb campaign in Virginia !

Will be watching your backs. Careful of those microwaves :kick:

[katinmn]

3. NYPD reversed its decision this morning

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2512918

[Fredda Weinberg]

4. On 2nd thought, this event has multiple sponsors

"Number the Dead" demonstration has two objectives: To illustrate - and draw awareness - to the significant number of US soldiers and Iraqis whose lives have been lost as a result of the war in Iraq. To honor that reality with a moment of silence for the US soldiers and Iraqis who have fallen in the name of freedom. On September 17, 2006, we are organizing roughly 2700 people to stand on the east sidewalk of 5th Avenue, from 8th Street to 98th Street at 10AM. The number of participants will correspond to the number of US soldiers that have died in Iraq. Each person will hold a poster board with the name, age and hometown of every fallen US soldier written on it. In addition, we will have someone holding a poster board on each block, marking the number of Iraqis who have been killed as a result of this war. Each block will represent 1,000 Iraqis. From 10-11AM we will stand together in a silent demonstration and vigil.

**We have a permit.

Sponsored By:
United for Peace and Justice - NY Grandmothers Against The War Brooklyn Parents For Peace National Youth and Student Peace Coalition Veterans For Peace - NYC Chapter 034 Judson Memorial Church Bronx Action for Peace and Justice Congressman Charles Rangel Students for a Democratic Society: Pace University Military Families Speak Out NY Code Pink Women in Black Peace Action of Staten Island Port Huron Project Play: Act World Can't Wait North Fork People of Conscience http://www.numberthedead.com

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. 9/17 Save Darfur Rally 2-5pm Central Park

There are 2.5 million living people being chased daily from their homes, who desperately need UN intervention. Millions are dying in this genocide.

www.savedarfur.com

Voices to Stop Genocide
What: SAVE DARFUR NOW: Voices to Stop Genocide
When: September 17, 2006 (2:00 - 5:00 P.M.)
Where: New York City (Central Park, East Meadow)
Who: Click here for confirmed speakers and performers
Sign Up: Please sign up for our "Voices to Stop Genocide" email list, so that we can update you with event announcements and other bulletins.

Directions:

Enter Central Park on foot from 5th Avenue at 90th Street. Follow East Drive uptown (north) to East Meadow.

Subway: Take the 4, 5 or 6 to 86th Street.

Bus: Take the M1, M2, M3 or M4 southbound on 5th Ave. or northbound on
Madison Avenue or take the M106 or M96 across Central Park.

Parking: On-street parking in nearby neighborhoods is very limited. We urge all participants to use public transportation
Special Needs: An entrance and seating is available for individuals with special needs. Please click here for more information on special arrangements.
Transportation:

Groups are arranging caravans to the rally. Connect with others going to the rally.

Security Notice:
No alcoholic beverages, glass, bottles, coolers, pets, bicycles,
rollerblades, folding chairs, beach umbrellas, large bags or large purses
will be allowed on site.

Background: "Voices to Stop Genocide" is organized by the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of more than 170 faith-based, humanitarian and human rights organizations. In order to stop the genocide, a United Nations peacekeeping force must be immediately deployed to the Darfur region.

"SAVE DARFUR NOW: Voices to Stop Genocide" is timed to coincide with the opening of the 61st General Assembly of the United Nations. Participants are united in demonstrating a global commitment to protecting the people of Darfur.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. Permit Granted! New Info from UFP&J!

In a stunning turn of events, the NYC Police Department has reversed its previous decision to deny us the right to march near the United Nations on Sept. 19th.

When the NYPD told us there would be no marches in the vicinity of the UN that day, we announced that we would march anyway, even if it meant we went to jail. We have just learned that we are being given a permit for a march and rally that morning to call for an end to the war in Iraq.

As President Bush makes his way to the UN for his speech to the General Assembly, we will be gathering at 6th Avenue and 37th Street in Manhattan between 9 and 9:30 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. we will begin our march, heading north on 6th Avenue and then east on 47th Street. We will end at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on 47th Street between 2nd and 1st Avenue, across from the UN with a rally from 11 a.m. to 12 noon; Bush will be speaking at the UN sometime between 11:30 and 11:45 am.

Let's make this a large and loud call for an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq -- all the troops must be brought home, and brought home now!

We have agreed to march on the sidewalk for this demonstration. While it is certainly not as good as marching in the street, we had offered this as an alternative we could live with when we were negotiating with the police. They had told us this too would be unacceptable. It is clear that our determination to march with or without a permit -- our determination to be heard -- had an impact on the NYPD's decision to give us a permit for our protest.

We know that many of you will not be able to march with us next week, but we thought it was important to let you all know what has been happening. The fact that we stood up against an attempt to limit our right to peacefully protest -- and that we have won this struggle -- is news we wanted to share with you.

We have been encouraged by the widespread support we have received from across the country. We have been inspired by the strong numbers of people who have expressed their willingness to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience to defend our right to protest. Though achieving a permit is a victory, we cannot back down in our efforts to end the war in Iraq. The September 19th demonstration kicks off a week of action around the country -- the Declaration of Peace. We hope you will participate in this nationwide display of powerful actions for peace, culminating in two days of nonviolent civil disobedience in Washington DC. Visit www.declarationofpeace.org to find an event near you and to get involved.