After surfing the web all day in hopes of finding pictures that illustrates the atmosphere between the 3 camps: anti-Bush, pro-Bush and the Police, I was successful. This NY Newsday slideshow, though not truly reflective of the violence that I've seen on Fox 5 news here in NY, does give you a glimpse of what's going on.

Unfortunately, there are no images of the protestors beating Police Detective Sample unconcious last night. He is currently in critical condition and his assailant, which escaped with the help of other protestors, is still being sought.

Posted by: Michele at 09:41 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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This morning, I quickly discovered that my ability to move about freely and the brief sense of peace I enjoyed in the last 24hrs, were gone. They left me as soon as I had the train station in sight. At the station there was a visible police presence, which to date had not been seen or felt on this side of the river (Queens). As I sat in a near empty train, I checked the paper for the list of protests scheduled for today, I spotted nothing unusual. All the organizers are legitimate, nonviolent groups, so I just made a mental note of where they would be to make sure that I avoided those areas. I thought that was all I needed to do in order to stay safe. As w approached the Frozen Zone, my thinking changed with the ever increasing numbers of police at each station. more...

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The atmosphere at Protest City/Union Square(US) ranges from the political to the bizarre, where protestors are temporarily outnumbering skateboarders, dog walkers, tai chi lovers and kids who use the playground daily. Around 9:00am there were barely 20 protestors milling about facing the main avenue. These die hards were holding up 2 huge banners (approximately 30 ft in length and 5 ft high) which read:

- STOP THE WAR SAY NO TO BUSH
- STOP BUSH (where the S in Bush was a swastika)
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Posted by: Michele at 10:22 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Friday was a day of conflicting emotions. Anger at the individuals that were arrested for threatening the peace and security of New Yorkers. Worry over the safety of my mom who lives right just a few blocks away from Union Square, the epicenter of protests, and where over 200 arrests occurred that night. Frustration over how a certain number of lawless individuals can create such chaos and cause injury (several police officers were cut by a knife wielding individual as they moved in to arrest protestors).

Finally, I’m truly saddened for what this violence means for our democratic process, for it is this process that is truly being hurt by everything that’s going on. I’ve tried engaging several of these protestors in a discussion over the last week, both out of curiosity and out of genuine interest in there positions. Each one of these opportunities has resulted in me being exposed to shrill and strident opinions, and some pretty foul language, that began with “I hate Bush,” and finished without a coherent discussion or a substantial reason for their point of views. From what I gathered, they are against the war, more out of a self-centered need for peace, that on any geopolitical point of view they may have on the war on terror. Debates and stumping seem to be dead in America. Instead, it has been replaced with an anger that has finally boiled over to hostility and violence in New York City.
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Newschannel 4 has learned that authorities broke up a bomb plot aimed at New York City subways, with the arrest of two men. The men, of middle eastern descent had planned to detonate a bomb in the 34th St/Herald Square train station, which is located 1 block away from Madison Square Garden.

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Posted by: Michele at 08:28 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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There are 1 million stories in this Naked City. I intend to tell only a few from the perspective of a native, who's city is currently under political siege. Starting today, I will give you a glimpse of what itÂ’s like living/working here during the Republican National Convention.

First, yesterdayÂ’s highlights: The nudes more...

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Well, the mass exodus by NYC residents has begun. Last night and this morning I saw lots of people with carry-on luggage being wheeled about, before the influx of visitors begins. Today the subway trains were so empty I could have sprawled out in any number of them. I'll be coming into Manhattan every day to work and will be posting throughout the day on any interesting developments as they happen.

There are already police officers on every corner in full riot gear. But so far the only thing they've been busy with is handing out lots of tickets and making a few arrests of protestors who insist on breaking the law. They must be confusing this administration with the pre-Giuliani administrations of David Dinkins and Ed Koch.

On a different note, the anarchists organizing group held a press conference last night. I thought this was very ironic considering they are against any form of establishment in general, and against the media and government in particular.

Just as with United for Peace and Justice Committe, these anarchists have vowed to march where they please. Their stated position is that this city is theirs and no gov't or court can impose a ruling on where they can march.

Au contraire, mon frere! You are about to find out why they call the NY Police Department NY's Finest. You'll see whose city this is soon enough! Our police and security forces are not going to allow terrorists, foreign or domestic, to hold us hostage and take over our beloved city!

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