NEWS: A31 Group Promises Intense Protests Today

A group calling themselves "A31" (for August 31st) is planning what may be the most intense and confrontational protests so far during the week of the Republican National Convention in New York City. At 4:00 PM, the group plans several events of civil disobedience and "direct action". A31 Website Sunday's protest was more of a carnival atmosphere of celebrating their protest, rather than the typically angry dissidence associated with protests in the streets. A New York Daily news reporter spent several days with this and related groups which include the infamous Black Bloc As much as possible, your ATSNN staff will stay on top of these events as they unfold today.

Yeah, keep us informed SO.. this could make or break the protests in NYC in my opinion. Either groups like these will be looked down on, or they will spark a massive riot..

www.a31.org
7pm: We will converge on Madison Square Garden. Inside the Garden, the Republicans are holding a dog and pony show, fueled by corporate dollars. Outside, where the barricades end, real democracy begins. Where ever these barricades end, we will create "free speech zones." These will be places where we can express our outrage, where we can create the kind of world we want to see through music and free food and dancing and debate. We will not be asking for permits to create these zones. If we are asked to move, we will sit down and refuse.

Nothing like creating a world with music, free food, and dancing... wonder who is going to pay for it? Ah, the socialists always can find an educated stooge to labor away to fund their largesse.

www.a31.org
Throughout the day, actions will focus on events affiliated with the Republican National Convention, such as the Bank of America's 9:30am "Finance Roundtable" at Tavern on the Green. Some of these Midtown protest sites for the 4pm wave of action include but are not limited to the following corporations:

The Carlyle Group:
They invest in defense companies and are one of the government's biggest contractors. The Bush family has huge investments in this corporation. Together, the Carlyle Group and the Bush family stand to make billions of dollars from the war on terror.

The Rand Corporation:
Rand officially advises the U.S. government on military strategy. In 2002, they recommended that America should invade and capture Saudi Arabian oil fields. Rand is also responsible for designing many of the policies that gutted education programs and tore away the safety nets for poor and unemployed people.

Chevron Public Affairs - Chevron:
This corporation is the leading importer of Iraq oil to the U.S.

Hummer of Manhattan:
By creating monstrosities that get 11-13 miles per gallon, they're ensuring more Middle Eastern wars for oil and more global warming.

I buy the first two targets, the usual "Evil Corporation" stuff that can get the unemployed ADHD types in a frenzy until they see something shiny, but Chevron, and Hummer? Come on now, how's the Hollywood elite going to get around? Alec Baldwin, Barbara Streisand, and Michael Moore have places to infest... people to annoy...

Though your brother's bound and gagged
And they've chained him to a chair
Won't you please come to Chicago
Just to sing
In a land that's known as freedom
How can such a thing be fair
Won't you plaese come to Chicago
For the help we can bring
We can change the world -
Re-arrange the world
It's dying - to get better
Politicians sit yourself down,
There's nothing for you here
Won't you please come to Chicago
For a ride
Don't ask Jack to help you
Cause he'll turn the other ear
Won't you please come to Chicago
Or else join the other side
We can change the world -
Re-arrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
It's dying - and if you believe in freedom
It's dying - let a man live it's own life
It's dying - rules and regulations, who needs them
Open up the door
Somehow people must be free
I hope the day comes soon
Won't you please come to Chicago
Show your face
From the bottom to the ocean
To the mountains of the moon
Won't you please come to Chicago
No one else can take your place
We can change the world -
Re-arrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
It's dying - and if you believe in freedom
It's dying - let a man live it's own life
It's dying - rules and regulations, who needs them
Open up the door
We can change the world.

-"Chicago"- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Graham Nash, 1970)

Well it is nearly 5pm EST. Anybody hearing anything?

Nothing exciting yet.

So far on 3 occasions police with riot gear have been deployed in front of certain buildings with state officials working in them. On all 3 occasions no one has shown up. Very odd. Perhaps a tactic intentionally being used to mislead and annoy police?

EDIT: NYPD called Level 2 Mobilization 11th Avenue W. & 39th Street. No specific reason mentioned.

[edit on 8-31-2004 by Djarums]

New Update:

An estimated 200 protesters have shown up on Fulton St. & Church St. A stone's throw from Ground Zero. Police have been requested to the scene.

I think these kooks are secret republican operatives just trying to make the rest of the nation think how wierd and out of touch anti-Bush people are.

NYC Police Arrest Nearly 1,000 Protesters

story.news.yahoo.com.../ap/20040901/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_protests_5